Spotlight: Mariana Arboleda
Each month we spotlight an advocate for gender diversity who inspires us. This month we are highlighting Mariana Arboleda! Mariana is a PhD student at Universidad del Norte in Colombia and currently a visiting Fulbright scholar at UVA.
I used to call myself a "multi-mediocre" because I love to do and learn about so many things that I could never be good at most of them. But then I learned that I have ADHD and Autism and everything just made sense. Now I'm a proud neurodivergent Colombian engineer, PhD student, teacher, data scientist, and passionate learner.
I actually think that one of the reasons I fell in love with programming is because failing is a big part of the development process. Debugging involves a lot of learning, and every new error also means progress, so I find joy solving those mysteries.
How do you work with technology and/or engineering today?
I wear multiple hats, but all of them involve technology and engineering. In my PhD and teacher role, I'm mostly focused on data science education. Data science is the combination of computer science and math and statistics, and there is a lot of coding and technology involved in the process of turning data into information. Now that AI is so popular, I also teach about AI as I want everyone to understand how it works and be able to use the tools in a responsible and critical manner. And of course, as a data scientist I manage databases, automate tasks, and even create beautiful websites for people to access the data we use in the projects.
What do you remember about your first coding experience?
I remember everything about my first coding experience! I never had the chance to learn about programming when I was in school, and had a very bad stereotype of what a programmer was like, so when I saw that I had a class in college to learn programming I got scared. But when I learned about algorithms, I saw them as a way to organize my thoughts to reach a solution and was automatically engaged. I loved that my code could give me instant feedback (for example, I could try to code a new button and immediately see if the button worked or not), and it just opened a new world to release my creativity.
What was your pathway to working in/studying technology and/or engineering?
My pathway to studying and working in engineering was funny because I never dreamed of being an engineer, I just knew I loved math. When I was close to graduating high school I asked other people what they thought and my favorite older cousin told me he was studying Production Engineering and he liked it. So that was my choice. I enjoyed most classes, but as soon as I learned to code, I tried my best to include coding in everything I did (even when it wasn't necessary), and that is how I knew I wanted to learn more and work in technology.
Why is it important to see more gender inclusivity in technology and engineering fields?
Because it matters! I studied in an all-girls school and no one ever told us working in technology or engineering was a possibility for us. There is so much richness in diversity, every person offers new perspectives and we need to have that in our fields.
Who inspires you to pursue your passion? Why?
So many women who I work with or have had the opportunity to teach. But right now I would say is Kim Wilkens. I see all the work she does (such as tech-girls) and it is inspiring. She has also helped me gain more confidence, feel proud of my work and celebrate what I do.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Just keep saying yes to opportunities, you deserve them. And also, speak louder and stop saying sorry before expressing your ideas! Even if you are the only woman in the room, make room for yourself.












