Press "Enter" to skip to content

Latinos Who Tech Posts

The road to Engineering & How to have difficult conversations

Published November 18, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode, we spoke with Rosa Delgado, a Civil Engineer & Sr. Project Manager. Rosa is a 1st generation engineer and shared with us her challenges and key learnings as a woman in STEM. We spoke about civil engineering, productivity and the art of having difficult conversations.
Notes:

Follow us on IG: @LatinosWhoTech and sign up for our newsletter at latinoswhotech.com

Resources:
The DESC framework to succeed at difficult conversations

Books:

How Women Rise

The Power of Vulnerability

Sign up to Audible and listen to them for free + support our podcast Leave a Comment

LIVE from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Convention – #SHPE2019

Published November 12, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

First-ever live episode! Over 150 people attended a panel we hosted at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. The SHPE National Convention happens every year and over 9k students and professionals converge during 4 days to network, attend workshops and find career opportunities.

In this panel we explored the question: “What Drives Us?” with a panel of SHPE Lifetime Members:

Javier Cortavitarte, Customer Success Manager, Broadcom
Natalia Ariza, Account Management Lead, Uber Eats
Juan Lopez Marcano, Machine Learning Engineer, Uber
Hugo Castellanos, Product Marketing Manager, Intel=

I’d like to thank SHPE National for making this possible. Namely, Dr. Dora Renaud, Jimmy Galvez, and Rosa Delgado.
Follow us on IG: @LatinosWho Tech Leave a Comment

SHPEtina Origins – Igniting Latinas in STEM

Published November 8, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS


I recently got back from my 11th SHPE Conference. This particular one was held in Phoenix, Arizona where 9000+ professionals, students, and STEM advocates gathered for 4 days of workshops and networking. A big highlight of the conference is the 200+ companies that attend to recruit talent. Attending as a professional is different. Granted, you have less stress since you already have a job. Still, making time to connect with everyone can feel overwhelming.

This particular conference was very special for me since I had the opportunity to host a live podcast and panel (stay tuned! You’ll listen to it in episode 17), as well as to do my workshop on “Taking the Work out of Networking”. I was extremely humbled to connect with so many professionals and students.

In this particular episode I want to welcome the new podcast listeners that just signed up for LWT by bringing them one of my favorite epiosdes from #SHPE2018 : The SHPEtina Origin Story. I got to chat with Ximena Aristizabal, Andrea Sanchez Sours, PhD and Stephanie Serrano about their role starting a dedicated track of the SHPE Conference focused on Latina professionals, their issues and how to empower them to become the best version of themselves.

Please enjoy! and as always, you can follow the show on IG: @LatinosWhoTech or drop me a note with your feedback at latinoswhotech@gmail.com
Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!
Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com
Leave a Comment

Life @ Google: Aaron Ramirez, Technical Solutions Engineer at Google

Published October 7, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode, I spoke with Aaron Ramirez, Mexican American, Technical Solutions Engineer at Google. We spoke about how he got to Google and how being a SHPE member helped him with the interview process, his role at Google and his definition for Googliness, advice on how to get prepared for an interview and other words of advice.

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with Aaron vía linkedin: Want to help us grow? You can: Mentioned resources: Timestamps:
  • 01:45 – About Aaron Ramirez
  • 02:47 – How Aaron got to Google
  • 05:32 – SHPE according to Aaron
  • 08:59 – How being a SHPE member helped Aaron with the interview process
  • 10:54 – Aaron’s role at Google
  • 12:03 – Interacting with external customers – A possible career roadmap  
  • 16:28 – Aaron’s definition for ”Googliness”
  • 20:52 – How Aaron would get prepared for an interview at Google
  • 25:27 – Aaron’s parting piece of advice
Key Takeaways:
  • Apply for Google Travel and Conference grants! (Google Conference and Travel Scholarships for selected conferences in the tech industry and related fields).
  • SHPE is a big “familia” support network. Get involved and make SHPE be your internship!
  • For interviews, focus on remembering the basics!
Who is Hugo Castellanos? Find out about him on linkedin
Thanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones 
1 Comment

From Engineering to Technical Marketing: Hugo Castellanos, Product Marketing Manager @ Intel

Published September 23, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode I share with you a conversation I had with Adriana Flores Ragade, Social Entrepreneur and host of the podcast LatinxAmerica. She asked me about my story and my journey from Electronics Engineering to Technical Marketing. We also spoke about how I got to Silicon Valley, my involvement with SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) and podcasting.

