My career has been built on a single conviction: influence and executive presence aren't handed out with a title — they're earned by those who lead before anyone asks them to.
I trained as a computer systems engineer at Arizona State University and started out writing software. But I learned early — as a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers — that visibility and self-advocacy matter as much as technical skill. I rose from developer to IT director, then took a consulting engagement to build the mobile strategy for Arizona Public Service that changed everything. It led to roles as Enterprise Architect and then Senior Manager of Architecture and Strategy, reporting directly to the CIO — a seat that required me to earn influence with leaders far more senior than my title suggested.
From there I advised utility executives across the U.S., Canada, the UAE, Chile, Colombia, and Australia, and learned that presence translates across every culture and continent. Eventually I took ownership of a $3 million division, grew it, and sold it for $18 million. Today I serve as Vice President of Digital Data Services and Solutions at SAM.
I coach and speak because I've lived every rung of this climb — developer to director, consultant to owner, and back to enterprise executive — usually as the youngest, newest, or only Hispanic professional in the room. Helping the next generation find their voice is how I give back to the community that launched me.