A nationally renowned former Microsoft leader will speak as part of West Texas A&M University’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

Sandra Lopez, a former vice president and chief marketing officer of Microsoft, will speak at noon Oct. 4 in WT’s Alumni Banquet Hall on the Canyon campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Lopez’s “Career Empowerment through Diversity, Respect and Inclusion” is part of WT’s Distinguished Lecture Series and co-sponsored by the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business and WT’s chapter of Association for Latino Professionals, among others.

Lopez led Microsoft’s marketing advertising strategy within the digital industry; she held similar roles with Adobe and with Intel’s New Technology Group. Lopez also serves on the board of directors for PureRed and Junior Achievement as well as co-chair for Sports Integrity Global Alliance. She recently served as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Augmented and Virtual Reality.

“Sandra Lopez will deliver an inspirational presentation on her many years of experience serving in leadership positions in the Fortune 100 corporate technology environment,” said Dr. Leslie Ramos Salazar, ALPFA faculty adviser and WT’s Abdullat Professor of Business. “She is well-known nationally for her corporate and consumer marketing expertise. For instance, she managed a wearable technology business for Intel’s New Technology Group.”

Lopez has also served in various roles within corporate marketing including being director of new business marketing and consumer marketing in Intel, as well as positions in Adobe Systems Inc., Macromedia, Computer Associates International Inc. and several other technology companies.

Among her many accolades are Top Ten Influencers in Technology from SportsPro, Top 100 Women in Technology from Technology Magazine, Most Powerful Women in Tech from National Diversity Council, Top Women in Sports from AdWeek, Top 10 Latina Executives from LatinaStyle, Most Influential and Notable Hispanic Professionals in Information Technology from HiTec and Game Changer from Sports Business Journal.

Lopez earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and textiles and clothing from the University of California at Davis. In addition, she attended the Stanford’s Executive Accelerator Program in 2016. As part of contributing to the Hispanic community, she is focusing on building the next generation of women leaders and Latina/Hispanics.

“Attending this event will be a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning from a top technological expert in the United States,” Ramos Salazar said. “It will inspire the audience to embrace one’s culture and to have the confidence to overcome any career challenges in order to thrive in one’s career.”

A question-and-answer session will follow the lecture.

For information, contact Ramos Salazar at 806-651-2548 or lsalazar@wtamu.edu.