Empowering Latinas in Engineering: Diana Iracheta's Mission
In this episode of the Smoko Podcast, we speak with Diana Iracheta, a mechanical and manufacturing engineer who founded Latina Engineer, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Latinas in engineering by providing educational and professional development resources.
Diana shares her personal journey into engineering, discussing how her passion for physics and math fueled her pursuit of a degree in the field. She candidly addresses the challenges she faced as a Latina woman in STEM and emphasizes the significance of community and mentorship in building confidence.
In her role as a manufacturing engineer, Diana focuses on automation design and improving manufacturing processes. She highlights the dynamic nature of her work, involving design, training, process writing, and collaboration within a team. Her love for problem-solving and finding creative solutions shines through as she discusses her profession.
Diana also delves into the evolution of Latina Engineer, which started as a blog sharing her STEM journey and tips, and has grown into a thriving community. She discusses the organization's mission to increase representation of Latinas in STEM through events, mentoring programs, scholarships, and the annual International Latina Engineer Week (ILEW) conference.
“I chose the less-traveled path in STEM so that more Latinas could find theirs too.”
– Diana Iracheta
Listen to the Episode
Smoko Podcast: Diana Iracheta on Spotify