Karla Mondragon, a proud native of East Side San Jose, has dedicated her career to uplifting Latino and underrepresented communities through strategic program management and leadership development. With a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Legal Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Karla combines her academic background with practical experience to drive impactful change.

Currently serving as the Leadership Development & Latinos in Technology Programs Manager at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, Karla leads seamless program operations and implementation, ensuring the success of initiatives designed to empower Latino professionals in the tech industry. Her role involves fostering key partnerships, organizing significant networking events, and advancing program growth through innovative data analysis and outreach strategies. Specifically, Karla manages and leads all aspects of the Latinos in Technology Scholars Initiative and oversees HFSV Leadership Development and Alumni Engagement programs by cultivating and building strong relationships with the alumni of HFSV programs through events and mixers. 

Before her current role, Karla worked at the County of Santa Clara’s Division of Equity and Social Justice, where her efforts included collaborating with multiple county departments and community stakeholders to create a strategic framework that addressed equity and social justice issues in the community.

Karla’s deep roots in East Side San Jose have fueled her passion for advocating for her community. She leverages her skills in project management, data analysis, and community engagement to ensure that Latino and underrepresented voices are heard and represented in the corridors of power.