LTX Fest and the Social Side of Tech
As an engineer, and being more technically inclined, it’s not in my nature to throw myself into social events. Since I started my position as an iOS engineer at Vivid Seats earlier this year, one thing I’ve been working on is pushing myself out of my comfort zone. “Just do it”, I tell myself, like it’s so easy. So why not make it easy, or at least, easier? Why not push myself out of my comfort zone, while still being in my comfort zone?
So, I started attending NSCoder Chicago, a meetup for iOS and Mac developers where I’ve gotten the chance to meet those that have been in the profession for years and some that are new to the iOS/Mac scene here in Chicago. Then, our Women in Tech group at Vivid Seats decided to attend CHIWITCON this September, a conference for Chicago’s women in tech, where Vivid Seats gladly became a sponsor for the event. So, I jumped at the opportunity to check it out.
The key for me became finding a social event with people I have common interests with. Then I found out about LTX Fest, a major conference that brings together Latinx in tech. One of the co-organizers of the event was Latinas In Tech, an organization I recently joined to meet other Latinas in the tech industry. With the support of Vivid Seats, I was able to fly out to San Francisco for this near weeklong experience.
Three organizations came together to put on LTX Fest; a celebration of Latinx contributions in technology, business, and innovation. Over four days, LTX Fest set out to answer the question, “what would be possible if tech and philanthropy united with a focus on love, culture, people, and innovation?” The Latino Community Foundation, Latinas in Tech, and the Kapor Center brought together 50+ speakers to discuss topics on love and culture, inclusion and purpose, leveling up our career and business, and owning our future.
The key takeaways for me revolve around how to level up your career and giving back to the community by always paying it forward. There was a panel on celebrating Latinas in executive positions and empowering and encouraging more women to get a seat at the table.
A lot of great advice was given on how to get unstuck from a current position and show management that we’re ready for a promotion. When an opportunity arises, big or small, introduce yourself to upper management. Find both mentors and advocates. Sometimes advocates can be more helpful than mentors. Know the priorities of your manager and see how you can advertise yourself using that knowledge. Be able to quantify what you’ve done depending on who your audience is. Most importantly, be confident, know who you are and where you’re from, and what you have to offer. Be your authentic self. And if there is still no seat for you at the table, then maybe it’s time to create your own table!
What made LTX Fest so inspirational wasn’t just that these Latinxs were able to build their companies and nonprofits despite the hurdles that is getting funding as a Latinx. Their stories on what drove them to persevere where often rooted in helping others. An excellent example is Irma Olguin Jr, co-founder and CEO of Bitwise Industries. Irma, who grew up in Central Valley California, started Bitwise Industries as a means to help other startups become successful and to build tech hubs throughout the central valley. Out of this idea, Geekwise Academy was born, an accelerated training program to help students of all ages traditionally left out of the tech industry, gain real-world tech skills. Its graduates are now getting hired at these growing startups.
The thought of attending a weeklong social event made me hesitate a little. But as I looked at the agenda, I recognized there was something to gain from each day. The driving factor was that I’d be around people with similar backgrounds to my own that I could relate to. Everyone was so welcoming it felt like I was hanging around family. The entire experience made me realize it’s time to start a similar movement here in Chicago.
Interested in learning more about Vivid Seats?
Vivid Seats is committed to building a diverse team and an inclusive culture. Additionally, we are actively hiring for several roles on our engineering team. If you’re interested in learning more about open positions, check out our careers page at vividseats.com/careers for more information.