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with Hugo vía : Connect with Adriana vía: Want to help us grow? You can: Mentioned resources: Timestamps:
  • 01:41 – Introducing Adriana Flores Ragade who will be interviewing Hugo Castellanos – All about the reason why he does podcasting, his day to day job and how he got to Silicon Valley
  • 04:12 – Welcoming Hugo at LatinxAmerica and his journey into Tech
  • 09:30 – Full time tech person with a podcasting passion in spare time. The reason why and how Hugo builds his own podcast
  • 13:19 – Things we can do as a community to solve the “leaky pipeline” of talent – Based on Hugo’s journey and the people he has interviewed.
  • 17:51 – How to become a product manager
  • 26:12 – People Hugo has met that have been to a product school or a short learning bootcamp
  • 29:15 – Recurring themes in Hugo’s professional life or in those who he has interviewed that have come to life
  • 35:47 – Practices that keep Hugo professionally activated
  • 40:17 – Influencers or learning resources recommended by Hugo, and his next play
  • 43:29 – Adriana’s last words

TAKEAWAYS

THE REASON WHY AND HOW HUGO BUILDS HIS OWN PODCAST

If you are a latina/o interested in working in STEM, Hugo hosts several soft skill workshops at SHPE that can help you, and is host of his own podcast Latinos Who Tech where you can learn from other very interesting professionals that are in tech and how they got there. It is possible, you can work in Tech too!

THINGS WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO SOLVE THE “LEAKY PIPELINE” OF TALENT

Reaching out to college students as quickly as possible to encourage them and let them know it is possible to work in STEM visualizing how others have succeeded. Seek out mentors through social media networking and build relations with them. Look out for the Latino Community in STEM, they will be more than happy to help you!

HOW TO BECOME A PRODUCT MANAGER

Intellectual curiosity, technical background and that love for finding out what the next big problem is, are three things necessary to become a product manager.

PEOPLE HUGO HAS MET THAT HAVE BEEN TO A PRODUCT SCHOOL OR A SHORT LEARNING BOOTCAMP

Go to Conexiones Episode 9. All about Carlos Montesinos. He went through a Product School. Three month intensive program. What is going to make you a product manager is shipping products. “Launching, measuring and learning”

GETTING A MENTOR

If you think you need one, that is a start. As many people are afraid of commitments, the best thing you could do is arrange a meeting in a cafe in order to have that first conversation. Get to know each other and find out whether you both agree having a mentor/mentee relationship. It depends on you to keep that relation going.

PRACTICES THAT KEEP HUGO PROFESSIONALLY ACTIVATED

Use David Allen’s methodology “Getting Things Done”. Plan everything you have to do, write everything down and process your inbox everyday. Mindfulness and paying undivided full attention in one to one conversations. Find some time during your day and everyday, to completely disconnect from phone and mail in order to focus and get hard work done.

Thanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones 

Leave a Comment

Keeping It Civil: Jimmy Galvez, Project Manager @ Sherwood Design Engineers

Published September 9, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode I spoke with Jimmy Galvez, a Project Manager @ Sherwood Design Engineers. We spoke about his journey coming from Guatemala to the US, his experience managing civil engineering projects in California, Texas and overseas and his involvement with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineer (SHPE).

