Empowering Innovation: Celebrating Europe’s Women GDEs on International Women’s Day

In recognition of International Women’s Day, let’s turn our focus to the European tech scene and its stars — women among Google Developer Experts. They are not simply contributing to innovation; they are also actively shaping the future of technology, leaving an undeniable mark on the field.

This article, published in celebration of IWD, delves into the journeys of these women, exploring their diverse accomplishments — from building groundbreaking projects to fostering inclusive communities within the industry. Their stories are meant to inspire, offering a compelling glimpse into the power of individual contributions and the collective impact of diverse perspectives within the field.

Natalia Venditto, GDE in Angular and Web Technologies, is originally from Uruguay, from where she moved to Barcelona. She leads the end-to-end Developer Experience and Developer Tools for Javascript devs building apps on Azure. She says that working in this role as a woman in tech with an alternative background to Computer Sciences is one of the brightest highlights of her career. In this role she has the opportunity to positively impact the life of thousands of developers building on one of the main public cloud providers, and help them integrate their workloads with innovations like AI. She also appreciates the chance to demonstrate that women can be in very impactful roles, leading technical strategies and making important decisions.

Adi Mazor Kario from Israel, GDE (of almost 10 years!) in AI/ML, created a series of more than 20 interviews (and counting) with world-class AI experts on her social channels, discussing AI, the future of AI, Ethical and responsible AI, and conversational AI, sharing this knowledge with entrepreneurs and developers world wide. Be sure to check out her YouTube channel!

Gema Parreno, AI/ML GDE from Spain, is the creator of Deep Asteroid, a project that lies at the fascinating crossroads of space science and artificial intelligence. Her work with TensorFlow technology for NASA’s Space App Challenge in 2016 was a defining moment in her career, marking Deep Asteroid not just as a project, but as a global recognition of my dedication to harnessing AI for the greater good. This intelligent system, designed to detect and predict changes in asteroids, represents more than just technical achievement; it embodies Gema’s deep-seated belief in the power of technology to safeguard and enrich our planet.

Dominika Zając, Web Technologies Expert based in Poland, is among the top 3% most active speakers on Sessionize. Just in 2023, she delivered 18 (!) speeches in 5 countries, attending various events — from panel discussions to speech at cinema theater and keynote at the tech conference. On top of that, she is a mentor for ngGirls, STEAM Academy and other initiatives. Her goal is to inspire other people to mentor and share their knowledge as well.

Based in Netherlands, Web Technologies GDE Manuela Castrillon is focused on building a tech community around the world. She delivered over 40 talks, in both Spanish and English, in more than 5 countries, having the chance to impact hundreds of people and building a global network of career support, knowledge sharing, and friendship. One technical project that she’s especially proud of is Disney API, which came out of the genuine curiosity of learning more technologies beyond her area of specialization (frontend) and now it is an Open Source project used by 1000+ developers.

Renuka Kelkar, Dart and Flutter GDE based in the UK, is a founder of TechpowerGirls, a community dedicated to empowering women who have been detached from the tech industry for over five years. Its goal is to reintroduce them to the technological sphere through Flutter app development. In addition to this, having served as a GDG London Organizer for the past four years, she successfully launched and ran FlutterDevCamp. This initiative aims to enhance Flutter knowledge by bringing together experts from the Flutter community to train participants and assist them in building their portfolios. Google recognized her communities’ efforts with the Diversity and Inclusion Award.

As we celebrate their achievements, it’s important to remember that these amazing women are just a glimpse into the broader force of female talent driving innovation across Europe. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the potential that exists when diverse voices are empowered and given a platform to thrive. Let this be an inspiration to all, not only for what these women have accomplished, but for the even greater impact they and others like them will have on the future of technology.

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