www.negociosnow.com
12 March 2020
Age: 25
Title: Jr.QA Engineer
Name of Organization: Kenna
Security
Ximena Cortez is currently
working towards her master's
degree in Cybersecurity at De-
Paul University and works as a Jr.
QA Engineer for Kenna Security.
Ximena Cortez and her fa-
mily immigrated to the U.S.
in 2005 and settled on the
Southwest Side of Chicago. Du-
ring her last year of high school,
Cortez was part of the first class
of Urban Alliance Chicago -
where she had a paid-internship
with an investment company in
downtown Chicago.
Cortez received her
bachelor's degree in Computer
Science from Aurora University.
She is currently working towards
her master's degree in Cyberse-
curity at DePaul University and
works as a Jr. QA Engineer for
Kenna Security.
She started her career as
a software test engineer at a
FinTech company in Chicago
where she was the only Latina
engineer out of 150 engineers.
As she battled with imposter-
syndrome, Cortez thought about
different ways she could change
the numbers of diversity in tech.
She attended various commu-
nity events and after getting the
chance to share her own story
as a "DACA" young professional,
she became inspired to start ma-
king an impact. Cortez was de-
termined to change the diversity
numbers in tech by sharing her
story and teaching others basic
coding skills to get them interes-
ted in the tech field.
She has shared her journey
and passion for tech with stu-
dents at different schools and or-
ganizations. She led ChickTech's
first Spanish workshop on cy-
bersecurity. She spoke at the
University of Illinois at Chicago
for the group, Girls Who Code.
Recently, she shared her story
with La Ley's En Tu Comunidad
morning show. Cortez also vo-
lunteers with Latina's in Tech
Chicago and Nuevo Foundation
and serves as co-lead of AnitaB
Chicago Chapter.
Cyber Sleuth
Ximena Cortez Ximena Cortez
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"Y
ou are not here merely to make
a living. You are here in order
to enable the world to live more amply,
with greater vision, with a finer spirit
of hope and achievement. You are here
to enrich the world, and you impoverish
yourself if you forget the errand."
Woodrow Wilson
