Nikki Barua with Some Pragmatic Adivce in a Highly Engaging Conversation 1. Adapt to constant, fast change. 2. Unique human skills set us apart → what are they? You'll have to listen to the interview to find out! 3. AI empowers entrepreneurs. 4. Attitude, not age, drives adaptation. 5. Begin change with people, not tech! Here's a win-win proposal → listen to or watch this episode on YouTube, Spotify, iHeart podcasts, or Apple podcast then → comment, like, maybe even share the episode 🏆 What to do you get out of it? → pragmatic advice on how AI is impacting our world and your job 🏆 What do we get out of it? → If the audience grows, the show grows, the conversatoin grows

Just attended an incredible Meetup at Toyota Connected North America featuring keynote speaker Nikki Barua — and I’m still reflecting on the impact of her message. Nikki’s talk on burnout and resilience in the tech industry was nothing short of transformative. What truly resonated with me was her vulnerability in sharing the hidden costs of high performance and the toll that relentless pressure can take. In an industry that thrives on speed, innovation, and constant change, it’s easy to ignore the early signs of burnout. Nikki reminded us that ambition doesn’t have to come at the expense of well-being. Her framework for sustainable success — built on boundaries, mindfulness, and intentional energy — felt like a roadmap I didn’t know I needed. As someone who’s passionate about team culture, motivation, and creative leadership, her message hit home. We can be limitless — but only if we lead with curiosity, courage, and contribution. Huge thanks to Efren Toscano, Lucas Smith, and Lisa Frey for hosting such a thoughtful and energizing event. Grateful for the insights, the inspiration, and the reminder that thriving is just as important as achieving. Leadership #Resilience #TechCulture #BurnoutPrevention #ToyotaConnected #NikkiBarua #LionFocus Scrum Alliance, Scrum.org, Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS) Coaching and Training, Leadership First

What an amazing night with Nikki Barua at our #DTX meetup last night! Nikki has an incredible story of the realization of what burnout (hint: It's different than "stress!") can do to the body and the mind. She shared her tips to break through the burnout! Such an inspirational story and some great perspective as we head into a very busy time of year! Loved seeing Monica Marquez, an incredible mentoring session facilitator live instead of on camera! Super thrilled to see Sydney Frey attend a professional event and get the chance to see her DTX logo designs LIVE! Hope to see everyone at our end of year celebration on December 4! #DallasTechXchange #MentalHealthInTech #TechCommunity

Nikki Barua spoke on the topic "From Burnout to Breakthrough" at the Dallas Tech Exchange. Last night's talk on burnout was exactly what we needed right now. The game-changer: Stress ≠ Burnout and Become an Executive Athlete🦁 If you're working hard but still see a path forward, that's stress, and you're managing it. However, if you feel hopeless and see no end in sight, that indicates burnout. It's important to pay attention to that signal. Nikki covered several important points: - Identifying early burnout triggers such as overload, lack of control, and values conflict. - Burnout-proofing strategies through the 3 Ws framework: Workload, Worth, and Wiring. - Designing for peak performance by establishing boundaries, prioritizing recovery, and practicing self-care. What I learned is the importance of separating our self-worth from our output. We need to focus on being human beings rather than human doings. Additionally, discipline, rather than willpower or motivation, is the pathway to freedom. Thanks to #DTX rockstars Efren Toscano, our esteemed host, as well as Lucas Smith and Lisa Frey for their support, and our speaker for bringing this critical topic to life. Now it's your turn: What keeps you hopeful when work becomes overwhelming? DallasTech #BurnoutPrevention #TechLeadership #MentalHealthInTech #DallasTechExchange

What a Night at #DTX! Our October Dallas TechXchange event with Nikki Barua was nothing short of incredible. The audience was fully locked in, and even after the Q&A ended, a line of people remained eager to keep the conversation going. Nikki’s talk struck a chord with so many. She reminded us that: - The opposite of burnout isn’t balance — it’s alignment. - Stress ≠ Burnout. Stress means there’s still hope; burnout means no end in sight. - Discipline is the only path to real freedom. Her “3Ws” framework —Workload, Worth, and Wiring — gave us the tools to design our work and lives for sustainable success. A special shoutout to Lisa Frey for her live visual sketch of the session. A vibrant capture of Nikki’s insights and energy! Thank you to Lucas Smith for helping keep this community alive and thriving, to Toyota Connected North America for hosting, and to everyone who joined us, shared your stories, and helped make this one of our most impactful DTX sessions yet. Make sure you stay connected with us so that you don't miss out on all the #Turbolegit content we produce: lnkd.in/gJjsdg2i #DallasTechXchange #Leadership #Wellbeing #MentalHealthInTech #Resilience #BurnoutPrevention #TechCommunity #DallasTech

