Martinez did not always have her eyes set on a career in technology. "I always liked math and science," says Martinez, "but I led a well-rounded life too. I wasn't just studying all the time, which is very important in creating a balanced life." One of her high school teachers encouraged Martinez to pursue engineering, and it became one of the best decisions for her career. 
Though she has experienced the challenge of being "the only Latina" throughout much of her career, it's been important to Martinez that she be given the opportunity to bring a different perspective to a team or key decision makers. "It helps to be in work environments that value these unique experiences - that's the key for my career."

It's also important to Martinez not to take her current situation for granted; she knows from experience that not all working environments place such a high value on diversity. "You'll always find people who are not willing to hire people who are different. My first career days were with all white men, all white shirts," Martinez says. "Now corporate America is much more sensitive to the diversity of workers and customers. There are more opportunities than ever. Companies like Microsoft are perfect for diversity because they are so pragmatic, results-driven, and valued for what they bring to the table." 

Martinez sees more opportunities for Latinos in the future because of the growing need for many of the cultural values that Latinos bring to the workplace. "The Latino orientation toward family cohesiveness is a good foundation for team work," she says. "The ability to reach others comes from that sense of wanting to relate positively with people. Our emphasis on loyalty is also great groundwork for building partnerships and operating with integrity." 
To Martinez, technology is much more than a career or a scientific exploration; it is also an instrument of social change. Early on in her career Martinez used her influence at Bell Labs to advocate that all communities should be able to pick up a phone and get a dial tone; soon thereafter came her battle to make the price of technology affordable to all. "To me it's always been about using technology to change lives," Martinez says.