Escobar and her team design, develop and deliver advanced visual technologies, then collaborate with their engineering and infrastructure counterparts on integrating and supporting those tools and solutions to optimum effect. The one woman, living or dead, Escobar would like to dine with is Dr. Anita Borg, the visionary co-founder of Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Escobar explains, “She was tired of attending technology conferences with little to no women so she provided a community for women to be active participants, connect with each other, and be inspired and motivated through science, engineering and technology.”

Who is your favorite current female TV character and why?
My favorite current female TV character is any female character created by Shonda Rhimes, the TV producer and creator of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” All of her female leads represent some realistic aspect of women in today’s workplace—with a great mix of confidence, vulnerability, power and strength. These qualities define the women that have surrounded me all my life starting with my mother. Her life is inspiring and universal despite coming to this country with no education and only a dream. My strength and determination comes from her. She reminded me often that I could do anything and belong anywhere.

What industry topic do you think will dominate industry headlines in 2018 and why?
The industry topic that I think will continue to dominate industry headlines in 2018 is gender diversity as a top organizational priority because it is a business imperative. We have only scratched the surface. True gender diversity is not about hiring women anywhere we can get them. It is about hiring women in senior leadership positions and on company boards, which can motivate women in mid-level positions. This ripple-down effect can help retain talent and in turn create better products and faster innovations that represent us all in a more productive future.

What famous woman, living or deceased, would you like to have dinner with?
A famous woman I would enjoy having dinner with (I would even settle for a drink) is Anita Borg. Dr. Borg was the visionary and co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. She was tired of attending technology conferences with little to no women and so she provided a community for women to be active participants, connect with each other, and be inspired and motivated through Science, Engineering and Technology.

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