What does it take for a Latina woman from Venezuela to move to Colombia and then the US to create MAS Impact in the world of tech? For Ana María Guzmán Méndez, it was the sound of programming class to become a software engineer, which was music to her ears!It also helped that her father was one of the first software engineers in Venezuela and that her brother and sister (with backgrounds in IT) were encouraging her to leave the troubled petroleum industry behind and link up with MAS Global Consulting.Ana's insights into the resilience required to become one of those diverse voices in tech that we celebrate on this show is truly inspiring, as is her appreciation of the power of humility in order to collaborate with members of your tech team.In an ever-expanding AI universe, Ana and host Monica also unpack the importance of remaining curious as a software engineer, learning to embrace change, and using the available tools to help you grow. Please join us in this empathic conversation between two Latina women in tech who have learned what it truly means to believe in yourself and your abilities as you learn a new language and start a new career in America, the land of opportunity. Please join us!(on how AI will impact software engineering) "We need to adapt. And we need to grow up with that. And we need to embrace that change because it's going to give us a lot of tools and new ways to develop software that is more natural and integrated with the user." ~ Ana María Guzmán MéndezIn This Episode:- Ana's journey from Venezuela to Colombia- The importance of remaining curious as a software engineer- Why diversity matters in technology- Advice for aspiring Latinas in tech- The value of humility in order to collaborate- Ana's insights on inspiring more young women to enter the tech world- How can we create MAS Impact in the world? Mucho más!Connect with Ana María Guzmán Méndez: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ana-maría-guzmán-méndez-49a675a0Connect with Monica Hernandez: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamhernandez Twitter - https://twitter.com/monicamhz Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicahernandezzulu Connect with MAS Global: Website: www.masglobalconsulting.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masglobalco YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5nXhY6qHxctGfWq8Aeiow

How do we try to fit into an organization if we come from a diverse background – and still stand out to get noticed? Today's guest on MAS Impact is Myrna Soto, in conversation with our effervescent host, Monica Hernandez. Both are Latina women who are thriving in tech, and both share a passion for community impact and creating more diversity in technology and business. As such, they are good friends and wisdom flows freely between these two as they discuss the importance of staying authentic to where you came from while being ripe to any opportunity that comes your way.With over 28 years of experience in technology – in multiple disciplines from cyber security leadership to software development and transformation – Myrna is highly qualified to address the issue of diversity in tech. She is also able to take the conversation a few steps further by addressing AI concerns around ensuring that generative AI doesn't alienate diverse ethnicities and remains applicable to everyone.Our differences become our superpower, as Myrna astutely points out. And like a software program that launches with a few bugs, we are not perfect as human beings. We need to continue to learn from our mistakes, iterate, and become a higher level of functioning efficiency in order to create MAS impact! "I really think that that is such a core need that we have as a diverse population, is to not sink back into the wall. To make sure that we are seen, that we are part of this society, that our successes are known, and that we continue to contribute. It's the only way that we're going to move the ball forward." ~ Myrna SotoIn This Episode:- How Myrna's life choices (and parents) have shaped her career trajectory- Understanding how we can use AI as an automated ability to transact and create inclusivity- How has Myrna's diverse background impacted the organizations she has worked for?- Appreciating the importance of diversity of thought- The paradox of knowing that we all belong, but we also all have to stand out - Myrna shares stories of success and failure (and how she's continued to grow)- What advice does Myrna have for entrepreneurs looking to encourage diversity?- 'Push up or pull up' – raising awareness and creating opportunity for your community (one way or the other)Mucho más!Connect with Myrna Soto: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/myrnasoto/ Connect with Monica Hernandez: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamhernandez Twitter - https://twitter.com/monicamhz Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicahernandezzulu Connect with MAS Global: Website: www.masglobalconsulting.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/masglobalco YouTube -

