EMILY VILLALBA
Software Engineer
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Emily Villalba graduated summa cum laude from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a focus on the design and analysis of algorithms, interfaces, data structures, and mobile app development. She is now leveraging her skills and knowledge as a software engineer at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where she is fully engaged in applying cutting-edge technology to create meaningful contributions to TV Distribution. She has worked at Sony for two years and has already been promoted.
Overcoming imposter syndrome and the lack of representation in STEM almost diverted Villalba’s path. She worked extremely hard to regain confidence in her programming skills that she always knew were great, but always felt were not enough.
Villalba is known for being perceptive, thoughtful, and wise beyond her years. In college, she recognized that she wanted to work for a company where a close personal connection and desire for the betterment of the future were valued as much as technical skills. Villalba found this in her first job at Sony Pictures Entertainment. She is poised to have a great career and determined to empower women and people of color. Vilalba’s goal is to turn this into an industry where diversity can flourish by being a mentor and a voice for the underrepresented, paving the way for a more inclusive tech landscape. She recently represented STEM Advantage on a panel at Women in Technology: Hollywood’s SoCal Leadership Summit, where she discussed the lasting impact STEM Advantage has had on her career journey and how she is paying it forward as a role model and mentor for younger students.
