Home: San Francisco Bay area. Age: Just hitting my peak! Birthplace: New York, NY. Profession: Technology and cybersecurity. Organization: 3GO. Title: COO. Alma mater: Stanford Business School; Pomona College; Phillips Andover Academy. Heritage: First generation American from Colombia. Languages spoken: English and Spanish.
Current project: Making cybersecurity impactful for consumers. Latest accomplishment: Raising capital for my startup. Latest contribution to others: Working with inner city kids to show them there is a world of opportunities available to them. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Making it out of the inner city (Bronx, NY). Hobbies: Being outdoors and testing new technology. Recent travel or adventure: Drinking a glass of whiskey with glacier ice while hiking in Patagonia. Last book read: The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. Recently viewed and recommended: Alone. A reality series featuring people surviving on their own in the wilderness.
Personality profile: Driven, humorous, inventive. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Analytical. How do you define a perfect friendship? Fun, rewarding and supportive. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Transparent and mutually beneficial. What is your greatest joy? My daughter and my dog. What is your guilty pleasure? Trading stocks. What natural talent have you neglected? Writing stories and poems. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Travel. 45 countries and counting. What is at the top of your bucket list? Polar Bears in Alaska and Canada. How do you relieve stress? A good workout. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Adventure.
What was your first paying job? In the mailroom at a law firm. What was your favorite college course? Game Theory. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The original Matrix. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Art from countries I have visited. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Be humble. You can learn something from everyone you meet. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Learn to adapt your style to be able to make connections with those you work with. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? The smart phone. The world’s information at your fingertips wherever you are. What is your go-to source of news and information? Customized Google feed. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Growing up in the inner city.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
Engagement and partnership are the keys to greater security for more people.
What change would you like to see in the world? Increased focus on empathy. If we can put ourselves in each other’s shoes, we can find common ground. What widely held belief do you reject? That the world is getting worse. By most measurable metrics, we are improving as a species. What mega-trend most excites you? Our increasing ability to outsource non-essential functions to technology.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? The Never Ending Journey: A tale of discovery and fun. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A creative writer. I love books and reading. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My dog. Everything else can be replaced. What advice would you give your younger self? Deepen and strengthen the connections with the important people in your life (professors, colleagues, friends).
Personal mission: Mentoring and investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs and trailblazers. Personal motto: Your passion shapes your life and that of those around you. Favorite quote: “It’s funny, the more I practice, the luckier I get" (Arnold Palmer).
