Maritza Diaz on allyship
From Panel Discussion: Leaders in Biotech and Engineering · · Women Who Code
“Men in leadership must be active allies — my sponsors were often men who helped my career, and leaders should consciously hire women; I aim for 50/50 in my organization.”
On , Maritza Diaz, Chief Financial Officer at OFG BANCORP, spoke about allyship during Panel Discussion: Leaders in Biotech and Engineering on Women Who Code.
About Maritza Diaz
Maritza Diaz, Chief Financial Officer at Ofg Bancorp, participated in a panel discussion on December 7, 2023, hosted by Women Who Code San Francisco. During the event, Diaz described herself as a mother, an immigrant, and a software engineer with nearly 30 years in the industry, including over 20 years in life sciences. She discussed her decision to leave Thermo Fisher after almost 20 years to start her own company, advising others to "do what you love" and to "be confident, take risks, and follow your passion." Diaz noted that her company provides high-quality engineering jobs in Tijuana, which she said offers overlooked talent life-changing opportunities, and she recounted receiving messages from engineers thanking her for changing their lives. Diaz also addressed strategies for attracting and retaining talent, emphasizing the importance of meaningful work and investment in mentoring and training, stating that "money alone isn't enough." She commented on the underrepresentation of women in technology, recalling being one of three women in her class and often the only woman in the room, and credited mentors and sponsors—often men—for her career progress. Diaz advocated for men in leadership to be active allies and said she aims for a 50/50 gender balance in her organization. She advised focusing on learning agility and soft skills, as technology changes rapidly, rather than on specific programming languages.