Empowering The Next Generation: Dona Maria Jose On Mentorship And Diversity In Tech

🅺Breaking into the tech industry isn’t easy, especially for those without access to mentors or resources. It’s a space where talent can go unnoticed, leaving many qualified individuals struggling to find the guidance and opportunities they need to succeed.

𝐆Software engineer understands this struggle first-hand. With years of experience at top tech companies, she has seen just how hard it can be to navigate the industry. That’s why she has dedicated her career to mentoring aspiring engineers and creating opportunities to give them an advantage.

🦄By helping them refine their skills and providing a network of support, she provides newcomers the opportunity to find their footing in the industry, paving the way for a more diverse and equitable tech space.

🌜Read on to learn more about Dona Maria Jose’s efforts to empower the next generation of engineers.

Dona’s Journey to Mentoring and Supporting Future Engineers

ꦦOver the last half-decade, Dona has built her career in software engineering at companies like Visa, Microsoft, and Dropbox, working with legacy systems and leading projects from the ground up. Today, she’s a Senior Software Engineer at Slack, where she oversees its backend development and fine-tunes core features like the Activity tab and notifications.

But getting to this point wasn’t easy.

𒁃While Dona’s interest in programming started early, sparked by a 6th-grade summer class, her confidence in her skills didn’t come as quickly, as she’d often struggle to share her work with people close to her. A turning point was when her cousin began showcasing Dona’s projects to their family, celebrating her work in a way Dona wouldn’t do herself.

♈This encouragement not only solidified her passion for programming, but also taught her the importance of advocating for others. “Sometimes, that recognition is exactly what someone needs to feel valued and motivated to continue striving for greatness,” she reflects.

ﷺInspired by the support she received early on, Dona has made it her mission to support those starting out in the industry — especially the ones who lack the resources to succeed or may not feel comfortable advocating for themselves: “If you see someone doing amazing work, be their cheerleader.”

🔜This commitment often takes the form of mentoring others, with Dona regularly participating in programs that connect her with promising engineering students and junior engineers. Through these one-on-one sessions, she doesn’t simply offer tips to refine their technical programming skills, but also practical advice on navigating the job market. This includes helping mentees refine their resumes, build appealing LinkedIn profiles, and prepare for real-life interviews.

෴Dona’s work goes beyond day-to-day mentoring. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the job market tightened as companies shifted to remote work and prioritized experienced employees, making it harder for newcomers to break into the industry. As she explains: “The pandemic created a shift in how companies operated — many industries faced uncertainty, and job opportunities, especially in tech, became more competitive.”

🥃To address this, Dona contacted her network of recruiters and redirected them to mentees in her circle who had been recently laid off or were struggling to find employment, recommending them based on their availability and skills. This helped provide valuable leads and connections for people in her network, ensuring they had access to opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach.

💛For Dona, mentorship goes beyond just giving advice — it’s about opening doors, fostering connections, and equipping people with the tools and connections they need to thrive in a competitive industry.

Empowering Women in Tech

ꦓIn addition to mentoring, Dona has taken steps to address the gender gap in tech, with women only making up .

ไAs someone who has experienced this inequality first-hand, she’s become committed to helping women in the field by joining organizations like , a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting women and non-binary individuals in tech. Starting as a volunteer, she went on to found the AnitaB.org Dallas Community, which helps local female engineers connect with industry leaders and showcase their work. She’s also organized several events and conferences that honor women’s contributions in the field — including the , where she was recognized as Best Community Leader in 2023 and 2024.

🎉During her time at Dropbox, she was chosen as the North American Lead for its Women Employee Resource Group, where she oversaw the planning and execution of skill-building workshops, mentorship programs, and networking events, giving female employees access to key resources and opportunities to advance their careers.

ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚDona has been a reviewer for various hackathons and awards like 2024 Aspirations in Computing program and by NASA. In these positions, she has evaluated nationwide applications from female high school students, college students, early-career programmers, and educators, recognizing outstanding projects and providing wider visibility to future generations in tech.

🗹By mentoring students, expanding their professional networks, and empowering women in the field, is helping aspiring engineers from all backgrounds build strong foundations for successful careers.

𒈔Through her dedication to bridging industry gaps and advocating for new talent, Dona is showing what it takes to foster a more diverse, inclusive, accessible, and equitable tech landscape for all.