JEFA Mode Live by Latinas in Tech

In this episode, we sit down with Lisette Martinez, VP of Sales and Marketing at Comcast, as she shares her inspiring journey from retail leadership to the executive suite—fueled by the influence of her father and a passion for people. Lisette opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome through preparation and the power of storytelling, and why authentic human connection is at the heart of great leadership. She reflects on a powerful moment when sharing her own story deeply resonated with a team member, reinforcing the value of vulnerability in the workplace. We also dive into how she navigates corporate resistance to change by prioritizing trust and empathy. Lisette champions mentorship, continuous growth, and the importance of representation—especially when it comes to empowering Latinas in tech.

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

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🎙️In today’s special episode, we’re diving deep into leadership development and career growth for Latinas in tech with an incredible guest—Laura Reyes. Laura is a powerhouse in talent strategy, having worked as a global talent executive at major companies like GE and Meta. Now, as the Founder and CEO of Sage Talent Consulting, she’s dedicated to helping individuals clarify and achieve their professional goals through leadership coaching and strategic talent development.

In this episode, we’re tapping into Laura’s wealth of experience and insight to discuss how Latinas can navigate their careers, overcome challenges, and thrive in today’s competitive tech industry. Laura shares actionable advice on how to own your career, invest in your professional growth, and create diverse environments where everyone can succeed.

As Latinas, it’s time we take charge of our futures, and Laura’s empowering message will inspire you to step into your power—no matter the obstacles we face. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, this episode is packed with wisdom to help you move forward and make your mark in tech.

Connect with Laura over LinkedIn

Sage Talent Consulting: https://sagetalentconsulting.com/

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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🎙️This JEFA Mode Live episode, is definitely one you don’t want to miss. Rocio van Nierop and Joanna Peña-Bickley share this riveting success story. Joanna is known as the mother of cognitive experience design, in this chapter we follow her journey. Learn how she envisioned as little Joanna the idea of a computer that could think and how this lead to a groundbreaking career as a pioneer in AI, working for with the biggest brands, including IBM, Amazon, Boeing, NASA, and more. 

Early on, Joanna’s learning disability lead to her hacking her way from text interfaces to audio interfaces, making way for the future she envisioned. Joanna story is part of AI Herstory, and she’s determined to make sure women and Latinas contribution to AI are not erased. In her own words, Joanna’s worked on training computers to make us better, 

Connect with Joanna over LinkedIn

Vibes AI: https://vibesbiowear.ai/

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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🎙️In This JEFA Mode Live episode, Rocio van Nierop and Laura Lucas share Laura's wonderful and inspiring story, from leaving Ciudad Guzman and the comfort and familiarity of family lead rural life, to L’ATTITUDE Ventures general partner. 

Laura Lucas, a prime example of the JEFA mindset, walked us through her journey as an entrepreneur and how that lead her step by step to joining L’ATTITUDE Ventures in the earliest stages. L’ATTITUDE Ventures is a $100M+ institutional venture capital platform invested exclusively in early-stage innovative companies primarily owned and led by U.S. Latinos, something that has been very close to Laura, as she realized there had only been 20 woman gone public in Wall Street by 2019, and only one of them was Latina. Laura’s a story of opportunity that you simply can’t miss! 

Connect with Laura over LinkedIn

L'ATTITUDE Ventures: https://lattitudeventures.com/?requestCert=true&rejectUnauthorized=true

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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In this insightful episode, Rocio van Nierop and Patricia Mota open up about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, now more than ever. Patricia, a true Jefa and the CEO of HACE, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Latina success, focuses on cultivating a community of talent and providing the inside access and support needed t o thrive in their careers.

Patricia has been attentive to the unique opportunities she has had access to due to her background, and how comunidad (community) helped her level the playing field. She strives to do the same for others. Her journey of "goodness" began in undergrad, where she founded non-profits and worked with business communities and her peers at Indiana University. One of her first projects, Mujeres of HACE, has grown from 40 initial members to over 400 women who have graduated from the program.

Patricia and Rocio discuss how DEI is not only the path forward for a better, more inclusive, and empowered workforce, but also a core principle that must be embedded in the way companies operate. This is essential to ensuring that the impact made can be sustained for many underrepresented communities, especially Latinas.

Connect with Patricia over Linkedin

HACE website: https://haceonline.org/

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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In this inspiring episode of Jefa Mode Live, host Rocio Van Nierop sits down with Kaisa Molina, a dynamic Latina who has charted her own path in the tech industry. Kaisa, a first-generation immigrant, shares her incredible journey from being an office manager to becoming the founder and COO of Stretch Dollar, a groundbreaking platform that enables small businesses to offer health benefits to their employees in an affordable and simple way.

