On a brand new episode of Immigration MIC, Catalina Laverde: co-founder of Civic Action Network, and software engineer at Spotify joins me!

🔵 Currently living in New Jersey, but originally from Bogota, Colombia, Catalina’s first passion was journalism, beginning with hosting a radio program for seven years where kids would talk to adults about socioeconomic issues going on in the world.

🔴 Catalina’s introduction into engineering was unexpected: through a bootcamp course on disassembling computers, a professor encouraged her to pursue systems engineering - and she decided she wanted to take on the challenge.

⚫️ At sixteen, Catalina realized there were limited opportunities to be a well paid engineer: “we don’t leave because we don’t love our country, we leave in the pursuit of happiness and a successful future.”

🔵 Catalina takes me through the extensive visa process, arriving to New Jersey as an international student attending a community college, and later on graduating from Rutgers University. She tells the important story of how her mom had to sell the house back in Colombia to the bank to be able to pay for tuition.

🔴 Her path to an HB-1 visa, the long process it took for her to land an internship at Spotify, the roundtrip 1.5 hour commute she used to do every day, and the moment she was hired as a full time employee. “It was the happiest day of my life.”

⚫️ We talk about the company she co-founded Civic Action Network, which works to create a direct connection between Congress and constituents, and she breaks down how her company helps to remove the layers and make the process accessible to all, including immigrant communities.

🔵 We talk about her recent trip to the World Cup in Russia, the process it took to be able to secure tickets, and the significance of representing Colombia as a fan on the world stage!

🔴 We end the interview with Catalina giving great career advice that she’s gotten from her own experiences, and her take on on how confidence is a journey that can lead to success down the road.