• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Header Social Icons

  • 0

Lady Engineering

Career. Lifestyle. Motivation

  • Home
  • Posts
  • About
  • Contact

About Me

Hello world, my name is Paola Terrazas.

My parents were born and raised in Juarez, Mexico. They decided to come to the United States to give my brothers and I a better education. Thankfully because of them, I’m a first-generation college graduate from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) where I obtained a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. During my time at UTEP, I completed 5 SWE internships (see experience below). As a minority in the corporate world, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges. I’ve learned to navigate the system and overcome obstacles through hard work, determination, and resilience.

For me, the value of education cannot be overstated. It has been the driving force behind my personal and professional growth, and I am determined to spread its importance far and wide. Through my writing, I aim to encourage women from all backgrounds to break barriers, follow their dreams, and pursue careers in technology. I firmly believe that by cultivating a happy, balanced, and goal-oriented life, we can overcome obstacles and thrive in this ever-evolving industry.

During my college years, I realized how underrepresented women are in the tech industry, and I decided to take action. I created Lady Engineering, a platform that empowers women in tech by providing resources, networking opportunities, and mentorship.

Lady Engineering became my way of taking initiative and advocating for women in a field where we are often underrepresented. Through my blog and various initiatives, I transparently share my own journey as I navigate the corporate world as a minority. I believe that by shedding light on my own experiences, I can help others facing similar challenges to find solace, inspiration, and the motivation to persevere. Through Lady Engineering, I’ve been able to help women break barriers and thrive in their tech careers.

I strive to be a role model, mentor, and ally for aspiring women in tech, supporting them as they embark on their own journeys.

Join me as I continue to advocate for diversity in tech and inspire women to pursue their dreams. Together, we can create a more inclusive and diverse tech industry.

The lack of women role models decreases the confidence of women in this field. Having role models and celebrating them helps younger women see that there’s a path – and gives them permission to really go after their dreams.

– Jennifer Chayes

If you’re following me on my journey, feel free to send me a note and make sure to join the LE community. Let’s get to know each other!


Experience

Meta

Aug 2021 – Software Engineer

March 2023 – Software Engineer II


The University of Texas at El Paso

May 2021 – First-Generation Graduate

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & minor in Mathematics

Read about my college graduation here.


Etsy

Summer 2021 – Software Engineer intern


Lucasfilm Entertainment

Spring 2021 – Industrial Light & Magic Web Development intern


Facebook

Summer 2020 – Software Engineer intern

Read about my Facebook internship here.


Walt Disney Attractions Technology

Spring 2020 – Parks, Experiences and Products Software Engineer intern

Read about my Disney internship here.


Allstate Arity

Summer 2019 – Insurance Solutions Software Engineer intern

Read about my Chicago internship here.

Primary Sidebar

Paola Terrazas

Paola Terrazas

Hello and welcome to Lady Engineering! Through my writing, I aim to inspire minorities to follow their dreams by sharing my experience in tech and career tips long the way, as well as the importance of diversity. Lady Engineering focuses on cultivating a happy, balanced, and goal-oriented life while pursuing your passions. Join me on the journey. 💕☁️✍🏻

Get My Newsletter!

Even when it’s not pretty or perfect. Even when it’s more real than you want it to be. Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Categories

  • Career
  • Career Growth
  • Lifestyle
  • Motivation
  • Personal Growth

Recent Posts

  • The Questions They’re Too Afraid to Ask
  • The Courage to Slow Down
  • Built Through Challenge: My Time at Messenger
  • Tackling Unconscious Bias in Tech
  • Navigating Change and Growth: My Journey to Senior Engineer

ladyengineering

Thank you, Messenger 🩵 My latest blog, Built Thro Thank you, Messenger 🩵

My latest blog, Built Through Challenge: My Time at Messenger, is now available. This one was personal to write, I hope you like it 🫶🏻 Linked in my bio. 

#womenintech #corporatelife #career
When you surround yourself with strong, supportive When you surround yourself with strong, supportive women, you find a new level of motivation. That’s why it’s important to create a network of people who empower each other. 🤝🏻✨

To me, success isn’t defined by what you achieve alone but how you use it to uplift others. Community matters and your surroundings really do shape your growth. Follow along the journey! 

P.S. enjoy this snippet from my bachelorette in NYC 😍☁️
Not just to advocate for ourselves but to advocate Not just to advocate for ourselves but to advocate for each other.

Recently, I sat in on a Women in Leadership panel at work. I almost skipped it (because “I have too much work”) but I didn’t realize how much I would’ve missed out on. There’s something powerful about hearing from women who are in the roles we hope to grow into. 

