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Jessica Cola-Pinto

Tell us your story.

Some disagree, but when it comes to digital communication, digital thinking and digital projection, millenials run the game. We’re the forerunners, the early adopters, the ones who evolved and continue to improve the digital space.

I started my ‘journey’ into all-things-digital at a wee, ripe age of 9. Now, I know 9 is not that young – especially when compared to the newest generation of app enthusiasts… those two-years of age and under, but that’s their story to tell. By then the digital landscape will undeniably transcend anything I can currently imagine (no doubt by the hand of a millennial).

Communication has always been an interest of mine: social, intellectual, emotional. In our parent’s day and age, these interactions were made face-to-face, on the phone, or by mail… today? They’re made on computers, smartphones and tablets.

What’s the beautiful part of this? No longer are we confined within our immediate lines of communication – the conversation has gone global.

My intrigue surpasses the conversation between ‘person A’ and ‘person B’, to ‘culture A’ and ‘culture B’. How do messages and stories resonate with people of different backgrounds? I intentionally “fell” into my current role at TransPerfect to explore and understand just that.

How do we take communication and deliver it to audiences around the globe? Translation. How do we integrate multilingual communication in the digital space? Technology.

Language is just one facet of an international campaign. Technology takes the conversation to the next level. As I work primarily in the digital communications space, my clients consist of digital agencies that are expanding their messages and creative abroad. It’s amazing to be part of an organization whose technology facilitates, streamlines and expands this dialogue around the world.

What do you most want other women and young girls to know about being a woman in our digital culture?

Keep creating. Keep thinking and keep pushing the limits – innovation is essential, and is only possible if we continue ask, ‘what’s next?’ As digital-enthusiasts, we have the freedom to express our thoughts in a global forum. Share your thoughts, act on ideas, and keep creating.

The most important piece of advice I’ve ever been given, which influences my life every day, is that ‘progress isn’t made in comfort zones’. If you want to push the envelope, if you want to evolve the conversation, you must continue to propel yourself to new levels.

The Women in Tech campaign exists to help redefine what women in technology means in the 21st century. Started independently by a group of professional women who, after many impassioned discussions about women in tech knew we wanted to expand this definition beyond 'traditional' technology skills. To us, it includes most every current, emerging or evolving role within an organization. By featuring leaders and emerging leaders across industries who embody this we hope to collectively 'stand up', be proud of our place in the digital world and inspire young women or those new to the 'tech space' to get involved.