In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, technology is not just a tool — it’s a driving force behind every strategic decision. As Adela Cepeda puts it, “There’s no business that I’m involved in that isn’t deeply affected by technology.”

In this episode, Adela shares her remarkable journey — from growing up as an immigrant facing early challenges, to rising as a respected Corporate Board Director at BMO Financial Corp. and Co-Founder of Ángeles Investors, an organization that funds and grows Hispanic and Latinx ventures. Her story is one of resilience, vision, and a deep understanding of how technology and finance must work hand in hand at the highest levels of leadership.

Adela also reminds us that success in today’s market requires more than just innovation — it requires inclusion:

“I don’t think you really can succeed where there isn’t diversity because you are going to lack in terms of understanding markets and areas that are important for the board to be leading on, and instead, you are behind.”

In This Episode:

1. Adela’s insights on the role technology plays in today’s Finance Landscape

2. How Adela became a Finance expert and now serves on Boards of publicly traded companies

3. Insights on maintaining cybersecurity and understanding tech risks within financial institutions

4. Strategies Adela used to develop resilience and perseverance, even in the face of personal tragedy

5. The importance of diversity in the boardroom and how it enriches discussions on technology and market understanding

6. How she's paying it forward by helping other Latinos start and grow successful businesses

Tune in to explore how effective leadership in the finance sector requires embracing technology, empowering diverse voices, and adapting to new challenges in the boardroom

Y mucho Más!

Connect with Adela Cepeda: 

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/adela-cepeda 

Connect with Monica Hernandez:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamhernandez 

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/@masglobal6827

Embracing cultural differences can help you succeed internationally, and you can also turn obstacles into opportunities to allow experiences to shape your path. But how can you do it?

This episode explores the career journey of Lee Henderson, Americas EY Private Leader who has championed diversity and inclusion throughout his career. Lee shares lessons learned from both challenges and successes along the way.

Lee highlights the vital role of AI in today's leadership landscape. He emphasizes the need for leaders to acquire a foundational understanding of AI, emphasizing its transformative potential. Lee discusses the challenges presented by generative AI and advocates for diverse perspectives in technology discussions. This conversation underscores the urgency of AI education and preparation to equip leaders for the evolving tech-driven world.

Lee and Monica discuss how EY programs are helping level the playing field for women and other entrepreneurs from traditionally under-resourced communities. They also examine the business case for diversity and inclusion.

Thanks to this conversation, you will get actionable advice on finding mentors who believe in your potential and can help advance your career beyond what you can do alone. You can also learn how underrepresented groups can take advantage of new technologies.

Tune in to hear Lee Henderson's engaging story of perseverance. You will learn lessons to help you navigate your own career journey with empathy, awareness, and impact.

In This Episode:

- Developing resilience and strength through life challenges

- Diversity and leadership in the workplace

- Advice to become a successful leader 

- How to leverage AI in business

- How can underrepresented talent take advantage of AI?

- Why is diversity important?

- Lessons on success, failure and resilience

Y mucho MAS!

Connect with Lee Henderson: 

EY Website - https://www.ey.com/en_us/people/lee-henderson 

Connect with Monica Hernandez:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicamhernandez 

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/@masglobal6827

We all need inspiration to pursue our dreams no matter the obstacles. And this conversation will surely give you the pep talk you need to keep going. 

Monica’s guest this week is Sara Rengifo, a materials engineer at NASA who has come a long way from her hometown of Colombia. 

Sara Rengifo is making significant contributions at NASA, where she is involved in cutting-edge projects that push the boundaries of innovation. Her work focuses on areas like construction, communication, and robotics, all of which are crucial in the aerospace industry. 

Sara is part of a community of experts at NASA who are dedicated to solving complex problems and exploring uncharted territories. Her role at NASA involves not only technical expertise but also a commitment to teamwork, communication, and a culture of inclusivity, where every individual's input is valued. 

Sara's experience highlights the importance of diversity and collaboration in tackling the unique challenges faced by NASA, and her journey from Colombia to NASA serves as an inspiring example of determination and the pursuit of one's dreams.

Despite facing rejection and doubts, Sara had a vision for her life and was determined to make it a reality.

In this episode, Sara shares the pivotal moments that helped shape her journey: from struggling to validate her engineering degree abroad to landing an internship that changed everything. 

You'll be motivated by Sara's story and walk away with practical tips for overcoming obstacles. 

Discover how to turn your biggest goals into a step-by-step plan through passion and perseverance.

Tune in to hear Sara's message of hope and learn from her journey to the stars.

In This Episode:

- How Sara Rengifo developed the mindset to believe in herself and pursue her dreams despite facing rejection

- Strategies for validating your international education and experience in a new country  

- The importance of cultivating mentors who believe in you and how one mentorship changed Sara's life

- Tactics for overcoming language and cultural barriers to achieve your career goals

- How to turn failures and setbacks into opportunities for growth and learning from NASA's culture of collaboration

- Engineer at NASA with a focus on innovative projects.

- Expertise in construction, communication, and robotics within the aerospace industry.

- Emphasizes teamwork and inclusivity in her role.

- Inspiring journey from Colombia to NASA showcasing determination and diversity

Resources mentioned: 

Book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. S. Dweck - https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322 

Connect with Sara Rengifo: 

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-rengifo-493078b2 

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 - https://www.youtube.com/@masglobal6827 

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!

In This Episode:

• Ana's journey from Venezuela to Colombia 
• The importance of remaining curious as a software engineer
• How will AI impact Software Engineering
• Why diversity matters in technology, advice for aspiring Latinas in tech
• The value of humility in order to advance in your career
• How can Technical leaders elevate their leadership skills and help others thrive 
• Ana's insights on inspiring more young women to enter the tech world
• How can we create MAS Impact in the world?

Connect with Ana María Guzmán Méndez: 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ana-maría-guzmán-méndez-49a675a0

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 - 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! 

In 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 - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5nXhY6qHxctGfWq8Aeiow

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.

In 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 leader

Mucho más!

Connect with Nancy Avila: 

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-avila-7283921/

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 - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5nXhY6qHxctGfWq8Aeiow

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!

In 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/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

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.