Kaisa Molina is the founder and COO of Stretch Dollar, a platform dedicated to helping small businesses provide health benefits to their employees. Born and raised in San Francisco, Kaisa's mother is from Nicaragua and her father from El Salvador. She has a rich background in marketing and extensive experience in the tech industry.

Kaisa started her career as an office manager at Gusto, a company specializing in payroll management. She gained expertise in health insurance while working for another company focusing on this area, becoming an expert in small business and health insurance.

Recognizing a need for affordable health benefits for small businesses, Kaisa founded Stretch Dollar. Her platform offers a straightforward mechanism for small businesses to support their employees' health needs.

Her story emphasizes the importance of hard work, self-belief, and leveraging one's unique experiences to create impactful solutions. Kaisa's journey is a testament to her resilience and dedication. Her experiences as a first-generation immigrant and tech employee have shaped her approach to business and leadership.

Join us as Kaisa Molina shares her remarkable story and offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn how she identified a gap in the market, took bold steps to fill it, and is now changing the world with her innovative solutions. Don't miss this episode packed with inspiration and actionable tips. Listen to Jefa Mode Live now and get motivated by Kaisa's journey from a tech employee to a founder and COO.

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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On this week’s episode of the Jefa Mode Live podcast we revisit the Latinas in Tech Summit for an empowering live podcast session titled "Jefas en Tecnología: Empowering Latinas in Tech." Moderated by our Senior Programs Manager, Cecilia Fisher-Benitez, this insightful discussion features inspiring stories from chapter leaders across New York, Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and can amplify your influence within the community. 

Listen in as Tatiana Carret shares her incredible journey from physical therapy to digital health, Aimara Rodriguez talks about her transition from supporting startups to becoming an entrepreneur, Patricia Flores from Chicago reflects on her move from healthcare to tech, and Lourdes Murillo recounts her 12-year journey in video infrastructure and digital assets. Their stories underscore the importance of resilience, leadership, and personal empowerment in navigating the complexities of the tech industry. We address the real challenges faced by Latinas in tech, offering strategies to overcome setbacks and imposter syndrome. Learn how to recognize your own achievements, view failures as growth opportunities, and understand the necessity for Latina representation in leadership roles.

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Join the Latinas in Tech Summit 2025 Waiting List: https://latinasintechsummit.org/waiting-list-2025/

We have 25 chapters across the globe, find one near you: https://latinasintech.org/chapter

Latinas in Tech Mentorship Program:  https://latinasintech.org/career-growth

Become a LiT Mentor: https://latinasintech.dreami.io/main/mentor

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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On this week’s episode of the Jefa Mode Live podcast, we unlock the secrets to impactful board membership and corporate leadership as we chat with Yai Vargas, the Vice President of Strategic Engagements at HACR (The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility). In our discussion, Yai offers invaluable insights into the significance of Latinas occupying leadership roles, especially on boards of directors. She underscores the transformative power of mentorship and continuous learning, encouraging listeners to align their professional experiences with board opportunities. This episode serves as a practical guide for Latinas aiming to make impactful contributions through board membership. Learn how strategic moves, like negotiating relocation contracts to include nonprofit board placements, can amplify your influence within the community.

Connect with Yai Vargas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaivargas/

Connect with the Latinista: http://www.thelatinista.com

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

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In Episode 12 of the Jefa Mode Live podcast, Rocio interviews Jessica Mercedes, a passionate entrepreneur from the Dominican Republic with a keen interest in technology. Jessica shares her journey from being one of the first in her middle-class neighborhood to own a computer, to crossing paths with Rocio while working at a PR agency, and eventually joining Latinas in Tech (LiT). Her husband encouraged her to apply to LiT, noting her identity as a Latina and startup founder. Jessica emphasizes that being a Latina in tech isn't limited to developers, as both she and Rocio are successful marketers. They recount their journey from working together as marketers to becoming Miami chapter leaders and winning the LiT startup competition, which propelled Jessica's career. Despite facing multiple rejections in funding rounds, Jessica's persistence paid off, raising $1.2 million and achieving a significant exit with Datadog's acquisition of her company. Now, she is focused on building AskMay, inspired by her desire to create a legacy for her children and demonstrate the power of Latina moms as entrepreneurs. This episode is a testament to resilience, the importance of community support, and the diverse roles Latinas play in the tech industry.

Connect with Jessica Mercedes on Linkedin or at AskMay.

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About Latinas in Tech Latinas in Tech is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, support and empower Latina women working in technology through professional development, mentorship, and recruiting. Learn more about our organization at https://latinasintech.org/.

🫶 Become a LiT Member: https://latinasintech.org/member/register

🫶 Donate to Latinas in Tech: https://latinasintech.org/donate

🫶 LiT Shop: https://latinas-in-tech.myshopify.com/

FOLLOW LiT ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

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