About me
Susana Lau
Outstanding software engineer with a master’s degree in information technology. Thanks to a Fulbright scholarship, she had the opportunity to train in the United States. Upon returning to Panama, she founded Etyalab, a company dedicated to the development of web and mobile applications. She also created “Mercadito App”, a platform that connects producers with buyers.
Lau is a strong advocate of education and believes it is the key to overcoming any adversity. From a young age, her parents, Chinese immigrants in Panama, instilled in her the importance of education and hard work. In addition to her business achievements, Susana is active in promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers among young women, especially through her involvement in Women in Engineering (WIE).
More than 10 years of professional experience in information technology projects in Panamanian companies, as well as in a technology startup in Silicon Valley.
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My Trajectory
2015
She founded EtyaLab, a technology company, offering web and mobile solutions to companies and entrepreneurs. She has led +50 technology projects for +30 clients since its founding, working on projects from apps, web applications, websites, e-commerce, and other custom developments.
2016
She created Mercadito, a venture based on mobile technology for the agricultural sector, being recognized as one of the 30 promising businesses of 2019 according to Forbes, also standing out with awards from SENACYT with non-refundable scaling funds, in local competitions such as Seedstars (3rd place 2018), Google Launchpad and Uber Pitch, and in international competitions such as YoEmprendedor Costa Rica, LaIdea (United States), and the Solá challenge of Unilever (Guatemala).
2021
She founded a foundation along with three other colleagues with the aim of bringing more educational, cultural, and entrepreneurship projects to the community. – CREEA Foundation, whose purpose is to create a culture of responsible citizen participation and entrepreneurship in Panama based on collaborative partnerships, social innovation, diversity and inclusion, young people motivated to undertake and innovate, and the dissemination and study of inspiring cases of local success. Recently she led the Community Champions program in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in which more than 300 entrepreneurs in Panama were trained.
Actuality
Leads IEEE Entrepreneurship in R9 (Latin America), this is the open community of IEEE focused on promoting entrepreneurship, leading various entrepreneurship programs for IEEE Latin America.
She serves as president of the IEEE Panama Section, being sworn in as president on January 12, 2023, for the period 2023-2024. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to the advancement of technology for the benefit of humanity, with more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries and 10 geographic regions. The central purpose of IEEE is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE – Panama currently has 600 members and since 1972 has been dedicated to the development of educational, technical, and professional activities that promote theory and practice in various branches of engineering and related fields for the personal and professional development of its members.
She sits on the boards of directors of two regulated companies: an insurance company and a bank, where she contributes as an independent member and part of the technology, audit, risk, and ethics committees.
IEEE Contributions
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Mi Trayectoria
En 2015 fundó EtyaLab, una empresa de tecnología, ofreciendo soluciones web y móviles a empresas y emprendedores. Ha liderado +50 proyectos de tecnología en +30 clientes desde su fundación, trabajando en proyectos desde apps, aplicaciones web, páginas web, e-commerce y otros desarrollos a la medida.
En 2016 creó Mercadito, un emprendimiento basado en tecnología móvil para el sector agro, siendo reconocido como una de las 30 promesas negocios del 2019 según Forbes, destacándose igualmente con premios de SENACYT con fondos de escalamiento no reembolsable, en concursos locales como Seedstars (3er lugar 2018), Google Launchpad y Uber Pitch, y en concursos internacionales como YoEmprendedor Costa Rica, LaIdea (Estados Unidos), y en el retó Solá de Unilever (Guatemala)
Recognition in Forbes
Fue reconocida por Forbes 2020 y 2021 y 2023, como una de las 100 Mujeres Poderosas de Centroamérica y República Dominicana. Le apasionan los temas de emprendimientos y apoya las iniciativas de empoderamiento femenino e igualdad de género en el área de tecnología, participando como mentora en varias ediciones de Panama Startup Weekend, así como de ponente en varios congresos y eventos relacionados a mujeres, ciencia y tecnología.
Actualmente se desempeña como presidente de IEEE Sección Panamá, siendo juramentada como presidente el pasado 12 de enero, para el periodo 2023-2024. IEEE es la organización profesional técnica más grande del mundo dedicada al avance de la tecnología en beneficio de la humanidad con más de 400,000 miembros en más de 160 países y 10 regiones geográficas. El propósito central de IEEE es fomentar la innovación tecnológica y la excelencia en beneficio de la humanidad. IEEE – Panamá actualidad está formada por 600 miembros y desde 1972 se dedica al desarrollo de actividades educativas, técnicas y profesionales que promueven la teoría y la práctica en diversas ramas de las ingenierías y campos afines para el desarrollo personal y profesional de sus miembros.
