The Big Sip

Rocio Van Nierop is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Latinas in Tech, an influential non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and connecting Latinas across the entire tech ecosystem. A force of nature herself, Rocio's drive and tenacity has led the organization in welcoming more than 20,000 women that work at more than 100 of the top technology companies spanning 6 different countries. Rocio's prominent role in the tech industry spans for more than two decades and has helped support international technology expansion for markets like Latin America and the Silicon Valley. She was previously the General Manager of Prezi Latin America, making Prezi one of the leading presentation platforms pushing the boundaries of innovation and effective communications. Though she has had much success, her career has not come without challenges, especially as she looks back and acknowledges being the only Latina woman in an equivalent leadership level position in the industry for the first 20 years of her career. According to the PEW Research Center only 2% of LatinX individuals are currently represented in STEM. One of her prominent roles with Latina in Tech is empowering companies to not only seek out diverse talent, but ensure that Latinas in tech are being placed in senior level management positions where they have the ability to lead projects, implement their ideas, and help maintain their growth. Besides Latinas in Tech, Rocio has participated on multiple boards of charitable organizations that prioritize the active participation and integration of underrepresented women of color. She co-founded Silicon Valley Day--a conference that brings the best minds of Silicon Valley to multiple cities and countries in Latin America. A proud Bay Area native, born to Mexican parents, Rocio has also given back to her local community by assisting the creation of Red Global de Talentos Mexicanos in San Francisco, as well as the EXATEC alumni group in San Francisco, and serves as an advisor to the cultural festival MEXAM in San Francisco. Sip with us til the end--she's got some nuggets of wisdom for the world--and don't forget to support by following along at @latinasintech SHOUTOUT TO ALL MY LATINA BEBESOTAS IN TECH!