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with Jimmy vía : Want to help us grow? You can:

Timestamps:

  • 01:44 – Introducing Jimmy Galvez
  • 02:29 – The first Civil Engineer and Guatemalan in the Podcast
  • 03:22 – Who’s Jimmy and where does he come from
  • 04:05 – Immigrating to the US
  • 07:21 – From Community College to Cal Polly
  • 08:41 – Studying at Cal Polly; Civil Engineering
  • 10:12 – The difference between Civil and Structural Engineering
  • 11:08 – Jimmy’s first job out of College
  • 12:24 – A Master in that particular Craft
  • 13:16 – Land development and community planning
  • 17:04 – Jimmy’s current title and role
  • 18:08 – Construction administration support services
  • 19:07 – The handoff from design to construction
  • 21:17 – Pre-construction meetings; The relationship between designers and contractors
  • 24:01 – Jimmy’s favorite project
  • 27:17 – International Experience; Projects in the Baja Dessert; Desalination
  • 29:33 – Love for structural engineering; Always paying attention to constructions
  • 30:51 – The Challenges that a project manager faces
  • 33:53 – What are the skills that a Star Project Manager needs?
  • 37:43 – Communication; email vs phone call
  • 38:18 – Running meetings as a project manager
  • 42:13 – The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineer (SHPE)
  • 44:04 – Learning at SHPE; Soft skills, communication, networking
  • 47:16 – Being a SHPE Chapter President
  • 51:01 – Hugo’s SHPE inspiring story
  • 54:55 – Last words for audience
Who is Hugo Castellanos? Find out about him on linkedin
Thanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones 
Leave a Comment

Thriving as an Introvert: Dushka Zapata, Writer and Executive Communications @ Zendesk

Published August 26, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode, I spoke with Dushka Zapata, Executive Communications at Zendesk, writer, and author of seven books. We spoke about writing as a part of her life and how she captures ideas to do so, her work at Zendesk, Quora and her seven books, the process she goes through to write a book, and her encouraging words to audience.

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with Dushka vía : Want to help us grow? You can: Mentioned resources: Timestamps:
  • 01:45 – Welcoming Dushka Zapata
  • 01:56 – How Duska got to San Francisco
  • 02:57 – The way in which Duska brings her whole self to work
  • 03:54 – Writing as a part of Dushka’s life
  • 05:04 – How Dushka captures the ideas she writes about and her seven books
  • 07:38 – About Dushka’s work at Zendesk
  • 08:43 – How Dushka would coach an executive who wants to give a speech
  • 10:55 – How Dushka personally gets prepared to give a speech  
  • 16:00 – The meaning of Quora according to Dushka
  • 16:23 – Dushka’s process when sitting down to write a book
  • 19:16 – To connect with Dushka
  • 19:41 – Last words to audience
Key Takeaways:
BRINGING WHOLE SELF TO WORK
To be able to take your whole self to work, it is very important to be happy where you are and authentic. “Be one person wherever you go”
WRITING AS A PART OF DUSHKA’S LIFE
It is very important to be happy with what one is doing. Dushka is really happy writing. Writing about things she has learned from, could help someone else.
HOW SHE CAPTURES IDEAS TO WRITE
Having at disposal social media tools helps the things Dushka writes about reach people immediately
WORK AT ZENDESK
Whoever needs to get their ideas across or has difficulty in communicating them, should ask an executive in communications for their advice. 
COACHING AN EXECUTIVE THAT WANTS TO GIVE A SPEECH
To be able to communicate ideas, you have to sound like you and not anyone else. Everyone is different, so everyone will need different advice in how to make a proper presentation.
HOW DUSHKA WOULD PREPARE FOR A SPEECH
Things or subjects one cares about have an impact in level of engagement. 
Feel like a fish out of water?  Anything you feel is exclusive to you and is an actual universal condition. Understanding this gives you a lot of empathy and power, because you are not alone even though you feel you are. Uncomfortable feelings should never avoid people doing things and having new opportunities. 
You get to know people better when you meet them on panels and having conversations one to one.
THE PROCESS TO WRITE A BOOK
Whatever you do, whether write books or anything in life, start with one step. It is all about discipline and habits, and doing a bit everyday.
Einstein’s quote: “Time exists so that not everything happens at once”
WORDS TO AUDIENCE
To you Latina > You are Latina, that is true, but you are much more than that!
Who is Hugo Castellanos? Find out about him on linkedin
Thanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones 
Leave a Comment

Life @ Facebook: Carlos Sarmiento, Software Engineer @ Facebook

Published August 12, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode, I spoke with Carlos  Sarmiento, Software Engineer at Facebook. Originally from Venezuela, Carlos joined Facebook in 2017. We spoke about how he got to Facebook, the company’s recruiting events and engineering bootcamps, his day in the life as a software engineer, and all about referrals. 

