Innovating and Advancing the World
By Christine Bolaños
Latinas in STEM are innovating in such unprecedented ways that
their contributions to the world may live on for years to come.
Their boldness, passion and tenacity, which many believe
originate from their Hispanic heritage, help them stand out in their
fields and set the stage for the next generation of builders and
shakers. Among these professionals are Cynthia Rubio, CEO and
co-founder of Radiant RFID, and Supervisory Special Agent (SSA)
Tisha Louise Saldivar of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cynthia Rubio
CEO and co-founder of Radiant RFID
Growing up, Cynthia Rubio was intrigued by
how the world around her worked. That’s why
she was always offering her dad help: Whether
it was fixing a broken air conditioner, a broken
water heater or changing oil in a car.
Naturally, when it came time to apply for
college her dad suggested she pursue
mechanical engineering.
It was the best decision she could have made.
Today, Rubio serves as CEO and co-founder
of Radiant RFID, a market leader in advanced
tracking technology solutions. The company
provides full end-to-end asset tracking solutions to
some of the largest public corporations.
“What we were intrigued by was a technology
that we thought could be applied to many different
industries and problems. We’ve always been about
effectiveness and efficiency and making things work
better,” Rubio says.
Radiant RFID, which employs about 30 people in the
U.S. and the globe, got its start in the conferences
and events industry. Rubio says the company was
charged with improving accuracy and efficiency of
attendance count, including how long guests stayed
in specific sessions to gauge interest levels.
“We turned the barcode-scanning method of taking
attendance at a seminar and made it more efficient by
using RFID technology instead of barcode technology,”
she explains. The company then started handling
asset management and employee safety.
With 25 years of engineering experience, ranging
from product development, mechanical design and
data analysis, to test methods development and
technical report writing, Rubio credits her success,
in part, to her Latino roots.
Cynthia Rubio
CEO and co-founder of Radiant RFID.
“I think my Hispanic culture has taught me to
work hard, how to get along with people and how
to forgive and move forward. Large extended
families provide many opportunities for leading,
learning, respect, integrity, and courtesy have
always been a must for my family,” she says. “I
think this is helpful in business. Being a Hispanic
female in mechanical engineering taught me to
stand up for myself in the workplace. You have to
stand tall and proud of who you are and what
you bring to the table.”
Prior to running her own company, Rubio worked
for Trilogy software, Ford Motor Company (where
she was recognized for her accomplishments in
methods development via a prestigious Customer
Driven Quality Award) and the aerospace and
petroleum industries.
Rubio was recognized as a Hispanic Entrepreneur
by Makers Row and is a sought-after public speaker.
Rubio faced challenges of her own and wants
to pay it forward through volunteering her time
and expertise to worthy causes.
“Rocket science is part of STEM but there are
many other ways to apply math and science,”
she says. “Don’t be afraid and know you can
have fun with any type of career you choose.”
Cynthia Rubio holds a meeting at Radiant RFID.
8 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 24, No. 5, 2018
/www.latinastyle.com
