Read about Liliana Uruburo

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

After 10 years driving the adoption of websites and web applications in the private and public sectors, including very high-profile projects for the White House and U.S. Navy, I decided to further explore the human aspect of technology. With a masters in cultural anthropology and social networking on the rise, I decided the UN was a key place to work at the intersection of culture, networks, technology and innovation for the good of humanity.

What has been your favorite IT project at the United Nations and what was your technical contribution?

I led the development of UmojaNET (Confluence) and Rapport (JIRA) which contained all key information related to the management of the ERP project offering personalized data and information to users. I oversaw the work of the back-end developer and system admin. I also designed the front end and often modified sequel queries to embed visualizations and data into tailored dashboards and reports for all stakeholders. I also configured JIRA workflows, fields, screens and more to track project management processes across the ERP project: issue and risk registers, project management, change control, event management, and review and approval of deliverables.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

Find a mentor or coach and a network of peers who provide support and advice. It can be difficult in an environment where men dominate, but there are many kind and supportive people in the industry. It is also good to expand your network beyond just IT. Keep an open mind and don't be afraid to challenge others to think differently. And don't be afraid to ask for help. Keep in mind that diversity enriches solutions and that your voice and ideas do make a difference.