Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as the Only Woman Speaker
Uriel Alonso recounts her initial panic and imposter syndrome upon realizing she was the only woman speaker at AWS Cloud Day Philippines 2025’s Developer Lounge. Despite her excitement for the invitation, seeing a lineup of highly experienced male speakers, coupled with her just over a year of experience as a Cloud Applications Specialist, triggered immense fear. She felt the heavy burden of representing all women in technical roles, fearing that any misstep would reinforce negative stereotypes.
Her decision to proceed stemmed from a profound sense of responsibility to her BuildHers+ community members and other women in tech who lacked confidence. She realized that backing out would send the wrong message; someone needed to be the first to step onto that stage. During her talk about the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) and its use of AWS for disaster response, her focus shifted from her gender to the impactful work, leading to an engaged audience and valuable conversations. She also connected with key industry figures and AWS representatives, feeling a sense of belonging.
This experience taught her the critical importance of representation: someone has to be the ‘only one’ to pave the way for others, inspiring young women to see possibilities in tech. She emphasizes that invitations to speak are not just about quotas but about the value one brings. The risks of public speaking and feeling out of place are real, but overcoming them leads to growth, new connections, and the powerful act of lighting the way for others. Her journey underscores that diverse voices are essential for a stronger, more innovative, and inclusive tech industry.
