Bianca Toledo

“Diversity and inclusion are important because without them, innovation is put at a halt. I believe that we should strive to break cultural barriers and understand more of how the world works by connecting with people who are different from us. After all, we can’t change the world if we don’t understand it.”

Before working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Bianca was working with tech startups creating products that did not necessarily feel meaningful or impactful. This left her with a deep dissatisfaction because her passions lay in the realm of innovation, especially as applied to energy conservation and environmental sustainability. When she was recruited into the Laboratory, she was ecstatic to have the opportunity to use her UX Design skills to contribute to the Lab and the world.

Bianca feels LLNL is a great place to work because it is understood at the Laboratory that people are not static and that they grow and change. She loves how Laboratory employees are encouraged to expand past the boundaries of their careers and explore new skillsets by providing free lectures or allowing the flexibility to help on multiple projects that interest them. She feels that the Lab shares the same values as hers, which is that life is not all about work and stress. The Laboratory’s programs break the routine of her workdays by surrounding employees with activities, events, and clubs that can be enjoyed with colleagues.

She is currently the Vice Chair of APAC and Chair of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPIHM) and is excited to help push diversity and inclusion within the lab and grow alongside so many other ERGs within the lab. Being part of the APAC board not only gives her a space to challenge others in their ways of thinking, but also be challenged in the understanding of her own culture. She constantly feels like she is gaining more empathy for others while learning about herself.

Her role models are her parents. “As immigrants from the Philippines, they sacrificed so much to bring my siblings here, and for that I am eternally grateful. They instilled deep values within me: work with honor and excellency, live with purpose, and always make others feel loved and welcomed! I hope to always reflect them in my character.”