meet the nominees

STEM Woman AWARD 2024

Carol is known for her incredible ability to balance many responsibilities, leaving others amazed by how she finds time for it all. A Brazilian mother of two, Paulo (9) and Ana (12), she has lived in Barcelona with her family for the past 8 years. With over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing within the IT industry, Carol is currently a global channel program leader at Schneider Electric. She is also recognized by CRN as a top woman in IT, mentors women in leadership, leads the LetsGoEngineering project, serves as a cultural diversity ambassador, and is working to expand STEM Women Congress to Brazil.

Anna Cejudo is a serial entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in tech startups, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. She co-founded Ideafoster, acquired by Canvia in 2018, and currently serves as co-founder and co-CEO of Founderz, Microsoft’s Worldwide Learning Partner. She leads the “Unstoppable Women” initiative, which has empowered over 700 women to learn AI. Recognized by ForbesWomen and the Spanish Government, Anna is also a patron of Female Startup Leaders and a speaker at global events, advocating for female entrepreneurship and AI education.

Esther de Gaspar, a psychology graduate, has leveraged her understanding of human dynamics to shape a successful 30-year career in tech, primarily at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE CDS). As General Manager for Spain and Portugal, she has led initiatives like the “HPE CDS Tech Challenge” and “The CDS Academy,” creating over 600 jobs and fostering young talent across Spain. A champion of diversity and inclusion, Esther is a 2023 TOP LGBTI Leader and has been pivotal in promoting equality, recognized for her leadership with numerous awards, including Ambassador 2023 of Awards of Happiness®.

Eva Guzmán has shown exceptional commitment to STEM throughout her career as an agricultural scientist at Corteva Agriscience, the world’s largest publicly traded 100% agricultural company. As head of laboratory operations at the La Rinconada Research Technology Center in Seville, she leads research teams focused on agricultural innovations and sustainability. Eva is also a strong advocate for gender equality in science, inspiring future generations of women in STEM. Through her leadership, she fosters collaboration between universities and research centers, advancing sustainable agriculture and promoting women in key roles.

Montse is one of the leaders in the field of renewable energies. A renowned lecturer in the field of marketing and now also in the self-consumption sector, she has been the driving force behind InformeSolar, a study that represents the first radiography of self-consumption in Spain. Montse is a member of the management committee of SotySolar, a leading company as it is the first company in the energy sector in which 70% of the members of the management committee are women.

Mirella López Picazo, born in 1986 in Ferez, Albacete, always knew she wanted to be a scientist, driven by her curiosity and desire to improve people’s lives. She studied telecommunications engineering at UPV and discovered her passion for biomedical engineering. Her career has been marked by research and development of medical diagnostic methods using biomedical images. With multiple scholarships, including La Caixa, she completed a Master’s and an Industrial Doctorate. Now, as Senior R&D Scientist at 3D-Shaper Medical, she continues to innovate, focusing on improving osteoporosis diagnostics and medical imaging technologies.

Carla, a visionary in combining science and business, pursued an MBA in biotech and pharmaceuticals after gaining experience in research labs in the Netherlands and Germany. Now an expert in innovation, tech transfer, and business management in healthcare, she has over 8 years of experience. Carla has lectured in Translational Medicine and coached many STEM students. As CEO and co-founder of D-Sight, a VHIR spin-off, she became the first “entrepreneur in residence” at the institute, earning recognition such as the Women Start-Up Awards 2023 for her groundbreaking contributions.

Eva Miranda played a central role in the Catalan Women’s Mathematics Olympiad, acting as a role model throughout the event, including the presentation, lunch, and award ceremony. As a Full Professor at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and a distinguished researcher, Eva is celebrated for her ability to convey complex mathematical ideas with clarity. In addition to her outstanding research contributions, she actively promotes mathematics to the public, particularly inspiring young women. Eva’s participation in initiatives like the #CientificasCASIO project showcases her commitment to gender equality in STEM.

Susana Romero is a passionate Environment, Health, Safety & Wellbeing Manager. Her mission is to utilize technological innovation to transform HSE management, minimizing risks and ensuring the well-being of people and the environment.

Elena Salgado has been President of the Abertis Foundation since 2020. With a background as an Industrial Engineer and degrees in Economic Sciences and an MBA, she has had a distinguished career in both public and private sectors. Notably, she served as Spain’s Secretary of State for Telecommunications and held ministerial positions, driving key digital transformations like electronic prescriptions and digital banking. She actively promotes women in STEM, leading initiatives such as the “Women and Engineering” Project, and is a strong advocate for gender equality through her alliance with UNICEF on STEM careers for vulnerable girls in Mexico. Elena has been honored with numerous awards, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos III and the French Legion of Honor.

Ana is the sponsor of the STEM Team at Volkswagen Group España Distribución, where the team is deeply committed to initiatives that inspire girls and women to pursue STEM careers, aiming for a more diverse and equitable society. Our mission is clear: “Inspiring diverse and inclusive vocations in generations to come.” This year, we decided to think big by launching a STEM tour through rural areas, where access to such opportunities is often limited. With the support of STEM Women Congress, we will visit 20 villages and reach over 1,000 children, making a lasting impact.

Daniela has successfully led Walmart Mexico and Central America’s digital transformation, playing a key role in adopting new technologies and migrating the largest regional HRMS to a modern platform. She implemented cutting-edge supply chain technologies and established PMO practices across five countries. Beyond her tech expertise, Daniela is passionate about empowering women in tech. She founded the “Women in Tech” initiative, creating a supportive community for women across multiple countries. Her leadership and dedication have earned recognition from top executives, inspiring future generations of women in STEM.

Ana Gabriela Valdiviezco is an Electronics Engineer and Master in Big Data with over 20 years of experience in public policy for technology democratization and inclusion. She was the first Ecuadorian woman to lead key positions like President of the National Telecommunications Council. Ana founded the Digital Transformation Observatory of Ecuador and leads initiatives like Niñas y Mujeres TIC.ec, STEMINISTAS, and DigitalMentes. Recognized globally, she won the Women That Build Awards 2022 and was named “The Hacker of STEAM Stereotypes” by Forbes for her work empowering girls in STEAM.

Katrina Walker is the founder and CEO of CodeOp, a coding school based in Barcelona that is dedicated to empowering women, trans, and non-binary individuals in the tech industry. Through CodeOp, Katrina aims to create a more inclusive and diverse tech community by providing specialized training and support for underrepresented groups in the field. Her work at CodeOp is focused on bridging the gender gap in tech and fostering a welcoming environment for all.

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