Every year we celebrate Women’s Day by sharing stories about the women whose tech journey is somehow bound to Vivaldi. While last year we featured three of the female developers making your favorite browser, this year we’ve turned to our community – the backbone of Vivaldi – and talked to two of our Ambassadors, Rosanna and Alejandra.
Vivaldi’s Ambassadors are volunteers who help us spread the word about Vivaldi worldwide and encourage people to try out our browser. Among them, the Hispanic community is strong and keeps growing, with Ambassadors in Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, Spain, Peru, Argentina and Uruguay. Both Rosanna and Alejandra come from Hispanic countries, and today have agreed to share a bit with us about the role that tech plays in their lives. Read on!
When did your start being interested in technology?
R: From an early age I became interested in technology. However, it wasn’t until 2016, at the young age of 14, when I had my first smartphone. Despite limitations in access to electronic devices, the high cost of internet access and the limited availability of Wi-Fi in specific areas of Cuba, I fell in love with technology. Since then, I devoured news about it and tested mobile apps whenever I could.
A: In high school I did some computer studies, where the biggest surprise was to learn that dictionaries, atlases, encyclopaedias of endless topics and languages were just a click away if I used a computer equipped with Internet connection. It was impressive to know that the knowledge available at the endearing — but limited in inventory — local library could be multiplied exponentially.
And particularly in browsers?
R: I soon became interested in alternative browsers to the pre-installed Chrome, tired of invasive ads and insufficient tools. I explored different browsers, looking for one that combined privacy, tools and performance. This is how I discovered Vivaldi, with its unique design and customization capabilities that make it feel truly mine. Today I am a happy ambassador for this great browser.
A: It was more than 25 years ago, when I got my first computer. My curiosity extended to the world of operating systems, and then to browsers. I used both the default options and some “alternatives” (which referred to the ability to, as far as possible, adjust the product to your needs). Do you remember the personal pages? It was good content but if the creator decided that their thing was a dark blue background and red letters, in addition to loading several gifs and perhaps even a gallery of freshly scanned pictures, accessing it became a Herculean task.
I am now focusing on how to best manage the consumption of information, and in Vivaldi I have found a refuge. I remember I was at a library once, when the electricity and internet service suddenly went out. I was still able to browse with my computer for almost an hour, thanks to the use of reading mode, not loading images and animations, and using my cell phone as a wifi hotspot.
What are the challenges you have faced as an active woman in technological communities?
R: I have faced prejudices and stereotypes rooted in our society. Technology is often assumed to be a field exclusively for men, but I am determined to challenge that concept. One of the worst experiences I’ve had was facing verbal aggressiveness in predominantly male communities and having my opinions dismissed due to my being a woman. These experiences taught me the importance of staying firm in my convictions and today I’d like to encourage all women interested in technology not to feel fear or let others limit their participation in this constantly evolving field.
A: Despite my long experience, I often notice a lack of confidence when expressing my own opinions or recommendations, as I have no formal education in this field. But even with friends who have a career in tech, I’ve witnessed how they’ve also been questioned more inquisitively compared to their colleagues — or even ignored. Fortunately, I want to believe, this is becoming less frequent.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in this journey?
R: My biggest inspiration has always been my mother, who worked hard to give me access to the internet and to different sources of information, even when it was financially difficult. Her unconditional support was fundamental on my path towards the realization of my dreams in the world of tech: from my training in Computer Engineering to the creation of my first technology Telegram channel that reached more than 10K people at the time, and now owning my own website.
A: In general, I am inspired by the work of other women in technology, from the mathematics and programming teachers who taught me, my developer friends, the camps where young women are introduced to coding, and the associations that count on the collaboration of women for data transparency, mapping, hackathons, and so on.
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We welcome our Ambassadors for opening to us today and would love to hear more from other women in our community! Are you in tech, or do you know any close friend or relative who is? We’d love to know about your experiences! 👇🏼