Last night I attended a meet-up and the City of Plano at Toyota Connected North America to hear Nikki Barua, the founder of Reinvention Roadmap, speak about Burnout. This is where I make an obligatory joke about how “I'm not young…” and use some Gen-Z term, but she had 100% ‘Aura’ and no negative ‘riz’. But in layman's terms, I am no longer bemused about the factors that cause burnout. She delivered a very passionate intro to her speech about having to go to the hospital and having high blood pressure because of burnout. Nikki spoke about burnout, maybe at the end; however, the feeling of being overloaded is what led up to the burnout. The causes of overload: Whether it was “Lack Of Control,” which could be no autonomy in the workplace. Values conflict, or the feeling of being disconnected from the values of others. An additional item could be an insufficient reward (doing something for nothing). That (lack of reward) indirectly leads to isolation or feeling excluded from the team. Lastly, a culture of unfairness, lack of trust, or a culture of favoritism can all become added stressors when you’re giving 100%. Throughout all of this, Nikki delivered an antidote, mentioning, “The opposite of burnout isn’t balance. It’s alignment.” She went on to say, “Get fully centered and understand your day; GET INTO YOUR 90-MINUTE FLOW ZONE with 0 distractions!!” as she flashed a picture of her calendar on the display. Then Nikki transmitted a statement I thought should be seared into everyone’s mind: “Discipline is the only path to real freedom.” Essentially, saying that removing external stimulants and getting into a flow zone is how you attain your work goals. In sum, design the environment that is lower stress and helps you be at your best!! Avoid a stressful environment, and go back to what you loved as a kid (for cognitive relief). Nikki expressed her love for literature and lounging in the library as a child. Which makes complete sense, Nikki is a published author, and her Beyond Barriers Book: How To Unlock Your Limitless Potential is available on Amazon. Thanks to Efren Toscano, Lisa Frey, and Lucas for being great hosts. It was also great to see some familiar faces like Paula Lipnick, MBA, Ja'Mesa Dixon, MBA, and Manju L.

“None of us rise alone - we rise together.” Thank you, Nikki Barua, for reminding us of this truth at the SHPEtinas Luncheon. On Day 3 of the SHPE National Convention, we celebrated our STAR honorees and Lifetime Members — proof that when one rises, we all rise. #SHPE2025

What a week! I had an incredible experience attending the SHPE National Convention in Philadelphia. On Thursday, I joined a wonderful Rewriting the Code breakfast, where I connected with fellow RTC members and gained valuable career insights from Constanza Figuerola from Goldman Sachs, as well as recruiters from NVIDIA, Capital One, and GoDaddy. On Friday, during the career fair, I had the chance to meet with many amazing companies and recruiters. I'm especially grateful to have connected with Angel Porras from Ford Motor Company, who shared a similar background and gave me confidence in what a career in CS & Math can look like. Later that day, I attended the SHPEtinas Luncheon, "Rise Together: The Power of Sisterhood in the AI Age." I left feeling uplifted, empowered, and deeply inspired. Some key takeaways from Nikki Barua (CEO, Latinas in Tech) that resonated with me: 🌟 Don't let fear define you 🌟 Embrace authenticity: what makes you different is what makes you powerful 🌟 Learn to take bigger risks and dream bigger On the final day of the convention, I had great conversations with Andres Leonard-Calcano from Honeywell and Santiago Ibarra from Ansys, learning more about their experiences in the tech industry and receiving valuable advice for students like me. I'm so grateful for all the professionals and students I met this week. I'm excited to bring everything I've learned back to Columbia University and continue growing as an engineer. #SHPE2025 #SHPEConvention #SHPEtinas #LatinasInSTEM

As the week wraps up, I can’t help but express my gratitude to SHPE and everyone that made the #SHPE2025Convention in #Philadelphia possible. For four event-packed days, I met with numerous like-minded peers, nurturing company representatives, and inspiring Latin@ leaders. From the University of Michigan, I met Ana Agustin-Mazariegos, who not only kept my company at several workshops, but also encouraged me to take courageous leaps into my career and networking. With everyone that I met, I saw a reoccurring pattern: everyone wants the best for you and will provide you with encouragement and resources to see you succeed. It was delightful to meet all of you, and I hope to keep seeing you all succeed! With a curiosity in CAD and computer simulations, it was exhilarating to hear from Eric Sosa as a CAE Engineer at General Motors. I received amazing suggestions on different software he has used in the industry which I am thrilled to explore moving forward. I met many other company representatives from incredible organizations, like Procter & Gamble, American Honda Motor Company, Inc., and Caterpillar Inc.. It was such a valuable experience to get a glimpse about company values, experience, and culture from current employees. Lastly, I would love to highlight Nikki Barua for her commendable speech during the SHPEtinas Luncheon hosted by Latinas in Tech. Her presentation stuck with me as a young latina who is developing as a young professional. She encourages us to become comfortable with rejection, but to never let that deter us. Thank you to everyone for making this convention amazing and unforgettable!

