A kid from a small Mexican town dreamed of finding real-life hackers. Two decades later, he flew his family to Brussels and spoke at one of the world’s largest open-source conferences. This is that story.

Entering the tech industry is a mix of opportunities, skills, and pure luck. For many of us, breaking into BigTech felt more like winning a lottery ticket than following a structured path. However, there is one methodical action to change that. And when I say I had luck, it’s not because I lack intelligence, determination, or grit. I possess all of these qualities, as do many others reading this post. There are likely individuals who are even smarter, more determined, and facing higher stakes.