IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2023 - 21

that privilege, I have a sense of contribution
to help make something happen
for another person. " Torres explains that
because NGOs and foundations in Argentina
are spread thin addressing the basic
needs of the population, there is a lack
of resources around basic technology
knowledge, such as how to create a website
or run an e-mail newsletter. Growtec
is meant to support a solution.
" We started this for free, running
workshops or providing mentorship to
these organizations, and from there,
other companies approached us asking
us to create programming for their employees
or customers, and so we saw an
opportunity, " explains Torres. Although
the company is in its very early stages as
the women figure out the balance with
their full-time jobs and busy lives, they
are committed to empowering the missions
of NGOs, entrepreneurs, and others
through technology. Torres hopes to have
companies sponsor their efforts so that
the customers themselves can attend the
workshops for free, similar to what has
been successful with Roboteam, sharing
that she does not expect Growtec to be
her main source of income, only a social
company that can turn enough profit to
be sustainable while making an impact
for the community.
Being purpose-driven is really what
keeps Torres going, and she has deep empathy
for those who have to put in extra
effort and focus to accomplish something,
like she did with her studies and
with rebuilding Roboteam. " Not everyone
has the opportunity to have the right
mentors, environment, or opportunities
and to me it's not fair, " she says. " My mission
is to balance the opportunities for
people-not just women, but any person
who has a dream to accomplish something-and
to create a bridge for them. "
As for how she envisions doing this, she
says, " I'm convinced that technology is an
amazing enabler. "
She is also convinced that diversity
makes us stronger and is committed to
creating inclusive, equitable environCeleste
Longo, Damian Jerman, Pía Torres, Romina Fairbairn, and Alejandra
Estrella, executive committee members of Roboteam, at the " Roboteam Winter
Challenge, " an event for 120 girls and boys in July 2019 at Universidad de La
Matanza, Argentina.
ments for others, sharing one recent
example of how we all need to be more
open. " One story from this year that
opened my mind: I visited a jail with
a company I was volunteering with to
teach the inmates some basics about
technology and programming in order
to give them tools to get jobs when they
are back in society. I have to be honest, I
had so many biases and stereotypes about
this population, but they were so open to
learning, asking questions, and I saw so
much passion in them. "
" We all have biases and we have to
fight against that to try to understand our
differences and convert them into opportunities, "
continues Torres. " People who
made a mistake but are so committed to
change deserve a second chance. This is
why I'm doing so many things because of
this kind of response, it is pure inspiration
and learning. "
Although her purpose is individual,
Torres is sure to mention the incredible
partnership of her many teammates, fellow
volunteers, mentors, and especially
her Roboteam and Growtec cofounder
DECEMBER 2023
Fairbairn. " I think she would consider
me a mentor, but she doesn't know how
much I appreciate her too, " she says.
She also says that the IEEE Women
in Engineering Inspiring Member of the
Year Award she received in 2019 is really
a group award. Although she was chairing
the WIE Affinity Group at the time,
the efforts that were recognized belonged
to everyone involved in Roboteam. " The
award meant a lot to me then, but even
more so now with some distance from the
process, " shares Torres. " It was an amazing
journey with lots of joy and purpose
and also sometimes with pain and tears,
but we can look back now and see that we
were not wrong to try. All the effort, the
ideas, the challenges, the problems (and
solutions), it means something to someone
else. "
With Pía Torres's dedicated to building
opportunities for those to whom they may
not be handed, it's clear that her work will
always mean something to someone else.
-Leslie Zucker
IEEE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING MAGAZINE
21
IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine - December 2023

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