One thing that really stuck with me was the conversation around unconscious bias, those subtle snap judgments shaped by upbringing, culture, or environment. It’s the gut feeling you get when you feel excluded or underestimated. 

“Put me in a room with an older male engineer, and 9 times out of 10, he gets addressed first. He gets the questions. The attention. The benefit of the doubt.”
And suddenly, I feel this invisible pressure to prove that I belong here too.

During the panel, they emphasized how important it is to call out unconscious bias during performance evaluations, the rooms where big decisions are made like promotions, recognition, and career growth. They don’t let biased comments slide and they speak up in the moment. Hearing that made me feel seen and supported, but more than anything, it highlighted just how important it is to have women in those rooms and in every room where decisions are made.

We need people like you and me in these positions. Unconscious bias doesn’t disappear overnight but every time we show up with confidence, support one another, and speak up, we shift the culture. 
One voice at a time. One room at a time.

Read more in my latest blog post: Tackling Unconscious Bias in Tech 💌
Let me know your thoughts 🫶🏻
Navigating Change and Growth: My Journey to Senior Navigating Change and Growth: My Journey to Senior Engineer 👩🏼‍💻💓

I was recently promoted to Senior Engineer, an exciting milestone, but more than anything, it’s an opportunity to reflect on my journey so far. This calls for a new blog post! 

In my latest blog post, I’m sharing my experience for a few key reasons:

✨ I earned this promotion during a challenging and uncertain time in the tech industry
💡 I want to shed light on the realities of working in tech, beyond the highlights
📖 Most importantly, I’m sharing what I’ve learned from my time in big tech and my personal take on the experience

Swipe to the last slide to see me four years ago, she’d absolutely *freak out* knowing what we’ve accomplished. But none of this would have happened without her taking that first step, so I had to include her 💙

Find the link in my bio!
Straight from my vision board 💕🏙️💍✈️👩🏼‍💻 Excited Straight from my vision board 💕🏙️💍✈️👩🏼‍💻

Excited to chase new goals in 2025, can’t wait to see what 2025 brings! Happy New Year everyone 💫🥂🥳

#visionboard #visionboardinspo #motivational #pinterestaesthetic #pinterestinspired #goalsetting
Mistake #1: I didn’t begin applying to internships Mistake #1: I didn’t begin applying to internships until my senior year. 
🔑 I should’ve started applying since my freshman year. Yes, you can get an internship as a freshman! 

Mistake #2: I didn’t have a resume because I didn’t have professional experience to add to it. 
🔑 You don’t need professional experience to build a great resume that stands out. I can show you how!

Mistake #3: I didn’t apply for internships because I was terrified of technical interviews. 
🔑 Technical interviews are intimidating, but they’re a skill you can easily develop. Don’t let fear hold you back. 

Mistake #4: I thought I wasn’t good enough because my GPA wasn’t perfect. 
🔑 Your GPA doesn’t define you. Spoiler alert: many successful professionals didn’t have perfect GPAs. Employers value skills over numbers. 

Mistake #5: I kept to myself during classes because I felt like I didn’t belong. 
🔑 Getting involved in school and networking with professors and fellow students will help open doors and build your confidence!

Mistake #6: I fully relied on professors and thought attending lectures was enough to gain the knowledge needed to succeed. 
🔑 Lectures are a small part of the big picture. You will need to practice coding on your own, seek resources, and try hands-on projects. Tech is a fast-moving field, and being proactive will give you the edge 🚀 

Looking back, I wish I had a guide to help me navigate all the challenges along the way. That’s exactly why I created The Ultimate Computer Science Student Guide, to help others avoid these common mistakes and set them up for success early on. 
I packed in everything I wish I knew when I started, including: 

✅ the importance of applying to internships early
✅ building a resume that stands out with no experience
✅ how to conquer technical interviews - the easy way 
✅ insider tips to excel in your classes
✅ so much more

Don’t let uncertainty or lack of guidance hold you back. This guide is your cheat sheet to getting ahead. I sure wish I had it back then. 

Comment “ebook” & I’ll send the link directly to you. Enjoy 🩵

#computerscience #csstudents #computersciencestudent #computersciencemajor #student #career
Follow on Instagram

Footer

Weekly motivation to follow your dreams and break barriers by cultivating a happy, balanced, goal-oriented life. Sign up for my popular Monday Motivation Newsletter and never miss a new blog post again!

Subscribe to my Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 · Design by · Creative Goods Co.