Fue presidente de WIE Panamá de IEEE (2019-2020), grupo de afinidad que busca inspirar y promover a mujeres a interesarse por STEM. Durante el periodo como presidente WIE, el grupo ha sido adjudicado con el premio AEIF (Embajada de Estados Unidos) y por SENACYT obteniendo más de 50,000 USD en fondos para ejecutar el programa STAR en dos versiones diferentes. Debido al logro de estos programas donde se impactaron a más de 500 estudiantes a nivel nacional, se publicaron dos libros, se movilizaron más de 2,500 horas de voluntariado y más de 25 empresas y aliados, recibió mención honorífica en 2022 “Inspiring Member of the Year Award” que entrega WIE a nivel mundial cada año. Además de lograr que Panamá ganará el premio “Affinity Group of the Year Award”. También recibió el premio EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Pre-University Education, entregado en Vancouver Canadá en noviembre de 2022.
Actualmente Susana Lau lidera IEEE Entrepreneurship en R9 (Latinoamérica), ésta es la comunidad abierta de IEEE enfocada a promover el emprendimiento, liderando diversos programas de emprendimiento para IEEE Latinoamérica.
En 2021 también fundó una fundación con otros tres colegas con el objetivo de llevar más proyectos educativos, culturales y de emprendimiento a la comunidad. – Fundación CREEA, cuyo propósito es crear una cultura de participación ciudadana responsable y de emprendimiento en Panamá basada en alianzas colaborativas, innovación social, diversidad e inclusión, jóvenes motivados a emprender e innovar, y la divulgación y estudio de casos inspiradores de éxito local. Recientemente lideró el programa Community Champions en colaboración con la embajada de Estados Unidos en la que se capacitaron a más de 300 emprendedores de Panamá.
Actualmente ocupa un asiento en las juntas directivas de dos empresas reguladas: una aseguradora y un banco, donde aporta como miembro independiente y parte de los comités de tecnología, auditoría, riesgo y ética.
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My way
The Businesswoman - ETYALAB
A company that provides software development services for Panama, the United States, and Latin America, with an emphasis on mobile applications and web solutions.
The Entrepreneur - MERCADITO
Awards and recognitions for Mercadito:
- Pomona Acceleration Program, Mercadito, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, 2019.
- Top 20/200 Finalist Unilever Solá-Mercadito Challenge, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, 2019.
- LaIdea Incubation Program Beneficiary - Farm & Food, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, 2018.
- Agro Entrepreneurship Award-Mercadito, Yo emprendedor Competition, Costa Rica, 2018.
- Third place in Seedstars Panama - Mercadito, Capital Bank, 2018.
- Capital Beneficiary Escalation-Mercadito (40k). SENACYT, 2017.
- Finalist Panama Google Launchpad. Mercadito, 2017.
- Uber Pitch Contest finalist. Mercadito, 2017.
The Mentor / Panelist
+15 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programs as Mentor: Panama Startup Weekend Women's Edition Mentor / TechAcademy - Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá / STAR WIE IEEE Panama / IEEE Entrepreneurship / Panama Startups / UTP Incuba . Panelist in TryEngineering: Tuesday Girls in STEM / WIE Forum / Cybersecurity Forum (representing IEEE WIE Panama) / SENACYT (National Secretary of Science and Technology) Forum with WIE / IEEE T&D Latin America 2020 / IEEE Intercon 2021 / Congreso Emprende / Congreso Empoderadísimas: Ingeniería, Ciencias, Matemáticas y Tecnología. Chile.
The Volunteer
Currently, I am President of IEEE Panama (2023 - 2024) and Regional Leader for Latin America in IEEE Entrepreneurship (2023). I co-organize entrepreneurship workshops, I am a liaison of the IEEE Entrepreneurship Committee and I have had prominent roles in Women in Engineering (2019-2020). Outside of IEEE, I am secretary of the CREEA Foundation (2020 - Present), a member of IGCP, the Association of Women Directors of Panama (2020-Present), and a member of APROCHIPA (2017- Present), contributing to the professional development and promotion of engineering and entrepreneurship.
The Director - BOARD MEMBER
In the corporate sector, her experience and leadership are evident through her participation on the boards of Seguros Sura Panama and Banisi, in technology, audit, ethics and risk committees. Susana is also an active member with the Association of Women Directors of Panama, contributing in 2023 in the Placement Committee to promote greater participation of women in board positions, a space where less than 20% is occupied by women.
Nunca te rindas temprano, las grandes cosas toman tiempo. Si fuera fácil, todos lo harían.
Some of my associations and volunteer work
Software engineer
Susana Lau
I’m Susana Lau, and I’m here to boost your entrepreneurship and innovation. With more than 15 mentoring programs and over 50 speaking and panelist appearances at events, I have shared my experience and knowledge in various forums. I am committed to enriching your entrepreneurial journey and helping you achieve success. Trust my passion and experience to take your project to the next level.