MAS scholarship recipient Mariana Vásquez: carrying the torch for girls in tech
Empowering the next generation: MAS Global Consulting intern believes that you can’t dream what you don’t know
For Colombian-born Mariana Vásquez Escobar, those words about representation ring very true. Thanks to a university scholarship from MAS Global Consulting and a six-month internship at its Tampa, Florida headquarters, Mariana is on track to fulfill her dream of becoming a software engineer – just like her mentor, fellow Colombian and MAS founder/CEO Monica Hernandez.
Mariana is the latest beneficiary of the MAS Future Foundation, founded by Hernandez to empower women and under-represented groups to gain equitable access to tech jobs and education. The scholarships enable them to benefit from the same opportunities Hernandez had as a go-getting young woman from a humble background who – through sheer hard work and talent – went on to establish her own technology company servicing Fortune 500 clients.
The journey begins
Mariana (21) grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Medellín, Colombia, where she graduated from a public high school with dreams of studying computer science. A top student, she secured a place at the local public university but when the opportunity arose to apply for a MAS scholarship to attend the prestigious Universidad EAFIT in Medellín, she jumped at it.
However, Mariana says she didn’t hold out much hope of clinching the study award, having learnt to deal with disappointment. But she was pleasantly surprised!
After successfully completing several rounds of MAS interviews and finally meeting MAS founder/CEO Hernandez – who also grew up in similar circumstances in a Medellín comuna (neighborhood) – Mariana learned she had been awarded a MAS/EAFIT scholarship to study computer science, starting in 2020.
Transformative experience
“I wasn’t expecting that at all, so I basically froze,” she relates. “When I hung up the call, I was alone with my grandma – I live with my grandparents and my mom – and I told her I got a scholarship, and she started crying and we hugged each other. I called my dad, my mom and other family members – and everyone was crying on the phone. I was still in shock.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and Mariana, needing to complete the practical component of her degree, was invited to undertake a six-month internship at MAS. This meant relocating from Colombia to Tampa, Florida – and it’s been a whirlwind of new sights, sounds, food and experiences that have changed her perspectives on life.
“I was expecting professional development, but I’ve learnt so much on a personal level, too. It’s allowed me to dream new dreams,” says Mariana.
‘Always raise your hand’
Working at one of North America’s leading Latina-owned tech firms has been transformative, she says. “The most valuable insight I’ve learnt during my time at MAS Global is to ask for help. Don’t be scared to say you messed up or made a mistake. Because if you have a problem and stay quiet, the problem is still going to be there. Another thing I’ve learnt is to always raise your hand – to volunteer to learn new stuff. So, be a good communicator and ask the right questions at the right time.”
What excites Mariana about the world of computer science and programming? “You can build anything you want with code. Through technology, you can do really great things to improve society and contribute to solving the real-world problems we have right now.”
The AI bug has bitten her hard. “There’s still a lot to learn, but working with AI is, for me, like doing magic. That’s the path I want to take with my future career – AI engineering, building systems incorporating AI or working in the cloud with AI.”
Representation matters
Despite knowing the vast disparity between the number of men and women in STEM careers, Mariana was fortunate that “no one ever told me, ‘Hey, you can’t do engineering because you’re a girl.’ But some people have had that experience. I think knowing that people who look like you, who speak like you and who have lived like you have achieved big things – as Monica has – allows you to dream about doing it yourself,” she says.
“Many people in Colombia graduate from high school and live their lives working for the minimum wage, which is perfectly fine if that’s your dream or if it’s the only thing you know. But I believe that having the reference of someone successful who has the same background as you is the key to achieving something more, to dreaming higher. And if you can dream, you can fight for what you want.”
As for Hernandez, she is delighted to see her protégée flourishing in the world of tech. “At MAS, our mission is to empower one million women and Latinos through technology,” she says.
“Helping individuals like Mariana in underserved communities in my home country of Colombia feels like coming full circle. My own journey – from Medellín to the US, from intern to tech CEO – has shaped who I am today. Now, it’s my turn to give back and pave the way for others to thrive in tech.”
‘Believe in yourself’
Mariana’s message to other young women who want to enter the world of technology and STEM is: “Believe in yourself. I’m here because I fought for it. Even though I often doubted myself, I had a lot of support and deep down, I knew I could do it.
“So, just keep on going. And if it’s hard, do it at your own pace. Never give up. It may take time and effort, but as long as you trust yourself and believe in yourself, you can do it.”
- Get in touch with the MAS Future Foundation at masfuture@masglobalconsulting.com
Based in Tampa, Florida, with a hub in Medellin, Colombia, MAS Global accelerates tech projects for midsize to Fortune 500 clients in Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology. Our strategic hubs ensure aligned time zones and access to elite Latin American tech talent, delivering cost efficiencies and superior quality. With a flexible collaboration model that adapts to client needs, MAS empowers clients with AI, cloud, and data technologies, supported by proprietary accelerators. Certified as women and minority-owned, we aim to impact 1 million women and Latinos through technology. Founded by Monica Hernandez, a Colombia native and top 100 Hispanic in Tech, MAS is trusted by industry leaders like Dell, JPMorgan Chase, and Johnson Controls. Featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, and Inc. Magazine, MAS Global is More Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact.