I’ve had the good fortune of knowing and working alongside Natalie Ruiz for the last 5+ years. I first met Natalie through PDXWIT, a Portland based organization aiming to dismantle inequities and fuel belonging in the tech industry. She was already a key leader in the tech landscape and was making herself available to give back to the community through speaking engagements and volunteering as a mentor. She is an exceptionally engaging speaker, highly intelligent and brings a sense of humor to her interactions, which is refreshing and reminds us all of our humanity, which sometimes can get lost in the tech world.

She now serves on the board of PDXWIT as treasurer and has managed to have an even deeper impact on the mission of the organization. Aside from her efforts at PDXWIT, and her position as CEO of AnswerConnect, Natalie supports the community by volunteering for MESA, the organization I currently work for as a guest speaker and career mentor.

I consider Natalie a key role model in my own career journey and have learned a tremendous amount from her. She is brilliant and perhaps the most emotionally intelligent leader I have ever known. She has already accomplished so much in her professional life, and I know there is even more that lies ahead for her, and for those of us who are lucky enough to be in her orbit.