Building Inclusion: setting a path to success for Latinos in tech

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what brought you to Intuit.

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and moved to the US when I was 19 for college. I graduated from UC Berkeley and have been working in project/program management focused in tech since graduation. My friend worked at Intuit and her team was looking for a technical program manager, and the rest is history. I’ve been at Intuit for over 4 years, and I’m currently a Staff Technical Program Manager in the Developer Experiences and Platform team.

What inspired you to take on a leadership role with the Intuit Latinos Network (ILN)?

Being a Latina in tech, I usually don’t see folks that look like me on my team or the teams I work with. Having a community like the Intuit Latinos Network has been instrumental in my career at Intuit. 

I started as the ILN San Diego Site Co-Leader during the pandemic with an amazing co-lead, Ruby Sherman. It was a bit challenging, but we were able to put together several events to bring the community together. I wanted to be more involved with this wonderful community so I applied to become the ILN Global Co-Leader.

This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America. What does that mean to you?

Being an immigrant, I didn’t experience all the obstacles previous generations of Latinos have endured. But it is a theme that resonates and inspires me. This year’s theme is a time to reflect on all the amazing contributions Latinos have made to America. This is a time to consider how we can keep fighting for a seat at the table and continue to drive prosperity, power, and progress in America, together.

How have you seen the ILN and its importance evolve since you’ve been at Intuit?

Since I joined ILN, I’ve seen so much evolution. My favorite experiences have been openly talking about what it means to be Latinx, representing the network, and supporting Intuit by testing our products for our Latinx customers. We also had our very first ILN offsite since I joined and it was magic! These are a couple of examples of the outstanding impact this community has at Intuit.

The Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), the world’s largest gathering of female and non-binary technologists, takes place on September 26-29. This year’s theme, The Way Forward, is a rallying cry for the tech industry to come together and create an inclusive future. As a Latina working in tech, how does this year’s theme resonate with you?

For the past two years, I’ve attended GHC virtually as a core team member driving Open Source Day. This year, I’m excited to be attending the conference in person for the first time and representing Intuit! I love this year’s theme and efforts to create an inclusive future. This is why it is so important for workplaces to create spaces around employee resource groups and why I love the way Intuit supports and celebrates diversity. My ILN community has given me a little piece of home.

What advice would you give to Latinos looking to pursue a career in tech?

Being a part of the ILN, I’ve seen so many different pathways that can lead to a career in tech. My advice would be to never underestimate yourself, or think that because you aren’t a software engineer, this career path is not for you. Look for opportunities to match your skill set to the vast variety of roles in tech. Software engineering is just one path. There’s ‌also content design, HR, marketing, program management, product management, and more. However, if your dream is to be a software engineer, it’s never too late. There are bootcamps and programs you can leverage. Intuit has an apprenticeship program in partnership with Anitab.org. On a personal level, I love to connect with other members of the Latinx community who need help navigating the tech world, and always encourage people to engage me via LinkedIn or email with questions.

– 

At Intuit, we’re passionate about making sure that everyone can show up as their authentic self at work. Through ERGs like the Intuit Latinos Network, we’re able to foster a sense of connection, empathy, and trust between employees. 

If you are interested in joining our team, check out Intuit’s careers page.