Closing the gender gap, one pixel at a time

Dana Rios

Founder

Dana is a first-generation Mexican American whose love for technology started at an early age, customizing MySpace profiles and teaching herself the basics of HTML and CSS. What began as a creative hobby sparked a lifelong curiosity about how technology works and the power it holds to connect people.

After building a career that spanned healthcare and e-commerce, Dana's path took a pivotal turn when her grandfather fell victim to a phishing scam. Seeing the rise in cyber attacks and scams targeting everyday people, she recognized an urgent need for cybersecurity professionals and decided to become one. She went on to earn a degree in cybersecurity, combining her diverse professional background with a mission to protect others.

Today, Dana is passionate about education and expanding who gets a seat at the table in tech. She founded Pixels Forward because she believes the industry needs more diverse voices, especially those of young girls from underrepresented communities who may not yet see themselves in these careers. For Dana, every pixel is a step toward a more inclusive future.