When Lucia Bustamante isn’t designing digital products, she’s empowering women in tech.
Lucia Bustamante’s curiosity and creativity sparked at a young age. Growing up in Montevideo, Uruguay, Lucia tinkered with technology and learned how things were built. She eventually discovered her path in product design—tapping into her talent for problem-solving.
“Design is never perfect, because we design for humans, and humans are complicated,” said Lucia.
It’s well known that technology is a male-dominated field, and Lucia is no stranger to being in the minority. As a computer science student, she was just one of three women in a classroom of 40 men. The gender divide hasn’t changed much as her career has progressed.
“Being a woman and Latin American in the design industry implies challenges and misconceptions, especially to reach positions in Europe and the United States,” said Lucia.
Seeing a need for more support, equity, and visibility for women in the tech industry, Lucia co-founded two organizations to address gender equality and build a stronger community for female designers: Mujeres IT and Latin Female Designers. These groups give voice to creative Latina professionals. They’re also a space where women new to the technology sector can share experiences and find encouragement from industry veterans.
The communities are now a haven for women in the field to find support from others who have gone through the same struggles.
“When women come together for a cause, we generate a very beautiful energy that does not lead to competition between us. Rather, we enjoy the success of others as if it were our own.”
In the coming years, Lucia plans to expand these communities to Brazil, Argentina, and beyond. There’s no silver bullet to overcome hurdles in reshaping diversity in tech — including getting more STEM education in schools and changing cultural stereotypes — but Lucia hopes groups like these can aid in the effort to let young people know about the opportunities that are out there.
Lucia’s advice for those interested in working in the tech space? You don’t have to be an expert in mathematics or programming to work in technology.
“Use your skills to find a role in the field where you best fit: that could be creative, people-driven, management, or many others. It is a fascinating, fast-moving field full of opportunities and challenges, and you can achieve anything if you trust yourself.”
Lucia’s inner compass led her to become a product designer at TheoremOne. She uses her design expertise to shape new functionalities that solve real problems for people and businesses. She thrives on tackling projects that present complex challenges and force her to leave her comfort zone—learning new things in the process. “It pushes me to give my best and become a better version of myself every day.”