This past weekend, I attended the SHPE 2025 National Convention in Philadelphia 🎊 It was an amazing experience where I had the opportunity to network, hear from incredible leaders, like Suzanna Valdez Wolfe, SHPE CEO, and learn extensively about companies and leadership through inspiring workshops. I had the chance to connect with amazing professionals and recruiters from companies like Merck, Medtronic, Eli Lilly and Company, Regeneron, and many more. I attended a Merck workshop that had an amazing panel, including two RPI alumni, Christian Franquiz Santos and Jo-Ann Diaz Hernandez, and three other accomplished leaders: James Totten, Priscilla Robinson, and Pablo Botero. They explored how to successfully transition from academia to industry, emphasizing that meaningful connections are crucial. I also had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with Ruben Moore, and I’m thankful for all his help and valuable insights. I also attended a GE HealthCare workshop that discussed how to assert yourself in the workplace as a minority and how to battle imposter syndrome. Jose Robles, Tino Parra, Marina Jimenez, Andres Flores-Martinez, and Jessica shared personal stories that highlighted the importance of mentorship in professional growth and how practical networking opportunities with industry professionals can shape the future of health. Another great moment was the Sisterly Love Workshops with SHPEtinas. It reminded me how important supporting each other is and how impactful it is to connect and share stories among inspiring women. Lastly, I had the opportunity to attend the Excellence in STEM Luncheon and hear about those in STEM who are changing lives through their community outreach, work, and research, as well as the SHPEtinas Luncheon: Rise Together – The Power of Sisterhood in the Age of AI, where I heard Nikki Barua share motivating stories about helping leaders and organizations adapt to the AI-driven transformation of work and leadership, while inspiring us to never be afraid to speak up in male-dominated spaces. I’m thankful for SHPE - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for allowing me to attend my first SHPE Convention and for allowing me to rePResent both RPI and my beautiful island of Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷 I’m grateful for all the people I met, the new friends I made, and all the speakers and recruiters who made this experience unforgettable! 🎉🌎 #SHPE2025 #Region4 #SHPERPI #FAMILIA

🧡 I had the wonderful opportunity to attend SHPE 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! 💙 Throughout the conference, I networked with incredible STEM students and professionals from across the country. I also had the privilege of being invited to the Procter & Gamble and Texas Instruments hospitality suites, where I connected with inspiring individuals and learned about their career journeys and roles within their companies. In addition to that, I attended workshops hosted by Procter & Gamble and Texas Instruments. ⚙️ At Texas Instruments, I learned about the real-world impact of engineering and how teams from marketing, sales, field applications, and design work together to create innovation in the automotive industry. 🐻 At Procter & Gamble, I gained insight into product supply disciplines and heard from professionals like Paulina Flores and Pedro Gonzalez Ochoa about their experiences and a “day in the life” at P&G. During the career fair, I had the chance to speak with Amanda Fischer from Ford, who shared valuable advice about leadership and professional growth. She took the time to answer all my questions about her journey, overcoming challenges, and what she enjoys most about working at Ford. I truly appreciated how open and encouraging she was. Her insight about taking initiative and learning to lead really stayed with me. 🚘 One of the most inspiring moments of the conference was attending the SHPEtinas Luncheon, where I had the chance to connect with empowering Latinas in STEM and hear from Nikki Barua. She shared three powerful lessons that deeply resonated with me: 🌟 Be comfortable with uncertainty. 🌟 Don’t let fear or failure define you; let setbacks fuel you. 🌟 Embrace your authenticity; you can’t be confident being someone else. Lead with pride. I’m so thankful to Taft College MESA for making this amazing experience possible. 💛🖤 #SHPE2025 #SHPEFamilia #STEM #Engineering #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #Familia #Leadership

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the SHPE National Convention for the first time! 🌟 Throughout the weekend, I participated in several inspiring workshops, including: ✨ Sisterly Love: She Builds, She Leads, sponsored by Procter & Gamble where I explored how technical excellence and leadership come together at P&G, led by Denise Valentina Suárez and Cecilia Colburn 💡 Power Skills for Career Success: Influence, Adapt, Achieve , sponsored by Eli Lilly, and led by Joely Santiago, where I learned valuable lessons about personal growth and building meaningful connections for my career story. ⚙️ From Classroom to Career: Navigating Career Paths in Product Supply at P&G, led by Paulina Flores and Pedro Gonzalez-Ochoa, where we gained valuable insights into professional growth within P&G. I also had the chance to visit the Procter & Gamble Hospitality Suite, where I built incredible relationships with inspiring professionals, and attend the SHPEtinas Luncheon: The Power of Sisterhood in the Age of AI featuring Nikki Barua ! a truly empowering session. 💖 I’m so grateful with SHPE - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for making this experience possible and to the amazing recruiters I met who made my first SHPE Convention truly inolvidable. ✨ Exciting things are definitely coming! 🤭

Love Letters to SHPE, This past week was my first SHPE National Conference, and it was more than I could have ever imagined. From the breakout session with Accenture about AI (and yes, even Bad Bunny), to learning from Nikki Barua , CEO of Latinas in Tech, about breaking down the doors of success. Hearing about personal tech paths / stories with Bank of America. Every moment left me inspired. Being in rooms with such successful and uplifting people has been amazing. I’m walking away from this experience as someone determined to use all this knowledge not only to grow professionally, but to empower others around me. Shout out to my SHPE at VCU family, we did our big one and we will continue to come in and dominate!!!! I have loved experiencing this with you all. From our convention debriefs and celebration, I will cherish every memory. I have a special place in my heart for my fellow SHPETINAS. I can’t wait to see what’s next — thank you to everyone I met and connected with this past week. Until next year, SHPE Familia! 💫 From, A Honduran with big dreams 🇭🇳🇭🇳🇭🇳 #SHPEtinas

