In the Spotlight: Celebrating 30 Trailblazing Hispanic Women Shaping the Future of Tech

Carolina Barcenas has transformed research and innovation teams by pioneering rapid prototyping tools and incubating AI and data science products that significantly reduce development cycles. She has driven strategic advances in machine learning, risk management, and e-commerce, with earlier roles building predictive models and steering foundational initiatives. She holds a PhD in Applied Statistics and has built bridges between academia and industry in operations research, statistics, and engineering. Passionate about empowering women and Latinas, she co-leads mentorship and internship programs and has been recognized in initiatives like UN Women’s Rise & Raise Others.

Christina Cuarón has led large-scale technology transformations, driving cloud migration, AI adoption, and modernization of core financial systems. She focuses on building resilient, data-driven operations that improve reliability and speed across global platforms. A proud advocate for Hispanic representation and women in tech, she mentors emerging leaders and works to expand access to advanced technical careers.

Claudia Cruz has played a central role in transforming analytics capabilities, helping integrate disparate data sources into unified platforms that support Beauty Tech innovation. Under her leadership, the organization has leveraged tools like serverless cloud architectures and ELT processes to accelerate insight delivery for research, product, and consumer teams. She has contributed to enabling real-time analytics and sustainable infrastructure to support global operations. A supporter of women and Hispanic representation, she works to mentor others in STEM and amplify diverse voices within the technology domain.

Cristina Rufeisen has led major IT transformation programs that improve efficiency and collaboration across global teams, enabling more seamless delivery of interactive entertainment. With extensive experience in digital media and large-scale technology operations, she has deployed solutions that support high-performing, innovative organizations. She also co-leads SOMOS EA, an employee group that has hosted hundreds of events to elevate Hispanic and Latinx voices and bring diverse perspectives into product design. Dedicated to mentorship and advocacy, she is recognized for empowering the next generation of Latina leaders in technology.

Daniela Fleischmajer has built over 20 years of experience across finance, sales, marketing, and operations in global markets, delivering measurable growth and brand strength. She has led field-marketing and integrated go-to-market strategies that emphasize customer pain-points, data-driven decisions, and relationship building in B2B environments. Recognized among the top Hispanic professionals in tech, she is known for transforming marketing organizations and mentoring high-performance teams.

Diana Toscas has overseen the development of scalable, secure payment systems that process millions of transactions daily, improving performance and reliability under high demand. She has led cross-functional engineering teams to accelerate feature delivery while reducing incident rates and technical debt. A vocal supporter of women in technology, she mentors emerging engineers and contributes actively to programs that close gender gaps in engineering. Her leadership blends deep technical expertise with inclusive culture building and measurable business impact.

Diane Gonzalez has transformed technology organizations, scaling teams from hundreds to thousands while driving innovation in finance automation and AI adoption. Her leadership has delivered measurable gains in efficiency, compliance, and business performance. Committed to diversity and equity, she champions Latino inclusion programs, strengthens university partnerships, and advocates for underrepresented talent in technology.

Elaine Montilla is a technology leader with over two decades of experience driving digital innovation and transformation. A TEDx speaker and member of the Forbes Technology Council, she is recognized for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly for women and underrepresented groups in STEM. As the founder of a platform dedicated to empowering minority voices, she uses her journey as a Latina immigrant to inspire others to embrace leadership, break barriers, and thrive in tech.

Grace Pérez has held executive and senior-level positions at GE HealthCare, Chevron, Microsoft, GSK, Amgen, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, with early career development at IBM and the United States Department of Labor under the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA.

Grace has over 30 years of leadership experience driving enterprise transformations across healthcare, biotech, energy, and technology. As founder of Lean Sigma Tech, she helps organizations achieve sustainable growth through Lean, Agile, and data-driven strategies. Recognized with a Women in Tech Lifetime Achievement award, she is dedicated to mentoring women in STEM and championing Hispanic and Latina representation in technology.

Guayente Sanmartin has overseen a $21 billion commercial PC and display solutions portfolio, leading innovation in large-format design, AI-PCs, and advanced display platforms. Starting as an R&D engineer, she rose through global leadership roles across Europe, Asia, and the US, also driving growth in 3D printing with HP’s Multi Jet Fusion business. A strong advocate for women in technology, she has built internal networks and frequently speaks at universities and conferences to inspire and mentor the next generation of leaders.

