Her Story
About Maria
I'm a woman who likes to do things differently, and I don't want others to tell me what is best for women. I'm a big supporter of women doing things different. My advocate passion is to encourage women to take the lead in tech, not just AI, but physical AI. I don't want women to tell others what to do or what is good for you based on standards. It's not about women, it's about empowering women. This is why I took this email and responded, because I like that you empower women to be the leaders. In my programs that I run, I collaborate - I'm on the board of advisors for a film foundation in California where we do documentaries to raise awareness around human rights. I'm also on another board of advisors working with schools to empower women in robotics and to make them think about that they belong to any field that they want to pursue, whether it's robotics that is mostly men, or leadership, to make sure that they have the knowledge to keep their path to college in a way that they want to experience and to give them that information. What I enjoy most is having a place at the table and having critical thinking with brilliant minds. I love that people count on everyone that has something to say, because I've been working so hard to understand in my field how technologies improve human lives and how to solve problems.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maria
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, don't give others the power over you. If you have something that you think you want to do, don't allow others to tell you that it's not your field or is not what you have to pursue. I challenge what others think - if others tell you what you're good at or what you're not good at, you have to think about what you want to do and not be influenced by others telling you what to do. If you have a passion around dedicating your life in a physical world where you can make an impact, you have to work hard to know what your knowledge is and where you want to understand. You have to push yourself. You are not leaders because you take a nap. You are a leader because you are working hard, and you know that showing what you are capable of in front of a room where you are the only woman - you don't have to be shy about who you are or the knowledge that you want to share. Even though sometimes you have people in the room saying this is not the topic we are talking about, if you have a great idea, make it your own and demonstrate to others that you are competent. It takes time. Maybe the first time they don't know you and they don't know what you are good at, but when you demonstrate every day, they will notice you. But it's not enough, because no one is gonna tell you, hey, now you deserve the right to be a leader. You have to say, this is what I am. I want to be in that position because I have the competence to be in that place and to have a place at the table.
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