Laura Gómez is helping Silicon Valley overcome its biggest challenge: a lack of diversity in the workplace.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new,” says Laura. This mantra and fresh energy has led her to major successes in jobs at early-stage Youtube and Twitter and, now, to building a VC-funded startup called Atipica.
Atipica is still young but it’s already raised more than 2 million from investors who know her vision has legs.
Their goal is simple: encourage bias-free job recruiting. The platform tries to (a) eliminate biases that can crop up in traditional resumes and (b) help applicants find and prepare for their career in tech. In essence, Aptica wants to make Silicon Valley more badass.
Our CEO, Laura I. Gómez urges women returning to the workforce to “own their own stories.” Thanks @StanfordGSWomen! https://t.co/aiAOGwZmX9
— Atipica (@GetAtipica) April 3, 2017
Coming to the US from Mexico at age 10, and not gaining legal status until heading to college, Laura knows what it’s like trying to establish an identity in a place where your presence isn’t always celebrated.
“As we move forward, we hope to truly unlock the world’s talent pool,” Laura told CNN.
Not only is Atipica treading in new and promising territory, but as CEO, Laura walks the talk in encouraging others (esp young women) to follow suit: “If I can do it, they, too, can do it.”
