Episode 233: Empowering Latinas in STEM with Intel’s Isaura Gaeta

Many barriers stand in the way of a Latina pursuing a career in STEM... from societal and familial norms to high school counselors telling Latinas, and other women for that matter, "maybe you'd be better suited majoring in something else." This experience has been the case for decades. Even if one pushes past discrimination, there are still challenges with a lack of resources, support, and the isolation of being "the only" in the room. 

The numbers say it all: Only 2 percent of Latinas held science and engineering positions, as reported by the National Science Foundation. And that number hasn't changed much in the last seven years. But for Latinas in academia, STEM, and beyond – embracing technology and the power of community are key to accelerating success. 

In this episode, Isaura Gaeta, Vice President of Security Research, Intel Product Assurance & Security Engineering at Intel Corporation, leads by example in her respective field and shares her story to encourage and empower the next generation of Latinas in STEM.

Highlights:

[03:51] Isaura’s journey

[07:53] Overcoming limiting beliefs

[09:51] Building relationships

[15:28] First experience in corporate

[18:50] Gaining access to influential leaders

[22:47] Raising your hand for opportunities

[24:33] Building your personal brand

[27:09] Tips for achieving your goals

[29:39] Staying ahead of the curve

[32:24] Opportunities for the Latino community

[36:41] Accelerating success in the digital age

Quotes:

“Engineering is about helping people. It's about making our lives better.” – Isaura S. Gaeta 

“Always give more than you get back.” - Isaura S. Gaeta

“Remind yourself that you have information that is valuable to share and if you don’t share it, then you may not make the progress that is needed.” –  Isaura S. Gaeta

“Quell that little voice that is telling you that you're not good enough or you're not supposed to be here. Stand up and say - Yes, I am supposed to be here.” - Isaura S. Gaeta 

“Be confident about sharing and asking for what you want.” - Isaura S. Gaeta

About Isaura S. Gaeta:

Isaura leads an engineering team focused on hardware security research including penetration testing, physical attack mechanisms, and outreach to academia. Previously she was GM of systems engineering in the Platform Engineering Group and was responsible for optimizing engineering execution capacity, quality management systems, and operational excellence for a global engineering organization of 18k people. A 30-year veteran of Intel, Gaeta spent the first two decades of her Intel career developing various semiconductor processing technologies. Her work during that period led to two patents and five Intel Achievement Awards, the company’s highest recognition.  Gaeta holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She founded Intel’s Network of Executive Women for the Latin America region and was the chair of Intel’s Hispanic Leadership Council. Outside of Intel, she serves on the board of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley where she chairs the Nominating and Governance committee. The Hispanic IT Executive Council has recognized her six times in the top 100 Hispanic professionals in the IT industry. 

Links:

LinkedIn: isaura-s-gaeta-1a50262

Twitter: IsauraGaeta