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with Carlos via linkedin:

Carlos Sarmiento
Want to help us grow? You can:

Mentioned resources:

  • Facebook Recruiting Event
  • Facebook Engineering Bootcamp
  • ERG (Employee Resource Group)
  • Latin@ – Facebook Diversity
  • Latin@ – Facebook Careers
  • PHP
  • Hack – programming language 

Timestamps:

  • 01:42 – Welcoming Carlos Sarmiento
  • 02:06 – About Carlos
  • 02:40 – Reaching Facebook: from Caracas to Facebook
  • 05:38 – About Facebook’s recruiting events
  • 08:28 – A Software Engineer at Facebook: The experience of a day in the life
  • 10:55 – About Facebook’s Engineering Bootcamps
  • 13:30 – Process to select a bootcamp
  • 15:18 – A story from Instagram Ads
  • 19:31 – How a referral works
  • 23:44 – Diversity at Facebook
  • 27:09 – Last words for audience

Key Takeaways:

Facebook Recruiting Events

A good way to select the best people for a company is through recruiting events. During these event recruiters give interviews to potential candidates, share with the community information and the experience of what it is like working at Facebook

The experience of a day in the life

Working in a team with a collaborative process has better results when looking for a high impact. 
Having a mentor helps somebody ramp up and succeed in a company

Facebook engineering bootcamp

Any engineer that wants to work at Facebook, has to go through a bootcamp. Bootcamps are great onboarding programs. They are opportunities for working right away, learning everything about the company and having a senior engineer mentor through the whole process

Fix and Learn!

Everybody at Facebook roll in the same direction, so if somebody fails or makes a mistake, the whole team takes responsibility, and all go through the “fix and learn” process

Employee Referrals

The best thing a growing and hiring company can do to find talented people, is ask people already working in the company for candidate recommendations

Diversity at Facebook

At Facebook, being a Latino is not an issue, and employees use the same common english language so no one feels excluded.
There are many ERG’s supported by Facebook to foster diverse communities. Lantin@ is one of their largest groups and is for the latino community

Last words for audience

A professional career in a company doesn’t happen immediately, it is something that is built up to. Go for it! It is better to fail by trying than fail by not trying!
Who is Hugo Castellanos? Find out about him on linkedinThanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones Leave a Comment

Transforming Lives Through Learning: Angela Romero, Principal Manager @ Coursera

Published July 29, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode, I spoke with Angela Romero, Principal Manager at Coursera.  We spoke about her experience working in a PR agency, cold calling and her role in sales at Google, Duolingo as a startup with an e-learning environment giving people practical and fun learning opportunities through technology and access to better jobs, all about Coursera, and the importance of Employee Resource Groups in working environments.

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with Angela via linkedin:

Angela Romero

Want to help us grow? You can:

Mentioned resources:

Time Stamps:

  • 01:43 – Welcoming Angela Romero
  • 02:00 – About Angela and Coursera
  • 02:53 – Angela’s favourite course or specialization 
  • 03:52 – Angela’s favourite learning technique
  • 05:25 – How Angela gets to Coursera
  • 07:55 – What is it like to work in a PR agency
  • 08:41 – When Angela realized she wanted to switch into sales
  • 10:38 – Role at Google in sales
  • 11:01 – Good at cold calling
  • 13:35 –  How Angela would write a perfect pitch email
  • 17:17 – What is the perfect phone call
  • 20:10 – Switching from Google to Duolingo, a startup e-learning environment
  • 23:04 – What Angela was most proud of at Duolingo
  • 26:34 – Why Coursera?
  • 32:10 – Principal Manager at Coursera. What does a Principal Manager do?
  • 34:14 – Coursera’s challenges for the next two quarters
  • 35:29 – Wanting to get into the e-learning industry… What kind of opportunities can I get at Coursera? Where will I be needed the most?
  • 36:52 – What is an ERG(Employee Resource Group)?
  • 42:06 – Angela’s last words

