Cerritos College partnered up with Sabio for the Stem Symposium on Feb. 9 at 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. The event took place at the LC55 teleconference room near the library.
This event presented tech professionals from all over the globe. It featured people, from Microsoft and Airbnb who discussed how technology is changing for the better, and encourages everyone to join tech, and be their own entrepreneur. They had a free lunch and raffle at the end for people who joined the discussion.
The second half of the Stem Syposium which started at 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., the panel included people from the field., Noramay Cadena, who worked for Boeing for six years, but quit to start her own entrepreneurship called MakeinLA.
The business owners in the panel discussed how they started their own business, how they quit their jobs to start their own business and what made them successful.
Gregorio Rojas, CEO of Sabio, a software engineering program that teaches coding.
Rojas stated during the discussion panel, “Everyone deserves an opportunity to make a change and the world of software definitely rises to those opportunities. ” discussed how he started Sabio, and becoming a software developer.
Rojas also spoke about what made his company successful, such as networking and knowing what the business is about.
Noramay Cadena discussed her job at Boeing, and spoke about her mentors, and discussed about how she was promoted five times, she also spoke about entrepreneurship, and how she left her job to start her own business.
Cadena wants to get more people into these jobs, she believes that everyone deserves an opportunity in tech. “After ten to twelve years in the industry I never felt more smarter than people than I have felt in the first two weeks, trying to craft my own future.”
When asked about why she started her company, she responded, “Fight and hate my life, or fight and craft my own company.”
A resource that was valuable for her was when she first started MakeinLA, even though she felt she was incapable, she was also fearful, “That fear led me to do tons of research.” Cadena stated.
Another person who joined the panel discussion is CEO and Founder of My Money, My Future, Ramona Ortega made a business which empowers Latina women to be entrepreneurs.
Ortega, spoke about how she started her business and the type of resource that she leveraged in taking her business, My Money My Future, to the next level.
She spoke about how networking is key in any business — starting with no money, she said the key to being successful is building a network, have an email list, as well as being prepared for the opportunity once it comes up.
Ortega brought up a good point, “Diverse founders, create diverse teams.” When asked about that she said, “We have to step up to the plate and we have to be comfortable, and take risks.”
The panel jumped in on questions from the audience in the room, and gave great advice for future entrepreneurs, Ramona Ortega noted, ” Solve the real problem, be very clear about what problem your solving, be very clear about how your solution really solves that problem, and understand how you are going to execute it.”
The last half of the Stem Syposium discussed careers in tech, they started with an introduction of the panel, and how they started in tech, and advice they would give people who want to have a career in tech.
The panel included:
- Jasmine Mora – Airbnb, public affairs
- Andrea Guendelman – Ceo, Bevisible
- Carlos Ayala – Software Developer
- Annie Bubinski – Microsoft
Andrea Guendelman, co-founder of BeVisible, which is an online platform for lartinx, for Latina’s, and people who are minorities.
She was born in Oakland, and raised in Chile. She was a lawyer for a while and then, got involved in the innovation economy.
Annie Bubinski works for Microsoft as an evangelist program manager. she has been in the work force for three years.
Bubinski graduated from the University of Southern California three years ago. She delivers technical presentations teaching people about Microsoft technology’s. She likes to work with the community at their city events and conferences.
When asked about advice she would give to people who want to join tech, ” You must be flexible, open minded and willing to learn.”
Carlos Ayala is a software developer was born in El Salvador, he came to the United States 10 years ago.
He spoke about going from being a low salary employee, to being enrolled in tech as a software engineer.
Jasmine Mora is born and raised in Wilmington, CA. Mora was the first of her family to graduate high school and go to college. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University.
Mora knew she always wanted to help people, she wanted to get into politics, spent six years working for politicians and congress in California.
Mora came back to Los Angeles two years ago, she now works for Airbnb doing public affairs.
She helps the company communicate with cities, she educate cities and lawmakers on why technologies and tech companies can help further the communities.
