Meet Maria Jose A. (she/her), a New Face of Tech winner who is getting her MBA at Columbia University.

What is your dream?

My dream is to lead and scale tech-enabled initiatives by growing my family’s software company in Colombia and using technology to drive economic mobility and social impact for underserved communities in Colombia.

Please share how you feel about the win and what impact it will have on your career.

This award is a powerful vote of confidence in my journey into tech. It allows me to deepen my technical skills during my MBA while reinforcing my commitment to building inclusive, data-driven solutions for Latin America.

What advice do you have for other women reaching for their dreams?

Don’t wait to feel “ready” or perfectly qualified — growth comes from starting before you’re comfortable. Seek out communities that support you, ask for help when you need it, and invest in your skills — even when the path isn’t obvious. Your background is not a limitation; it’s a source of strength that can shape solutions the world actually needs.