Nestled within Medellin, Colombia, a young girl admired her tenacious mother as she turned a modest home-based venture into a crucial support system for their community. Monica Hernandez grasped early on the significance of grit and knowledge. Influenced by her father’s role as a community leader and her mother’s entrepreneurial drive, she felt motivated to shatter obstacles and forge a legacy capable of transforming lives. This upbringing set the stage for Monica to tackle an urgent challenge: the shortage of technology talent and avenues for women and Latinos. So, who exactly is Monica Hernandez, and what fuels her tireless quest for excellence?
From Medellín to the Apex of Technology
Monica’s path from Medellín to being recognized among the top 100 Hispanics in Tech illustrates her technological skills and perseverance. As the first member of her family to pursue higher education, thanks to a scholarship, she achieved a software engineering degree from Universidad EAFIT, followed by a master’s in computer science and engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her enthusiasm for neural networks and AI guided her early career in Dallas, where she quickly advanced from intern to senior programming and project management positions.
At Oracle Consulting, Monica led significant global digital projects for major corporations, gaining substantial expertise in software development and data migration. She adeptly handled the complexities of cooperating with offshore teams and navigating the challenges of agile practices. These experiences highlighted the essential need for technology alignment with business goals and displayed the unique strengths of Latin American (LATAM) tech professionals.
The Creation of MAS Global
Fueled by a desire to give back to Colombia and foster opportunities for women in the tech sphere, Monica established MAS Global Consulting. The company’s objective was straightforward: to harness the elite technological talents of LATAM professionals and seamlessly weave them into the strategies of US companies. MAS Global provided not only technical know-how but also cultural compatibility and time-zone synchronization, making it an ideal nearshore partner for organizations seeking dependable and cost-effective solutions.
Under Monica’s direction and vision, MAS Global has achieved remarkable success. Located in Tampa, Florida, the firm serves international brands with top-tier teams across numerous LATAM countries. Their foundation, MAS Future, aims to positively affect one million underserved women and Latinos through technology education and job opportunities. “MAS is More,” a slogan that embodies their commitment to both clients and communities, drives every initiative.
Transforming Tech Leadership
Monica exemplifies inclusive leadership. Under her guidance, MAS Global has secured multi-year contracts valued in the eight figures and has been recognized as one of the top 200 Latino-owned businesses in the US. Senior executives from major companies like Johnson Controls and JPMorgan Chase rely on MAS Global to deliver agile, innovative solutions that align with their digital goals.
The company’s success lies not only in its commercial awareness but also in its mission-driven ethos. As a Latina-owned business, MAS Global is committed to empowering women and Latinos within the tech industry. Their distinct viewpoint and practical experiences with LATAM challenges make them attractive to firms seeking to utilize diverse tech talent.
“When I turned 15, my mom gave me the choice between a computer or a quinceañera celebration,” Monica recalls. “That computer altered my life path.” This choice sowed the seeds that would blossom into MAS Global’s current mission. Through their one-on-one initiative, for every team member engaged with a client, MAS Global assists one additional woman or Latino in gaining free access to tech education.
A Visionary Outlook for the Future
MAS Global’s nearshore, agile methodology, combined with a commitment to social responsibility, has crafted a model for inclusive growth and opportunity in Latin America. As Monica steers MAS Global toward becoming a nine-figure enterprise while impacting a million women and Latinos through technology, her narrative serves as an inspiration to aspiring tech leaders. It also highlights the substantial influence of purpose-driven leadership on a global scale.
As a software engineer and the leader of a top 3% Latina-owned company in the US catering to global brands, Monica is acutely aware of how generative AI, with tools like Copilot, is revolutionizing software development by enhancing speed and cutting costs. MAS Global is at the forefront of foundational AI innovations, utilizing cloud-based solutions such as Azure to propel extensive AI systems, particularly large language models that provide significant business value through prediction, personalization, and classification on a global scale.
MAS Global is actively promoting Latino representation in the technology landscape, capitalizing on shared time zones, cultural affinities, and the remarkable technology skill set available in Latin America. Monica’s vision aims to position Latin America, including her beloved Colombia, as essential AI tech hubs amid the ongoing generative AI advancement, striving to cultivate skills that prepare for the future while encouraging the development of ethical and impactful technology that benefits everyone.
Through the endeavors of Monica Hernandez, MAS Global’s strategy and commitment to social responsibility have established a framework for inclusive growth. As she continues to guide MAS Global toward a multi-million dollar objective by the close of the decade, her journey serves as a testament to the transformative impact of purpose-driven leadership.