✨ The SHPE National Convention was absolutely amazing! Huge thanks to Georgia Institute of Technology for giving me the opportunity to attend as a grad student and represent our graduate programs. I met so many incredible students — helping ease their nerves, sharing application tips, and giving them a glimpse into what life at Georgia Tech is really like 💛🐝 I got to attend so many inspiring workshops, but my favorite by far was the SHPEtina’s Luncheon, where Nikki Barua, CEO of Latinas in Tech, shared her insights on growing your career in the age of AI and how networking + partnership make all the difference. And to top it off, I even had the chance to talk with Congresswoman Luz Rivas about how technology and policy can work hand in hand, such an inspiring conversation! More than anything, I loved giving back: helping with resume reviews, mock interviews, and just connecting with so many amazing people and companies. This is exactly why I love being part of the SHPE community As a first-gen student, being in spaces like this means so much to me. It’s powerful to connect with others who share similar stories, dreams, and determination and most importantly to show that we do belong in these spaces! #SHPE2025 #SHPEFamilia #GeorgiaTech #GraduateSchool #LatinasInSTEM #Networking #AI #Leadership #CareerGrowth #STEMCommunity #RepresentationMatters

Attending the SHPE National Convention for the third time has reminded me just how much growth can happen when you continue to challenge yourself and step into new spaces. Each year, I walk away more confident, more inspired, and more determined to create impact in both my professional and personal journey. Through SHPE, I’ve learned the importance of community — of surrounding yourself with people who push you to be your best while celebrating your authentic self. When I first joined SHPE, I never imagined how much it would shape me. Today, as President of the Manhattan University SHPE Chapter, I’m proud to see how far our chapter has come. With the support of my amazing E-Board, we successfully brought 11 members to this year’s convention in Philadelphia. Seeing our team come together and grow as leaders was one of the most rewarding experiences of the week. The phrase that stayed with me throughout the conference was: “Honoring where I come from while building where I’m going.” This message resonated deeply as I reflected on how my culture, family, and background continue to guide me in everything I do. One of the most impactful moments was attending the SHPEtinas Luncheon. Being surrounded by so many powerful Latina women like Suzanna Valdez Wolfe, SHPE CEO and Nikki Barua was both humbling and inspiring. The conversations centered around leadership, representation, and resilience — all reminders that our presence in these spaces matters and that we have the power to create meaningful change for the next generation. I also had the incredible opportunity to connect with talented professionals and recruiters at the career fair, including: ▫️Rudy Torres-Martinez, P.E. from Kimley-Horn ▫️Sofia Serna, Diego Flores and Bruna Vailant from DPR Construction ▫️Gabriel Espinoza and Mike Krissinger from Bechtel Corporation ▫️Andrea Diaz-Gonzalez, EIT and Guillermo Leon from Turner Construction Company ▫️Rene Velasco and Alexandra Blel from Mortenson ▫️Matthew Caswell and Urias Soto from Skanska ▫️Emily Diangson, Margarita Castro Pereira, Francisco Montenegro, and Raquel E Diaz Diaz from Gilbane Building ▫️Jhon Ballesteros and Celeste Martinez from The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company ▫️Eric Vazquez from Burns & McDonnell These conversations reminded me how valuable it is to connect with professionals who not only represent excellence in their fields but who also share the mission of empowering Hispanic engineers and students across the country. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities SHPE has given me — to learn, to lead, and to connect with others who share the same drive to build a future our parents once dreamed of for us. “Nunca olvides de dónde vienes, porque ahí está la fuerza que te impulsa hacia donde vas.” #SHPE2025 #SHPEFamilia #SHPEtinas #STEM #Leadership #SomosR4 #SHPENYC #ProfessionalGrowth #RepresentationMatters #Philadelphia #Community #HispanicEngineers

I'm so grateful to have attended the National Conference for SHPE this past weekend. It was an amazing gathering of students from all across the nation to celebrate diversity and the accomplishments of Hispanics in technology. Some of my biggest takeaways from the tech talks and presentations I went to: - The SHPEtina Luncheon with Nikki Barua taught me to embrace authenticity and that when you stop trying to fit in, that's when you stand out - Ana Flores Siemsen emphasized the importance of standing up for yourself in the workplace and showing how valuable you are - Anthony A. in the Bank of America Tech Talk urged us to advocate for ourselves, take advantage of opportunities, and form genuine human connections These lessons, and many others, have stuck with me and inspired me. Thank you to the organizers, speakers, and everyone who made this such a valuable experience. At this difficult time in our nation, it was inspiring to have the chance to meet so many other SHPE members and professionals all working towards the mission of supporting our community! #SiSePuede #SHPE25 #SHPE2025 #SHPE

Last week has been nothing but impactful and inspiring as I attended the SHPE2025 National Convention in Philadelphia PA. This was an incredible experience as a first time attendee and certainly won’t be the last. From the empowering workshops and panel sessions to the career fair and multiple meaningful encounters and connections, this was a wonderful opportunity I am grateful to have experienced. As a SHPEtinas lead at my university it was wonderful to meet fellow region 4 SHPEtinas and connect with others across the country. I also got to meet leaders in the Latinas in STEM community including Sonia Lucia C. and Nikki Barua. Meeting all these powerful women and hearing their advice has encouraged me to grow as a leader. I was also happy to listen to the amazing speakers at company sessions and panels that helped shape my perspective as a young professional. Thank you to all the speakers who participated as well as the IPCs and volunteers that were able to make this event a reality and support the strong community of Latinos in STEM. I’d also like to thank SHPE University of Rhode Island. Since being part of the eboard this year it’s been a pleasure and a wonderful journey! Can’t wait for next year familia! #SHPE2026

Nikki Barua with Some Pragmatic Adivce in a Highly Engaging Conversation 1. Adapt to constant, fast change. 2. Unique human skills set us apart → what are they? You'll have to listen to the interview to find out! 3. AI empowers entrepreneurs. 4. Attitude, not age, drives adaptation. 5. Begin change with people, not tech! Here's a win-win proposal → listen to or watch this episode on YouTube, Spotify, iHeart podcasts, or Apple podcast then → comment, like, maybe even share the episode 🏆 What to do you get out of it? → pragmatic advice on how AI is impacting our world and your job 🏆 What do we get out of it? → If the audience grows, the show grows, the conversatoin grows

Just attended an incredible Meetup at Toyota Connected North America featuring keynote speaker Nikki Barua — and I’m still reflecting on the impact of her message. Nikki’s talk on burnout and resilience in the tech industry was nothing short of transformative. What truly resonated with me was her vulnerability in sharing the hidden costs of high performance and the toll that relentless pressure can take. In an industry that thrives on speed, innovation, and constant change, it’s easy to ignore the early signs of burnout. Nikki reminded us that ambition doesn’t have to come at the expense of well-being. Her framework for sustainable success — built on boundaries, mindfulness, and intentional energy — felt like a roadmap I didn’t know I needed. As someone who’s passionate about team culture, motivation, and creative leadership, her message hit home. We can be limitless — but only if we lead with curiosity, courage, and contribution. Huge thanks to Efren Toscano, Lucas Smith, and Lisa Frey for hosting such a thoughtful and energizing event. Grateful for the insights, the inspiration, and the reminder that thriving is just as important as achieving. Leadership #Resilience #TechCulture #BurnoutPrevention #ToyotaConnected #NikkiBarua #LionFocus Scrum Alliance, Scrum.org, Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS) Coaching and Training, Leadership First

What an amazing night with Nikki Barua at our #DTX meetup last night! Nikki has an incredible story of the realization of what burnout (hint: It's different than "stress!") can do to the body and the mind. She shared her tips to break through the burnout! Such an inspirational story and some great perspective as we head into a very busy time of year! Loved seeing Monica Marquez, an incredible mentoring session facilitator live instead of on camera! Super thrilled to see Sydney Frey attend a professional event and get the chance to see her DTX logo designs LIVE! Hope to see everyone at our end of year celebration on December 4! #DallasTechXchange #MentalHealthInTech #TechCommunity

Nikki Barua spoke on the topic "From Burnout to Breakthrough" at the Dallas Tech Exchange. Last night's talk on burnout was exactly what we needed right now. The game-changer: Stress ≠ Burnout and Become an Executive Athlete🦁 If you're working hard but still see a path forward, that's stress, and you're managing it. However, if you feel hopeless and see no end in sight, that indicates burnout. It's important to pay attention to that signal. Nikki covered several important points: - Identifying early burnout triggers such as overload, lack of control, and values conflict. - Burnout-proofing strategies through the 3 Ws framework: Workload, Worth, and Wiring. - Designing for peak performance by establishing boundaries, prioritizing recovery, and practicing self-care. What I learned is the importance of separating our self-worth from our output. We need to focus on being human beings rather than human doings. Additionally, discipline, rather than willpower or motivation, is the pathway to freedom. Thanks to #DTX rockstars Efren Toscano, our esteemed host, as well as Lucas Smith and Lisa Frey for their support, and our speaker for bringing this critical topic to life. Now it's your turn: What keeps you hopeful when work becomes overwhelming? DallasTech #BurnoutPrevention #TechLeadership #MentalHealthInTech #DallasTechExchange

What a Night at #DTX! Our October Dallas TechXchange event with Nikki Barua was nothing short of incredible. The audience was fully locked in, and even after the Q&A ended, a line of people remained eager to keep the conversation going. Nikki’s talk struck a chord with so many. She reminded us that: - The opposite of burnout isn’t balance — it’s alignment. - Stress ≠ Burnout. Stress means there’s still hope; burnout means no end in sight. - Discipline is the only path to real freedom. Her “3Ws” framework —Workload, Worth, and Wiring — gave us the tools to design our work and lives for sustainable success. A special shoutout to Lisa Frey for her live visual sketch of the session. A vibrant capture of Nikki’s insights and energy! Thank you to Lucas Smith for helping keep this community alive and thriving, to Toyota Connected North America for hosting, and to everyone who joined us, shared your stories, and helped make this one of our most impactful DTX sessions yet. Make sure you stay connected with us so that you don't miss out on all the #Turbolegit content we produce: lnkd.in/gJjsdg2i #DallasTechXchange #Leadership #Wellbeing #MentalHealthInTech #Resilience #BurnoutPrevention #TechCommunity #DallasTech

