A journey that continues: II edition of #WomenWithTech

Madrid, the northern area. Thursday afternoon, sunny. Our office is quieter on some floors of our office. The hum is coming from somewhere else, because some colleagues are stepping away from their tasks and meetings to be part of the second edition of #WomenWithTech.

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This gathering isn't the second chapter in a journey. María Díaz, Head of Marketing & Communications at Telefónica Tech and host of the event, reflects on how it all began: "Since Telefónica Tech started, we knew we had to work on positioning women both internally and externally. That was the seed of this movement. To me, #WomenWithTech are the women of pride and admiration.”

At the first edition, we opened the event reflecting on how to make women more visible in the tech space. Yesterday, we continued the conversation on a bigger stage—both physically and digitally—with colleagues joining from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the U.S., Ireland, Mexico, Peru, and the U.K. A global event to share vastly different experiences and learn from one another.

In this new edition, our colleagues spoke louder than ever.

Innovating with purpose

The session opened with our colleague Adriana de la Cruz, Product Manager in Innovation and New Business, sharing how her professional life has always been tied to innovation: “For me, innovation isn’t just about disruptive ideas or flashy technologies—it’s about turning those ideas into real value.”

Adriana knew from the start of her studies that she wanted to change the world. She focused her academic and professional path on tangible projects. Along the way, she’s learned a lot about persistence and how to innovate without burning out. Her approach—changing the world on a small scale—is what she calls innovating with purpose, the difference between a fleeting idea and a true transformation. “And I’ll share a piece of advice someone once gave me that I always keep in mind: when facing a problem, there are two solutions. I try to apply that in my everyday life,” she concluded.

Drivers of innovation. Adriana de la Cruz

#733, the value of determination

The journey continues with María Marín, IoT & BD Business Development Manager for Germany. Her path, symbolized by the number 733, speaks to a personal story of resilience in the face of a serious health challenge that pushed her to the edge.

In front of a quietly attentive audience and with a steady smile, María shared her perspective on life. She spoke about the importance of the temporal axis—how our perception of problems shifts depending on how close or distant they are in time: “Problems that feel distant can seem larger and more insurmountable than those close at hand,” she explained.

In the face of adversity, María sees trust as the real challenge: “We have to trust our unknown future selves. Perspectives shift, but trust is always our true ally.” She wrapped up by sharing her biggest insight: in the face of great difficulty, people hold the tools to face anything.

A tech world without limits

Being a woman and being a computer engineer haven’t always gone hand in hand. That’s what Julia Herrera, implementation technician at Geprom, part of Telefónica Tech, realized when she chose this career path a few years ago. She received a wide range of opinions.

She recalled how, when she decided to study computer engineering, she found herself in an environment with very few female role models. This brought up fears—Will my university experience be positive? Will I measure up?—and later, in the workplace—Do I have the necessary skills for this role? Will clients value my opinion?

Fear didn’t stop Julia from chasing her professional dream. Looking back, she feels that her current experience is far more positive than the stories she heard growing up. Still, not all stories are the same. She urges us to seek out role models in tech and beyond, to conquer our fears and go wherever we want to go. In this sense, she sees #WomenWithTech as essential in giving a face and a voice to the women shaping the tech world, and in inspiring the next generations.

The challenge of leading change

“How many of you remember a boss who was a true leader?” That’s how Silvina Ramos, Cyber Security Specialist for SME & B2C—and also a coach and mentor within the company—began her talk. “Bosses and leaders are not synonyms,” she said.

For Silvina, a leader inspires, motivates, and helps every team member recognize their individual value. Leaders empower, develop, challenge us. And what we need is to elevate those leaders who make us better—or to become one ourselves.

“In the tech world, only 17% of CEOs are women,” she pointed out. “And we are strong leaders, because the greater interconnection between our brain hemispheres—as neuroscience shows—supports holistic thinking, multitasking, and empathy.”

She shared her three keys to self-leadership:

• Know yourself better to lead better
• Manage your energy and emotions
• Take charge of your own growth

Motivation, resilience, and a positive mindset

To close the day, we heard firsthand about the career journey of Elena Villar—from joining Telefónica to becoming Global Procurement Director at Telefónica Tech. This was done in conversation with Rebeca Renedo, Global Head of People Talent & Growth at Telefónica Tech.

Elena encouraged us to identify our strengths. She spoke about how each of us has a unique set of skills that make us shine. She urged us not to be afraid to go after our goals and dreams: “We have to be the drivers of our own change. Women often hesitate to say we want to grow professionally. We shouldn't be afraid to voice it. And we shouldn't fear impostor syndrome,” she said.

And what about #WomenWithTech? Elena described the event as “an opportunity to come together with our fellow women and talk about the importance of resilience, focusing on our careers, and the value of mutual support.” Her advice? Perseverance, and follow your intuition.

The power of shared stories

At the heart of #WomenWithTech are life stories. Stories of struggle, growth, and success that serve as inspiration for other women. This year, the speakers reminded us that every step forward, no matter how small, is a major achievement. And the power of collaboration: “Let’s keep building this network so we can continue growing together,” said María Díaz.

As we wrap up this second edition, one truth remains: women in tech are not just the future, we are the present. And the future we’re building today is full of innovation, collaboration, and leadership.

#WomenWithTech is more than just an event. It’s a statement of intent: a commitment to equity, visibility, and empowerment of every woman making the tech revolution possible. Adriana de la Cruz says: “Innovation doesn’t just come from the tools we use, but from the minds using them, and the diverse perspectives that enrich them.”

Here’s to another year of #WomenWithTech!