Support the Supporters As We Celebrate International Women’s Day

By Leah Pollak
Technology and Education
4/03/2025

“An elder is a person who deserves respect and honor and whose work it is to synthesize wisdom from long experience and to formulate this into a legacy for future generations.”

This quote is from Learning as I Go, the book by Jean OBarr, one of my favorite “elders” and a generous mentor these past 25 years. And we would all do well to learn from our elders as we confront challenges that may seem to be unique but are most likely new permutations of age-old problems. Longstanding wisdom and skills, like those of Dr O’Barr can always be applied to today’s challenges — which are many.

According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158— roughly five generations—to reach full gender parity. This is simply unacceptable in 2025, especially when trending are the once futuristic and now current topics of AI Governance Platforms, Disinformation Security, and Post-Quantum Cryptography. These subjects highlight the world’s lightning advances in AI, a field where women have an essential role to play. As equals in the field of knowledge.

At Fundación del Saber, we work to revolutionize innovation by combining cutting-edge technology, pioneering research, and our extensive experience in a unique and comprehensive approach. Guided by a team of highly skilled experts, we develop initiatives to harness the power of education and technology while unlocking potential. Our mission is to empower marginalized communities throughout Latin America, including those that are geographically and socially excluded and those lacking access to essential services.

By focusing on critical needs including health, personal development, and state-of-the-art education, we strive to enhance individuals’ quality of life and equip them with the tools to succeed.

Through our efforts, we aim to create opportunities and inspire hope for a future in which talented individuals in Latin America embody the essence of resilience and serve as a beacon of opportunity for those in need.

So, you might wonder, where are the women and where are the girls? This year, I’ve been determined to support the supporters—including two amazing grassroots organizations promoting and uplifting this generation and the next generation of women in tech: +Mujeres en UX Chile and GP4Tech.

2018 was the year that a pair of female software engineers in Chile, and four female software engineers in Bolivia, began asking basic questions. Who are the women working in UX? Where are they working? Who are the women in tech that share our passion for technology, growth, and personal development?

Each organization had its own growth trajectory. +Mujeres en UX Chile has members across eight Latin American countries, creating a community that grows through membership profile, by sharing new job opportunities, mentorship experiences, job market research, and a burgeoning network of volunteers. They relentlessly keep their community thriving, by generating specialized online content by the community for the community, everything from highly technical UX latest trends, to how to manage your team, and negotiate a raise. It is a safe space that transcends time and geography.

From the beginning, GP4Tech plan was always to include all genders but to prioritize and promote women in leadership positions. This group started with founders in software positions in Cochabamba, and today we find them in advanced IT Directorship positions in Germany, Australia, and multinational corporations, beyond their hometown. This group has been able to pass the generational torch to new leaders and has grown through partnerships supporting other tech communities that share their common values and goals. It has stayed grassroots, through fieldwork ensuring the incorporation and motivating youth to follow STEM pathways.

This is why, on each organization’s 7th anniversary, Fundación del Saber celebrates #IWD 2025 by supporting +Mujeres en UX Chile and GP4Tech through their work to accelerate the closing of the technology and education gap, the gender gap, and the community development and resilience gap.

Given that in many cultures, beliefs, and science, the number 7 is held in high regard—greatly associated with universal truths and perfection–it is appropriate to celebrate their 7th anniversary in this thriving global movement focused on women’s advancement with +Mujeres en UX Chile and GP4Tech.

As Fundación del Saber, in connection with our programs, we join forces and “support the supporters”, to accelerate the current and future generation of leaders so that Jean, I, and my two daughters can witness through our three generations a world of opportunities #for all women and girls.