Last night I attended a meet-up and the City of Plano at Toyota Connected North America to hear Nikki Barua, the founder of Reinvention Roadmap, speak about Burnout. This is where I make an obligatory joke about how “I'm not young…” and use some Gen-Z term, but she had 100% ‘Aura’ and no negative ‘riz’. But in layman's terms, I am no longer bemused about the factors that cause burnout. She delivered a very passionate intro to her speech about having to go to the hospital and having high blood pressure because of burnout. Nikki spoke about burnout, maybe at the end; however, the feeling of being overloaded is what led up to the burnout. The causes of overload: Whether it was “Lack Of Control,” which could be no autonomy in the workplace. Values conflict, or the feeling of being disconnected from the values of others. An additional item could be an insufficient reward (doing something for nothing). That (lack of reward) indirectly leads to isolation or feeling excluded from the team. Lastly, a culture of unfairness, lack of trust, or a culture of favoritism can all become added stressors when you’re giving 100%. Throughout all of this, Nikki delivered an antidote, mentioning, “The opposite of burnout isn’t balance. It’s alignment.” She went on to say, “Get fully centered and understand your day; GET INTO YOUR 90-MINUTE FLOW ZONE with 0 distractions!!” as she flashed a picture of her calendar on the display. Then Nikki transmitted a statement I thought should be seared into everyone’s mind: “Discipline is the only path to real freedom.” Essentially, saying that removing external stimulants and getting into a flow zone is how you attain your work goals. In sum, design the environment that is lower stress and helps you be at your best!! Avoid a stressful environment, and go back to what you loved as a kid (for cognitive relief). Nikki expressed her love for literature and lounging in the library as a child. Which makes complete sense, Nikki is a published author, and her Beyond Barriers Book: How To Unlock Your Limitless Potential is available on Amazon. Thanks to Efren Toscano, Lisa Frey, and Lucas for being great hosts. It was also great to see some familiar faces like Paula Lipnick, MBA, Ja'Mesa Dixon, MBA, and Manju L.

“None of us rise alone - we rise together.” Thank you, Nikki Barua, for reminding us of this truth at the SHPEtinas Luncheon. On Day 3 of the SHPE National Convention, we celebrated our STAR honorees and Lifetime Members — proof that when one rises, we all rise. #SHPE2025

What a week! I had an incredible experience attending the SHPE National Convention in Philadelphia. On Thursday, I joined a wonderful Rewriting the Code breakfast, where I connected with fellow RTC members and gained valuable career insights from Constanza Figuerola from Goldman Sachs, as well as recruiters from NVIDIA, Capital One, and GoDaddy. On Friday, during the career fair, I had the chance to meet with many amazing companies and recruiters. I'm especially grateful to have connected with Angel Porras from Ford Motor Company, who shared a similar background and gave me confidence in what a career in CS & Math can look like. Later that day, I attended the SHPEtinas Luncheon, "Rise Together: The Power of Sisterhood in the AI Age." I left feeling uplifted, empowered, and deeply inspired. Some key takeaways from Nikki Barua (CEO, Latinas in Tech) that resonated with me: 🌟 Don't let fear define you 🌟 Embrace authenticity: what makes you different is what makes you powerful 🌟 Learn to take bigger risks and dream bigger On the final day of the convention, I had great conversations with Andres Leonard-Calcano from Honeywell and Santiago Ibarra from Ansys, learning more about their experiences in the tech industry and receiving valuable advice for students like me. I'm so grateful for all the professionals and students I met this week. I'm excited to bring everything I've learned back to Columbia University and continue growing as an engineer. #SHPE2025 #SHPEConvention #SHPEtinas #LatinasInSTEM

As the week wraps up, I can’t help but express my gratitude to SHPE and everyone that made the #SHPE2025Convention in #Philadelphia possible. For four event-packed days, I met with numerous like-minded peers, nurturing company representatives, and inspiring Latin@ leaders. From the University of Michigan, I met Ana Agustin-Mazariegos, who not only kept my company at several workshops, but also encouraged me to take courageous leaps into my career and networking. With everyone that I met, I saw a reoccurring pattern: everyone wants the best for you and will provide you with encouragement and resources to see you succeed. It was delightful to meet all of you, and I hope to keep seeing you all succeed! With a curiosity in CAD and computer simulations, it was exhilarating to hear from Eric Sosa as a CAE Engineer at General Motors. I received amazing suggestions on different software he has used in the industry which I am thrilled to explore moving forward. I met many other company representatives from incredible organizations, like Procter & Gamble, American Honda Motor Company, Inc., and Caterpillar Inc.. It was such a valuable experience to get a glimpse about company values, experience, and culture from current employees. Lastly, I would love to highlight Nikki Barua for her commendable speech during the SHPEtinas Luncheon hosted by Latinas in Tech. Her presentation stuck with me as a young latina who is developing as a young professional. She encourages us to become comfortable with rejection, but to never let that deter us. Thank you to everyone for making this convention amazing and unforgettable!

