Ana Parada Mar is a proud immigrant from Mexico who has called the Pacific Northwest home for over twenty years. Her career began in education and nonprofit spaces, where she held impactful roles at organizations like Fred Hutch Cancer Center—serving as Program Manager in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—and the College Success Foundation, where she led college prep programs and built partnerships in higher education and beyond.
Guided by the mentors who paved the way for her, Ana has remained deeply committed to supporting the educational journeys of underrepresented student populations.
Her transition into tech was nontraditional and purpose-driven. In 2019, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration, which sparked a new passion for software development. That experience led her to Ada Developers Academy, a full-stack development training program focused on women and gender-expansive folks. After graduating, she joined Nordstrom as an intern and soon became a full-time cloud engineer, a role she held for two and a half years.
Today, Ana works at Microsoft as a Technical Program Manager within the Strategic Missions and Technologies organization, where she brings together her passions for technology, equity, and impact.
Outside of work, Ana enjoys traveling with her husband, discovering new restaurants, cheering on the Mariners, and spending time with her puppy, Arlo.