What does it look like to have a successful career in technology – and to then also be able to have a positive social impact on your community? Nancy Avila is a true inspiration for Latinas in tech and a worthy candidate as the first inspirational guest on MAS Impact! Nancy is now McKesson's Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Technology Officer, one of the world's largest healthcare companies. Her career has spanned decades and involved cyber security, Information Technology, and analytics. Nancy also gives a lot back to her community by serving on many advisory boards, including the Dallas Mavericks Advisory Council (for all you NBA fans out there!)In this poignant conversation with host Monica Hernandez, Nancy shares her journey from being raised by her immigrant father to sitting on the boards of big companies where she is in the privileged position of being able to assess the positive social impact that technology (including AI) is having – and can still have – on our society. Nancy and Monica share the importance of striving for a common good and being able to do it with a team of people. It's about understanding technology, sure, but it's also about understanding people. And when you come from a place of such warm-heartedness and benevolence as Nancy does, it's no wonder she has gotten as far in her career as she has.This episode will surely inspire Latina women who have thought about a career in technology but have had their doubts, to reconsider their options as Nancy and Monica show, by way of example, what it means to create MAS Impact. "When you talk about a social component of this (technology), and you talk about a connected world, I think that there are real ways where we can solve the equity – or the inequity gap, and giving a ton of people opportunities with technology in ways that haven't happened, to help the global resources." ~ Nancy AvilaIn This Episode:- The challenges and perspectives growing up as the daughter of an immigrant- How technology is shaping our human experience- How do we scale technology and simultaneously bridge the social divide?- How Nancy's company is using AI to improve patient care- What is Nancy's advice for aspiring Latina women? - The importance of understanding human behavior from a career perspective- Nancy shares a personal career story of failure and courage- How Nancy is making a positive social impact as a tech leaderMucho más!Connect with Nancy Avila: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-avila-7283921/Connect with Monica Hernandez:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamhernandezTwitter - https://twitter.com/monicamhzInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicahernandezzulu Connect with MAS Global:Website: www.masglobalconsulting.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/masglobalcoYouTube -

23/8/2023

30:53

What does it take to move to America with nothing but a scholarship to study software engineering and then own your own global consulting company creating 'mas impact' for the wider Hispanic community? This is the awesomely inspiring story of MAS Impact's host, Monica Hernandez.Growing up in a low-income neighborhood hood in Medellin with a mother who taught sewing and a father who refereed soccer games, you would be forgiven for thinking that Monica might not one day realize the American Dream. But realize it she has - and then some! Monica's heartwarming story of becoming an entrepreneur, a mother, and a Latina icon for her authentic intentions around giving back to her community and helping others like her get the education and opportunity they deserve, is all beautifully related in this podcast episode that will leave you truly inspired. Interspersed with entrepreneurial insights and how Monica has managed to juggle a career, family, and switching cities for her consulting work, this inaugural episode is more than just a backstory. It's the American Dream writ large as she explores what resilience, taking risks, and building business for her and her family means. Please join us and also share this podcast with anyone that you think will draw strength from Monica's story! "I truly believe that purpose and profits can go together." ~ Monica HernandezIn This Episode:- Lessons Monica learned from her parents- How Monica became a software engineer- Becoming an entrepreneur - and a mother- The backstory of MAS (Monica's company)- The importance of taking that first step as an entrepreneur- Why having the right partner is so crucial - Understanding the inherent risk-taking in entrepreneurship- The value of perspective on your failures/learnings - Why Rejection is Redirection- Why Monica has settled in Tampa, Florida- What differentiates you as a company or individual?Mucho más!Connect with Monica Hernandez:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamhernandezTwitter - https://twitter.com/monicamhzInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/monicahernandezzulu Connect with MAS Global:Website: www.masglobalconsulting.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/masglobalcoYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5nXhY6qHxctGfWq8Aeiow

Women and people from diverse backgrounds are a rare sight in the tech industry, but WE ARE HERE. Many of us have few role models, a limited network, and a lot of hard work ahead of us. I believe those of us who found success have a duty to advocate for the underrepresented talent from our communities. That is the purpose of this show. I’m Monica Hernandez and I know the value of giving back to the community because it changed my life. A scholarship took me out of a humble neighborhood in the mountains of Medellín, Colombia and set me on a path to working for Oracle, and founding MAS Global —a 5X Inc5000 and HITEC100 tech consulting firm that’s in the top 3% of Latina owned companies in the US.My incredible guests include leaders of some of the largest and most successful companies in the US, and the future leaders with diverse backgrounds who are just beginning their journey. We’re sharing our stories, tools, and knowledge, and focusing on how we can help others find success in our industry. Diversity and sustainability are popular topics many people talk about. But we’re not just talking. These are the people actually making a difference. We’re bringing it full circle, and encouraging and helping others do the same.