Key Takeaways:
  • Cold calling > “Your pitch is not really done on the call, your pitch needs to be done before. The more resources you do about the person, and why whatever you are selling to that person makes sense for them and for their business, the easier your cold call is going to be.” Learned in PR.
  • It is recommended to do a lot of research about a person before tailoring the message to the business, function of the person and seniority.
  • Phone Calls and emails are done depending the culture. In Latin America phone calls are more popular. Phone calls should be genuine. Emails should be short and genuine too; when you care about doing the right thing for the client, they can tell.
  • Having another language gives people access to better jobs. Duolingo is an app that has personalized education through technology. It is practical and fun for learning another language. Expanded to Latin America with english for latinos!
  • In a startup: It is rewarding for anyone who builds useful things that have a high impact and help others. “In startups you can put together your own strategy, bring your own ideas and learn much more”.
  • For Latinos > The Latino group in the Bay Area is very tight, supportive, and latinos have authentic relationships “We are latinos first, identity is paramount!” 
  • ERG (Employee Resource Group) All about diversity and inclusion! A group created by employees for employees, a space to help people feel they belong, comfortable and proud about their identity; a group that provides support, enhances career development, and contributes to personal development in work environment.
  • At coursera > They want to create a group (HOLA ERG) that will foster family, friends, events and meetings with other ERGs, and will focus on ways to increase the pipeline of latino candidates
  • At Google > HOLA ERG  helped her bring her identity back. Back in FleishmanHillard’s PR environment, there were no latinas in role models and Angela struggled hard to try and fit in. “Non acceptance is not healthy; Tech in the Bay Area is a white dominated industry, so people feel they don’t belong” 

LatinosWhoTech is thought for people to listen and learn about others who have made their way up to Silicon Valley, and are trailblazing a way for them to get there.

For Engineers:

  • Figure out how to we work best with universities and how to create a platform for them to be able to put the credentials on the platform in a more streamlined way.

Who is Hugo Castellanos? Find out about him on linkedin

Thanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones 
Leave a Comment

How to Become a Product Manager without a Tech Background: Erika Torres, PhD

Published July 15, 2019 by hecastel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode, I spoke with Erika Torres, PhD., a Product Manager and Social Scientist, Marketing Officer at Prospanica Sillicon Valley. Erika has a PhD. in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University. We spoke about her path to a PhD, her work as a professor and in hospitals, the 100 career discovery interviews she had for breaking into tech, and what would she do differently if she would have to do her career discovery journey all over again.

Latinos Who Tech is brought to you by Audible. Go to www.audibletrial.com/latinos to claim your free audiobook!

Sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share networking strategies and other personal development tools: Here or at LatinosWhoTech.com

Connect with her via linkedin:

Want to help us grow? You can: Mentioned resources: Show Notes:
  • 01:45 – Welcoming Erica Torres
  • 02:10 – About Erica and her journey in Silicon Valley
DISCOVERING PRODUCT MANAGEMENT Erica is a tracked psychologist fascinated about Tech, people, what inspires them and what gets in their way. She joined the National Institute of Mental Health Program for diverse first generation college students to help her get to Grad school and do an intensive fellowship research at UCSF. Beaten by the system, she started digging into Tech, having her first introduction back at Undergrad school working on an online smoking cessation program, and approaching over 100 people through career discovery interviews, choosing to do Product Management.
  • 06:57 – With a PhD, almost four years as a professor. What was it like?
A PROFESSOR DISCOVERING AREA OF INTEREST Erica was a professor for more than three years, and loved it. It was a job she would do on a side, but unfortunately would not pay her bills. It was through an insight into Psychobiology that she discovered her interest for behavioral medicine and ended up specializing in her postdoc and in hospital settings.
  • 08:43 – From academia to a hospital setting. See patients as a psychologist?
  • 11:57 – Pursuing a PhD, with a job as a professor and job at hospital. Why tech?
WHY TECH? Tech has always been of Erica’s interest, and her exposure began when she met her software engineer husband. After going through career discovery interviews she realized it was the same she had been doing so far, the same skill set, that she wouldn’t have to go back to school to leverage those skills, and found her focus in health.
  • 14:46 – Not going back to school for another degree. Any exposure to data analysis tools? Sql?
  • 16:35 – Curiosity about getting a career in tech. Why Product Manager?
  • 19:31 – The way in which Erica approached people when wanting to do career discovery interviews
  • 26:54 – First opportunity as a Product Manager
FIRST OPPORTUNITY AS A PRODUCT MANAGER Erica was giving a chance to private practice when she got contacted by somebody on LinkedIn looking for a Clinical Product Manager. She was able to do the job as a subject matter expert. It was on a part time basis, and for a whole year testing and experimenting a prototype to see whether she wanted to do the switch or not. “If you want to become a Product Manager, think about what are you a subject matter expert on that is not Tech related. All companies building products for that audience need product managers who can speak that language”
  • 31:58 – What would Erica do differently if she would have to do her career discovery journey all over again  
  • 35:44 – Erica’s last words
Key Takeaways:
  • Three years as a professor >
  • “It was an opportunity to learn more about herself and what she needed to gain more insight about”
  • Doing an insight into psychobiology, helped her discover that she really loved neuroscience and biological basis of behaviour, leading her into behavioral medicine
  • Why tech? >
  • She did career discovery interviews (Informational interviews)to discover what she liked > Before moving into tech, she got to talk with over 100 people in different areas of tech, about their experience and how they got to do what they were doing
  • “It was exactly what I have been doing; same skill set, but different terms” It was something she could do without having to go back to school to leverage skill set
  • “There is an enormous potential in health tech and tech for good”
  • Data analysis tools >
  • SPSS is a friendly user tool
  • Hugo likes Python first because it is very straightforward and has a lot of resources; “Learn how to learn, it is part of the job”
  • Why Product Manager >
  • After career discovery interviews, Erica prepared a spreadsheet with people she talked with and made a theme analysis, picking out common themes she found and writing about them “Mind map of decision making process”
  • “Any path can lead to product management; identifying problems and finding solutions” 
  • “She wanted to make a difference at scale without burning out, preserving her own sanity, keeping true to her own values, and being consistent and stable in her life”
  • Approaching people >
  •  She reached out for people through linkedin, and she searched for them sending concise messages in order to meet them, learn about them, and get new referrals
  • “Network in channels through linkedin to approach people”
  • “It is a small world when coming to latinos in tech, I have made it a point to be more involved in the community through linkedin and slack channels” “If you are in a network, you are inevitably going to find yourself in others”
  • First opportunity as a Product Manager >
  • “Having a supportive spouse and a mission helped her take a significant pay cut and experiment a whole year to see whether she really wanted to do the switch or not
  • Being a subject-matter expert on (expert on something she already knew), helped her become a product manager
  • To listeners > “If you want to become a Product Manager, think about what subject-matter you are an expert on. If you have 10 years experience in public policy, or in secondary education, or transportation or in any particular area or topic not tech related, you are a subject matter expert in that path. All companies building products for that audience need product managers that can speak that language.” “To pivot, you need to leverage the opportunities”
  • “There is  a business and tech component that you need to understand, and a user with whom you need to empathize with”
  • If doing a career discovery journey all over again >
  • “I should have started sooner, there is never a better time than now” 
  • “To pivot in a career, start NOW, do networking, connect with people, learn and take use of resources.”
Who is Hugo Castellanos? Find out about him on linkedin Thanks so much for listening to the show! If you want to know more about this or comment on the show, please join us on LatinosWhoTech or go to Conexiones 
Leave a Comment