Ileana Rivera has driven large-scale technology transformations supporting more than 130,000 employees worldwide, delivering innovation across HR, payroll, and performance systems. She has led global teams managing multimillion-dollar budgets while advancing mobility, cloud productivity, and workplace computing for tens of thousands of employees. Recognized as a HITEC Hall of Fame inductee and a Silicon Valley Business Journal LatinX leadership awardee, she is celebrated for her impact on the technology community. A dedicated advocate for diversity and equity, she mentors Hispanic and female technologists and actively champions greater representation in STEM.

Iris Mejias started her career in Silicon Valley and has served a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller emerging growth companies. Her breadth of experience garners her the ability to provide insights around risk and controls, revenue and business process automation, and cloud technology risks. Iris has earned partnership status in a leading professional services firm, bringing strong expertise in accounting and advisory services. She operates out of the San Francisco Bay Area and is known for her deep client focus and navigating complex regulatory and financial frameworks. Her role as a Partner contributes to leadership diversity in high-stakes financial and consulting environments.

Jennifer Arbelaez has led cybersecurity and operations initiatives that strengthened resilience for Fortune 100 companies, including deploying advanced security frameworks and optimizing customer data systems. She designed training programs and process improvements that boosted efficiency and team readiness. A dedicated advocate for STEM and equity, she founded a women’s forum, mentored students, and sponsored coding and robotics programs for girls, opening pathways into technology.

Katty Coulson has led major transformations in service architecture, management, and operations, driving greater efficiency and scale across technology organizations. Recognized on the HITEC 100 and with the Silicon Valley Latinx Business Leadership Award, she is celebrated for her impact in tech and her commitment to community. She launched “Program Escuela” to inspire underserved students toward STEM and actively mentors Latino and Hispanic talent, fostering inclusive leadership and representation in the industry.

Lidia Fonseca has led digital and data transformations that accelerated drug discovery, development, and patient engagement, including playing a key role in the rapid delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. She has automated millions of transactions, launched a global learning academy, and advanced AI-driven solutions to improve efficiency and outcomes. Recognized as one of the most influential Latina leaders in technology, she combines innovation with a strong commitment to equity and patient-centric healthcare.

Lidia Santos has been instrumental in transforming global computer operations, leading initiatives that ensure high reliability and scale across critical logistics and technology infrastructures. She has worked to advance systems programming excellence while improving operational efficiencies and system robustness. As an advocate for Hispanic women in tech, she mentors emerging talent and supports internal groups that help broaden visibility and opportunity. Her leadership merges technical depth with commitment to representation and culture-building in technology.

Lori Castillo Martinez has led global programs that strengthen workforce innovation, leadership development, and skills for the future of work. She has advanced equity initiatives that improved representation and built inclusive cultures where diverse voices thrive. A proud Latina leader, she mentors women of color and amplifies Hispanic representation, shaping leadership pipelines that reflect true diversity.

María Bracho has over 20 years of experience leading digital transformation and advancing open-source adoption across Latin America. She has driven platform modernization, hybrid cloud strategies, and generative AI pilots, helping organizations at varying stages of maturity embrace innovation. Passionate about equity in technology, she mentors regional talent and works to make advanced digital tools more accessible across diverse communities.

Maria Lensing has driven digital transformation and strategy across large enterprises, guiding the development of modern technology operating models and accelerating critical infrastructure initiatives, including vaccine-distribution systems in healthcare. She has repeatedly been honored as one of the most influential Latina leaders in tech, receiving accolades such as CTO of the Year and being named among “Top 100 Latinas.” She is committed to amplifying Hispanic tech leadership, mentoring women in STEM, and promoting inclusive cultures where diverse perspectives shape innovation.

Marisa Moret brings over 25 years of experience as a lawyer, advocate, and strategic advisor to companies, government leaders, and entrepreneurs. She has served as a senior government adviser, equity law partner, and policy leader across the tech and travel sectors. Actively involved in organizations such as Latinas in Tech and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, she champions Hispanic and Latina leadership. Recognized as a “Leading Latina,” “Trailblazer,” and one of the Top 100 Latinas, she is celebrated for her impact in advancing representation.

