By Samantha Paradiso
After receiving his bachelor’s of science degree in computer science and master’s in software engineering, Ramiro Diaz has been a software engineer for the past 12 years, working at IBM, Imagination Technologies and UnderArmour. Currently serving as a Senior Software Engineer at UnderArmour, Diaz supplements his free time by giving back to the Latinx community through his various involvements.
Aside from leading the Android Devices team at UnderArmour, Diaz has formerly served as president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Young Hispanic Professionals Association of Austin (YHPAA). Additionally, Diaz has worked with Un Sabado Gigante in Engineering, where the organization created an event bringing in over 500 students and their parents to the UT Austin campus and introducing them to STEM and college prep literacy.
Latinitas is incredibly excited to welcome Diaz to our board and can’t wait for him to share his vast expertise on information technology, strategic planning and youth outreach and education for accomplishing our mission of empowering all girls to innovate through media and technology.
In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing Latina youth today?
We are now in a time that the spotlight is on companies to ensure that discrimination is reduced in the hiring process for women and minorities of all types. However, we are far from where we should be. It is important that Latinas, particularly those in tech, know that their work and skill has been what has gotten them through the door. I don’t like the concept of “Impostor syndrome” for minorities, as we have faced more scrutiny and barriers for entry in every step in our careers. It should be known to every Latina that they worked hard to get where they are and they earned every accolade and opportunity that they had so they are most definitely not “impostors”, even if they are the only ones that look like them in the room, they are Pioneers.
What is your main interest and/or motivation for serving on the Latinitas Board?
I would really like to continue giving back to the Latinx community and exposing more of it to technology. Latinas are an underserved portion in tech and I would like to help in removing the stigma currently surrounding women in tech since there is no purpose for it.
Responses have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
