Empowering Puerto Rico’s Women Tech Leaders

Nearly 50 women from Puerto Rico’s tech and innovation sectors came together in San Juan for the first Women Trailblazers Connect event. It was held at Parallel18’s headquarters and aimed to support women in technology and build stronger networks among female professionals in the industry.

The event was organized by Ironhack, Parallel18, and Tech SHEroes PR. It featured a networking session and a panel discussion moderated by Yaneisha Pérez Padilla, General Manager of Ironhack Puerto Rico. The panel included top professionals from the local tech and business community.

Among the speakers were Arelis Noemí Díaz, Vice President of IT Process and Governance at MCS Puerto Rico; Camille Burckhart, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Banco Popular; Gannett Ramos, Senior Vice President of IT at MCS Puerto Rico; Nichole Columna, CEO of Piezas Rush; and Myra Ruiz, Vice President of Software Development at Evertec.

Each panelist shared insights about their career paths, the challenges they faced, and how they overcame obstacles in leadership roles. They also gave practical advice to women who want to build careers in technology. Discussions focused on key themes such as innovation, leadership, resilience, and visibility of women in high-growth sectors.

The event also highlighted the unique missions of the organizing groups. Ironhack provides digital skills bootcamps and training for those entering tech careers. Parallel18 offers support to startups through funding and mentorship. Tech SHEroes PR works to increase the number of women in Puerto Rico’s technology industry through education and empowerment.

After the panel, participants joined a networking session where they talked about future collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and ways to support one another in the tech space. Attendees shared contact information and discussed launching community-led tech projects to build on the energy of the event.

Women Trailblazers Connect is set to be the first in a series of events aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in Puerto Rico’s tech sector. The organizers plan to host more gatherings focused on specific areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship.

This initiative comes at a time when the tech industry in Puerto Rico is growing rapidly, yet women still face challenges in gaining equal access to leadership roles. According to global studies, women occupy less than one-third of tech jobs worldwide. Local events like Women Trailblazers Connect help close this gap by creating spaces where women are encouraged, recognized, and connected.