Marta A. Decatrel has over 25 years of experience in technology and data, earning recognition as one of the most influential Hispanic women in tech. She has advanced representation by reshaping recruiting and development practices to support women and racially diverse talent. She actively mentors young women and Latinas in STEM and supports initiatives like Girls Who Code, combining technical expertise with a strong commitment to equity and inclusion.

Paulina Jaramillo has pioneered research on global energy transitions, climate change, and sustainable infrastructure. She has contributed to the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report and led initiatives like the Open Energy Outlook to inform equitable energy policy. Recipient of the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, she bridges science and policy to expand access to cleaner, more resilient energy systems. Dedicated to inclusion, she mentors underrepresented scholars and amplifies community voices in energy planning across the Global South.

As a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, she is involved in key multidisciplinary research projects to better understand the social, economic, and environmental implications of energy consumption and the public policy tools that can be used to support sustainable energy development and consumption.

Pilar Manchón has over two decades of expertise in conversational and generative AI, with multiple patents and research contributions advancing human–computer interaction. She founded a successful AI startup and has since led global teams driving innovation in natural language understanding, speech, and multimodal systems. Recognized for her influence on AI strategy and policy, she serves on advisory councils shaping regulation, sustainability, and human values in technology. A committed advocate for diversity and inclusion, she champions women and Latinx voices in technology, ensuring that diverse perspectives guide innovation.

Rita Castillo has driven innovation in AI platform design, creating user-centered systems that balance automation with ethical guardrails. She has shaped the evolution of intelligent agents, ensuring secure and transparent collaboration between humans and AI. Recognized for translating complex technology into impactful enterprise solutions, she inspires teams to deliver meaningful user experiences. A proud advocate for Hispanic voices and women in tech, she mentors emerging talent and champions greater representation in design and AI.

Rocio Montes leads engineering efforts behind GitHub’s Actions Compute infrastructure, ensuring scale and reliability for millions of developers. She previously advanced open source practices at Intuit and co-chaired the Grace Hopper Conference’s Open Source Day. As co-founder of “EMAR,” she connects U.S. small businesses with engineering interns in Peru, expanding access to opportunities. A strong advocate for Hispanic and Latinx representation, she mentors emerging engineers and champions community growth in tech.

Rosanna Durruthy has championed diversity, inclusion, and belonging for over three decades, helping organizations build cultures where people from all backgrounds can thrive. She has designed strategies that improved representation, advanced inclusive leadership, and empowered underrepresented communities to achieve career growth. A proud Latina and LGBTQ+ leader, she mentors emerging talent and advocates for greater equity in technology and beyond.

Sheila Mendez is a strategic executive leader with a forward vision of delivering key results through innovative, effective, and valued IT and enterprise solutions and services. With over 35 years of experience in technology and 25 years in the utility industry, she oversee the strategy, management and development of all business technology applications, infrastructure and architecture, telecommunications (data and voice), cyber and physical security, reliability standards compliance, critical infrastructure protection and crisis management for TXNM Energy's subsidiaries, PNM, TNMP, and Services Company.

Integrity, work ethic, perseverance, commitment, and community engagement drive her leadership style and approach. She enjoy driving solutions to complex problems with a highly talented team. 

Silvana Montenegro has over 25 years of experience advancing Hispanic and Latino talent through leadership programs, financial health education, and entrepreneurial support. She has launched regional operations and HR practices across Latin America, including building a major office in Colombia. Her initiatives have opened pathways for underrepresented students, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive. A strong advocate for equity, she works to amplify Latino voices and build more inclusive workplaces.

Vanessa Feliberti Bautista has led groundbreaking work in cloud infrastructure and engineering systems, including building scalable capacity for global platforms used by millions. Over her career, she has developed core technologies such as enterprise email and time-management solutions while guiding large engineering teams. Recognized for advancing equity, she helped increase women’s representation in engineering roles from 8% to nearly 30% and mentors young technologists worldwide. Her leadership reflects a commitment to innovation powered by diversity and inclusion.