By Krysten Brenlla
Victoria Saburido Garcia has always embraced taking bold chances. Born and raised in Venezuela, she ventured beyond her home country to study business administration and marketing in Madrid, immersing herself in a new culture. However, after five years in Spain, she chose to move closer to family in the United States, where growth and career opportunities flourished – especially in Florida’s burgeoning tech capital, Miami.
“When I moved to Spain in 2016, computer science didn’t exist, and women in tech was not as prevalent. In Spain, it was a little weird to be a girl in engineering,” Saburido said. “When my dad gave me the opportunity to move to the United States, he told me to find something that I like that would help me grow in the future. I looked into the tech industry, and I remember saying to myself, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’”
After digging through the different college programs in Miami, Saburido decided to tackle an associate’s in science degree in Networking Services Technology with a concentration in Enterprise Cloud Computing at Miami Dade College, a program where students learn the field of network design and administration.
“What influenced me to change my career and get into the tech industry was that I wanted to apply my soft skills in communication with new technical skills,” Saburido said. “I think one of the biggest challenges in the tech sector is the common misconception that people in the tech industry are just behind a computer solving problems, but lacking social skills – and I think that’s something we’re trying to improve within the industry.”
Early in her journey at MDC, a professor shared a piece of advice that left a lasting impression on her: Even if you’re the smartest or most qualified candidate, you won’t land the job without a positive attitude – a core memory she took with her as a guiding principal when she began building her career.
“From that first day, I knew I had made the right choice,” Saburido said. “I thought to myself – ‘This is what I want to do’.”
As an international student, Saburido was eager to start working as soon as possible. Her first job was on campus as a student assistant for MDC’s Center for Financial Training, where she helped finance students secure internships, certifications, and more.
This role became her stepping stone to her next opportunity – an internship with MDC’s Office of Information Technology at the Padrón campus. There, she worked diligently to ensure that faculty, staff, and students had seamless access to technology across campus – crucial skills she took with her as she started her career in the tech industry.
As she was nearing graduation, and only had one year to find a job as an international student, her MDC experiences became yet another pivotal step in her journey toward securing a corporate job in the United States. She also received support from the Miami Tech Works‘ Miami Tech Talent Coalition, a collaboration of employers, academia and community organizations creating new tech pathways for residents and students. Miami Tech Works is funded with a $10 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
“My journey to finding a job was hard – right now, the market is so difficult. You are competing with so many people,” Saburido said. “But I wasn’t afraid to ask.”
For months, Saburido spent countless hours organizing Excel sheets with job opportunities and interview dates. She took what she learned from MDC and began to reach out to recruiters, HR managers, and friends in the industry to help build connections and open doors.
By the end of her job search, she got to choose between three job offers.
On January 13th, 2025 – just two weeks ago – she joined the Wendy’s team as a senior information technology specialist, where she serves as the primary liaison between franchisees and the company’s three help desks, ensuring smooth operations and fostering a positive, productive working environment.
“My advice to anyone looking for a new job or to break into this industry is to not be afraid to ask and network. I would sit in my house, looking for people working in the company, and I would write them messages on LinkedIn introducing myself,” Saburido said. “I just needed one ‘yes.’ ”
When asked about her takeaways from MDC, Saburido credits the people who helped her get to where she is today.
“They would always push me to be better,” Saburido said. “Everything that I learned and know today is thanks to them. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
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For employers: How to get involved in the Miami Tech Talent Coalition
Your involvement can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Miami’s tech industry, creating a vibrant and sustainable tech talent ecosystem. Together, participants can continue to build Miami as an innovative hub and a desirable destination for businesses and tech talent.
- Join the Coalition here. Employers can also specify a work group they are interested in.
- Attend a meeting: The next in-person general meeting will be Feb. 5. Find out more and register here.
- Stay connected with the coalition’s progress and updates by signing up for their newsletter here, reviewing the website here, and following Miami Tech Works on LinkedIn and Instagram.
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- From paramedic to software engineer: Meet Rolando Caceres
- At the Tech Talent Summits and Fest, smart job-hunting advice was in abundance. Here’s some of the best.
- The Cuban native dreamed of earning a degree. Now she’s graduating from MDC and already landed a job in tech.
- Small business resilience takes center stage at Tech Talent Coalition’s year-end event
- From accounting to web development: Meet this Ironhack grad making big strides in programming
- And much more here.
Refresh Miami is a proud partner of Miami Tech Works
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