Celebrating Asian American / Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Bianca Curutan

While celebrating Asian American / Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we spoke with one of Stride’s Engineering Managers, Bianca Curutan, about her Filipino heritage and her journey as a female leader in a male-dominated field.

Bianca, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I’m a first-generation North American. My parents are originally from the northern Philippines and then immigrated to Canada. I was born in Toronto and raised in a nearby suburb before moving to California for work. If I was to summarize my childhood in one word, “family” is the one that comes to mind. My parents and auntie still live in the same house I grew up in, and my sister lives not too far away. For many years, I remember extended family living there with us at various points in time—aunties, uncles, and cousins, not to mention dogs and countless summertime visitors. We didn’t have a lot of money, but it didn’t feel like we lacked the important things in life. 

I lived at home up until I went to university, but even then, I wasn’t too far from my family—only about an hour’s drive away at the University of Waterloo, where I studied mathematics and business administration. Here, I was introduced to computer science, though it was far from my favorite subject—it just didn’t “click.” After I completed my math and business degree, I got my first full-time job as, surprisingly, a programmer. About a year later, having discovered a renewed interest in development, I went back to school for a Master’s degree in Software Engineering from McMaster University.

Soon after, I landed my first software engineering role in California—this was a big turning point for me, as I was very far away from (most of) my family and the friends and life I knew so well. I moved with the intention of being away for only a year, but now it’s been several years, and I’m still here. I’ve worked for a handful of tech companies and had the opportunity to work across web, iOS, Android, and engineering management, among other things. Along the way, I’ve also gotten closer with the little family I have in the area and made new friends and connections. In a sense, I’ve created a family away from family and a home away from home.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I strive to be an active member of the tech community and particularly enjoy working with and mentoring students, early-career professionals, and people newer to the tech space. I am also a certified yoga and lyra instructor and circus enthusiast, so you can often find me at the studio. Some of my other hobbies include drawing webcomics, reading, playing piano, learning new languages, baking, and making (and also breaking) things.

How has your heritage shaped who you are today?

“Be the representation you want to see; be the change you want to experience. ”

A trait that Filipinos are known for is hospitality. This takes shape in different ways, such as inviting people into your home, providing an environment of acceptance and belonging, and cooking homemade meals. I’m not a great cook, so I tend to opt out of the latter, but a common theme here is bringing people together. It is something that I’m proud people associate with my heritage, and it has shaped me into the person I am today. 

Despite appreciating my time alone, more often than not, I find myself wanting to be around people or, rather, being the one that brings people together. This characteristic shows up in the various areas of my life through social connections and in the workplace. It also provides opportunities to develop other skills and experiences, such as leadership, communication, teamwork, and empathy, which are qualities I continue to develop in my personal life and as I progress in my engineering career.

Another common trait in many Filipino and Asian families is non-verbalized forms of affection or appreciation. If you’re familiar with the Five Love Languages, “words of affirmation” are at the bottom of my list, meaning I generally prefer to express myself in other ways. I try to be mindful of this, especially since I hold a leadership position and want to ensure my team feels recognized and valued for their contributions.

What advice would you give to other Asian American or Pacific Islanders looking to start their career in Engineering?

Be the representation you want to see; be the change you want to experience. 

Growing up, I don’t recall meeting many Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders working in STEM, and even fewer who identified as women. From my undergraduate studies onwards, I was in male-dominated fields of study and work, so it was common to be the only woman (or one of the very few women) in the room. Despite being around supportive peers from other groups and with other identities, I faced challenges with confidence influenced by my late-ish background in engineering and by being part of more than one underrepresented group in tech. Some engineers I know have been studying computer science since middle school. Although others identify as Asian Americans, it is clear that where my family is from is part of a “more underrepresented” group in tech. Even now, it’s challenging to find engineering peers from the Philippines. 

I don’t know what I was waiting for, but at some point, I decided I didn’t want to wait around anymore to see diversity improve in the tech space. Although I was initially shy about sharing my own story, I now constantly strive to be that diverse representation (through volunteering, talks, interviews, articles, blog posts, and more) and make change happen. 

We still have a long way to go. I’m sure I’m not alone in realizing that I’m the only one of my heritage in meetings or groups. Although it may not be easy, women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups in tech are encouraged to “sit at the table” and not just stay on the sidelines. Take those aspects that make you different and use them as your strengths to contribute to discussions and projects and drive things forward. Finally, don’t feel that you need to do these things alone. Form connections and allyships and inspire others so that we may all rise together.

What does Asian American Heritage Month mean to you?

Asian American Heritage Month is a celebration of change and achievements, a tribute to generations of Asians and Pacific Islanders in America. It helps us all to recognize how far we’ve come and reminds us to continue to progress and grow. Asian American Heritage Month is a relatively new concept to me, so I continue to develop my own personal understanding of it. What I do know, however, is that it helps me to appreciate my heritage and culture; it gives me a better understanding of the importance of where my family comes from and how that has shaped my values and actions, and I am grateful for that.

Want to join Bianca and help people get affordable benefits? We’re hiring!