By Krysten Brenlla
In the heart of downtown Miami at citizenM Miami World Center, three Miami organizations – Women in Miami Tech, Refresh Miami, and Venture Miami – kicked off a new series of events to help empower women to grow within Miami’s growing tech scene.
YOU BELONG, which was made possible by a grant from Venture Miami, aims to provide educational content, networking, and career growth opportunities through different events – like panels, educational workshops, and interactive sessions – designed to help women in tech thrive.
“The YOU BELONG series is really focused on educating folks and getting them into the tech industry,” said Maria Derchi Russo, executive director at Refresh Miami, to a room full of tech enthusiasts, founders, investors, and community members. “It’s all about supporting each other in this ecosystem.”
Attendees had the opportunity to tap into a panel that explored the topic “Breaking into and Excelling in the Tech Industry,” featuring Lara Danguillecourt, Growth Strategy & Operations at Uber; Mariana Rego, Senior Product Manager at BrainPOP; Danielle Ungermann, Senior Customer Success Manager at Picsart; and Javier Ramirez Lugo, Founder of Cuota.
“Tech is very broad – it’s not just one area that you can work in. If there’s something that you’re passionate about, whether it’s health tech, education, or crypto, you can research those companies and see what skills you need to acquire to bridge that gap,” said Ungermann. “There’s a wide array of options, especially in Miami, where there’s a lot of enthusiastic people that are ready and willing to help you.”
To add to that topic, Danguillecourt said that anyone looking to break into tech should “be more focused on the company itself, and show a lot of passion for the problem the company is solving.”
Additionally, the panel shared advice on how to engage with early-stage startups, and navigate successful partnerships with them. Ramirez Lugo, who was a part of three unicorns, shared that if you want to experience working for a startup, you should “understand where you thrive, and that will make you successful – if you want to solve problems, if you can work alone, and are passionate about something, early stage might be for you.”
He also shared that, if you’re looking to invest in a potential startup, you should choose that startup from the lens of an investor, and ask yourself questions like, ‘who did they raise money from? Do you believe that the team is able to execute on the mission? Are they solving a problem that’s big enough?’
To wrap up the conversation, the panelists discussed strategies for standing out in the competitive tech job market, such as leveraging LinkedIn to increase visibility, connecting with hiring managers, and actively participating in events within the Miami Tech community.
“We’re incredibly moved by the over 400 RSVPs for the YOU BELONG series kick-off,” said Kelly Motoya, City of Miami. “It’s a powerful testament of how many people in our ecosystem are eager to connect and feel a sense of belonging. This isn’t just about events – it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive. We’re committed to continuing this work and building a community where everyone can succeed.”
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