This past weekend, I attended the SHPE 2025 National Convention in Philadelphia 🎊 It was an amazing experience where I had the opportunity to network, hear from incredible leaders, like Suzanna Valdez Wolfe, SHPE CEO, and learn extensively about companies and leadership through inspiring workshops. I had the chance to connect with amazing professionals and recruiters from companies like Merck, Medtronic, Eli Lilly and Company, Regeneron, and many more. I attended a Merck workshop that had an amazing panel, including two RPI alumni, Christian Franquiz Santos and Jo-Ann Diaz Hernandez, and three other accomplished leaders: James Totten, Priscilla Robinson, and Pablo Botero. They explored how to successfully transition from academia to industry, emphasizing that meaningful connections are crucial. I also had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with Ruben Moore, and I’m thankful for all his help and valuable insights. I also attended a GE HealthCare workshop that discussed how to assert yourself in the workplace as a minority and how to battle imposter syndrome. Jose Robles, Tino Parra, Marina Jimenez, Andres Flores-Martinez, and Jessica shared personal stories that highlighted the importance of mentorship in professional growth and how practical networking opportunities with industry professionals can shape the future of health. Another great moment was the Sisterly Love Workshops with SHPEtinas. It reminded me how important supporting each other is and how impactful it is to connect and share stories among inspiring women. Lastly, I had the opportunity to attend the Excellence in STEM Luncheon and hear about those in STEM who are changing lives through their community outreach, work, and research, as well as the SHPEtinas Luncheon: Rise Together – The Power of Sisterhood in the Age of AI, where I heard Nikki Barua share motivating stories about helping leaders and organizations adapt to the AI-driven transformation of work and leadership, while inspiring us to never be afraid to speak up in male-dominated spaces. I’m thankful for SHPE - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for allowing me to attend my first SHPE Convention and for allowing me to rePResent both RPI and my beautiful island of Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷 I’m grateful for all the people I met, the new friends I made, and all the speakers and recruiters who made this experience unforgettable! 🎉🌎 #SHPE2025 #Region4 #SHPERPI #FAMILIA

🧡 I had the wonderful opportunity to attend SHPE 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! 💙 Throughout the conference, I networked with incredible STEM students and professionals from across the country. I also had the privilege of being invited to the Procter & Gamble and Texas Instruments hospitality suites, where I connected with inspiring individuals and learned about their career journeys and roles within their companies. In addition to that, I attended workshops hosted by Procter & Gamble and Texas Instruments. ⚙️ At Texas Instruments, I learned about the real-world impact of engineering and how teams from marketing, sales, field applications, and design work together to create innovation in the automotive industry. 🐻 At Procter & Gamble, I gained insight into product supply disciplines and heard from professionals like Paulina Flores and Pedro Gonzalez Ochoa about their experiences and a “day in the life” at P&G. During the career fair, I had the chance to speak with Amanda Fischer from Ford, who shared valuable advice about leadership and professional growth. She took the time to answer all my questions about her journey, overcoming challenges, and what she enjoys most about working at Ford. I truly appreciated how open and encouraging she was. Her insight about taking initiative and learning to lead really stayed with me. 🚘 One of the most inspiring moments of the conference was attending the SHPEtinas Luncheon, where I had the chance to connect with empowering Latinas in STEM and hear from Nikki Barua. She shared three powerful lessons that deeply resonated with me: 🌟 Be comfortable with uncertainty. 🌟 Don’t let fear or failure define you; let setbacks fuel you. 🌟 Embrace your authenticity; you can’t be confident being someone else. Lead with pride. I’m so thankful to Taft College MESA for making this amazing experience possible. 💛🖤 #SHPE2025 #SHPEFamilia #STEM #Engineering #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #Familia #Leadership

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the SHPE National Convention for the first time! 🌟 Throughout the weekend, I participated in several inspiring workshops, including: ✨ Sisterly Love: She Builds, She Leads, sponsored by Procter & Gamble where I explored how technical excellence and leadership come together at P&G, led by Denise Valentina Suárez and Cecilia Colburn 💡 Power Skills for Career Success: Influence, Adapt, Achieve , sponsored by Eli Lilly, and led by Joely Santiago, where I learned valuable lessons about personal growth and building meaningful connections for my career story. ⚙️ From Classroom to Career: Navigating Career Paths in Product Supply at P&G, led by Paulina Flores and Pedro Gonzalez-Ochoa, where we gained valuable insights into professional growth within P&G. I also had the chance to visit the Procter & Gamble Hospitality Suite, where I built incredible relationships with inspiring professionals, and attend the SHPEtinas Luncheon: The Power of Sisterhood in the Age of AI featuring Nikki Barua ! a truly empowering session. 💖 I’m so grateful with SHPE - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for making this experience possible and to the amazing recruiters I met who made my first SHPE Convention truly inolvidable. ✨ Exciting things are definitely coming! 🤭

Love Letters to SHPE, This past week was my first SHPE National Conference, and it was more than I could have ever imagined. From the breakout session with Accenture about AI (and yes, even Bad Bunny), to learning from Nikki Barua , CEO of Latinas in Tech, about breaking down the doors of success. Hearing about personal tech paths / stories with Bank of America. Every moment left me inspired. Being in rooms with such successful and uplifting people has been amazing. I’m walking away from this experience as someone determined to use all this knowledge not only to grow professionally, but to empower others around me. Shout out to my SHPE at VCU family, we did our big one and we will continue to come in and dominate!!!! I have loved experiencing this with you all. From our convention debriefs and celebration, I will cherish every memory. I have a special place in my heart for my fellow SHPETINAS. I can’t wait to see what’s next — thank you to everyone I met and connected with this past week. Until next year, SHPE Familia! 💫 From, A Honduran with big dreams 🇭🇳🇭🇳🇭🇳 #SHPEtinas

✨ The SHPE National Convention was absolutely amazing! Huge thanks to Georgia Institute of Technology for giving me the opportunity to attend as a grad student and represent our graduate programs. I met so many incredible students — helping ease their nerves, sharing application tips, and giving them a glimpse into what life at Georgia Tech is really like 💛🐝 I got to attend so many inspiring workshops, but my favorite by far was the SHPEtina’s Luncheon, where Nikki Barua, CEO of Latinas in Tech, shared her insights on growing your career in the age of AI and how networking + partnership make all the difference. And to top it off, I even had the chance to talk with Congresswoman Luz Rivas about how technology and policy can work hand in hand, such an inspiring conversation! More than anything, I loved giving back: helping with resume reviews, mock interviews, and just connecting with so many amazing people and companies. This is exactly why I love being part of the SHPE community As a first-gen student, being in spaces like this means so much to me. It’s powerful to connect with others who share similar stories, dreams, and determination and most importantly to show that we do belong in these spaces! #SHPE2025 #SHPEFamilia #GeorgiaTech #GraduateSchool #LatinasInSTEM #Networking #AI #Leadership #CareerGrowth #STEMCommunity #RepresentationMatters

Attending the SHPE National Convention for the third time has reminded me just how much growth can happen when you continue to challenge yourself and step into new spaces. Each year, I walk away more confident, more inspired, and more determined to create impact in both my professional and personal journey. Through SHPE, I’ve learned the importance of community — of surrounding yourself with people who push you to be your best while celebrating your authentic self. When I first joined SHPE, I never imagined how much it would shape me. Today, as President of the Manhattan University SHPE Chapter, I’m proud to see how far our chapter has come. With the support of my amazing E-Board, we successfully brought 11 members to this year’s convention in Philadelphia. Seeing our team come together and grow as leaders was one of the most rewarding experiences of the week. The phrase that stayed with me throughout the conference was: “Honoring where I come from while building where I’m going.” This message resonated deeply as I reflected on how my culture, family, and background continue to guide me in everything I do. One of the most impactful moments was attending the SHPEtinas Luncheon. Being surrounded by so many powerful Latina women like Suzanna Valdez Wolfe, SHPE CEO and Nikki Barua was both humbling and inspiring. The conversations centered around leadership, representation, and resilience — all reminders that our presence in these spaces matters and that we have the power to create meaningful change for the next generation. I also had the incredible opportunity to connect with talented professionals and recruiters at the career fair, including: ▫️Rudy Torres-Martinez, P.E. from Kimley-Horn ▫️Sofia Serna, Diego Flores and Bruna Vailant from DPR Construction ▫️Gabriel Espinoza and Mike Krissinger from Bechtel Corporation ▫️Andrea Diaz-Gonzalez, EIT and Guillermo Leon from Turner Construction Company ▫️Rene Velasco and Alexandra Blel from Mortenson ▫️Matthew Caswell and Urias Soto from Skanska ▫️Emily Diangson, Margarita Castro Pereira, Francisco Montenegro, and Raquel E Diaz Diaz from Gilbane Building ▫️Jhon Ballesteros and Celeste Martinez from The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company ▫️Eric Vazquez from Burns & McDonnell These conversations reminded me how valuable it is to connect with professionals who not only represent excellence in their fields but who also share the mission of empowering Hispanic engineers and students across the country. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities SHPE has given me — to learn, to lead, and to connect with others who share the same drive to build a future our parents once dreamed of for us. “Nunca olvides de dónde vienes, porque ahí está la fuerza que te impulsa hacia donde vas.” #SHPE2025 #SHPEFamilia #SHPEtinas #STEM #Leadership #SomosR4 #SHPENYC #ProfessionalGrowth #RepresentationMatters #Philadelphia #Community #HispanicEngineers

I'm so grateful to have attended the National Conference for SHPE this past weekend. It was an amazing gathering of students from all across the nation to celebrate diversity and the accomplishments of Hispanics in technology. Some of my biggest takeaways from the tech talks and presentations I went to: - The SHPEtina Luncheon with Nikki Barua taught me to embrace authenticity and that when you stop trying to fit in, that's when you stand out - Ana Flores Siemsen emphasized the importance of standing up for yourself in the workplace and showing how valuable you are - Anthony A. in the Bank of America Tech Talk urged us to advocate for ourselves, take advantage of opportunities, and form genuine human connections These lessons, and many others, have stuck with me and inspired me. Thank you to the organizers, speakers, and everyone who made this such a valuable experience. At this difficult time in our nation, it was inspiring to have the chance to meet so many other SHPE members and professionals all working towards the mission of supporting our community! #SiSePuede #SHPE25 #SHPE2025 #SHPE

Last week has been nothing but impactful and inspiring as I attended the SHPE2025 National Convention in Philadelphia PA. This was an incredible experience as a first time attendee and certainly won’t be the last. From the empowering workshops and panel sessions to the career fair and multiple meaningful encounters and connections, this was a wonderful opportunity I am grateful to have experienced. As a SHPEtinas lead at my university it was wonderful to meet fellow region 4 SHPEtinas and connect with others across the country. I also got to meet leaders in the Latinas in STEM community including Sonia Lucia C. and Nikki Barua. Meeting all these powerful women and hearing their advice has encouraged me to grow as a leader. I was also happy to listen to the amazing speakers at company sessions and panels that helped shape my perspective as a young professional. Thank you to all the speakers who participated as well as the IPCs and volunteers that were able to make this event a reality and support the strong community of Latinos in STEM. I’d also like to thank SHPE University of Rhode Island. Since being part of the eboard this year it’s been a pleasure and a wonderful journey! Can’t wait for next year familia! #SHPE2026