“That experience changed me. It showed me that educational equity isn’t just for the student; it’s for the families supporting them with the tools they are given, because when we meet people where they are, education becomes more than a system, but a doorway to possibilities.”

Asa part of our series about “Technology Making An Important Positive Social Impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Camila Gonzalez. Camila Gonzalez is a proud Puerto Rican and bilingual executive with over a decade of experience in leading education and technology initiatives across the public, private, and correctional sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Education and ReEntry Programs at ViaPath Technologies, she is responsible for overseeing national strategies that deliver learning opportunities to incarcerated individuals across all 50 states via ViaPath tablets. Camila’s work focuses on developing scalable tablet solutions that promote equity, engagement, and long-term impact in the realms of Reentry and Rehabilitation. Her commitment to enhancing educational access and outcomes for underserved populations underscores her passion for leveraging technology as a catalyst for positive change in education.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?

Iwas born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, NY, as the youngest of three siblings in a first-generation household. My parents migrated with the hope of providing us with opportunities they believed we would never have if we remained on the island. Much of my early life was shaped by the tension and beauty of navigating both cultures. English was my second language, so I played the role of translator and bridged the gap between both worlds for my parents. While being raised in this environment was a challenge, it also served as my catalyst for growth. It created challenges that helped me grow up fast and shape the resilience I carry today. Despite financial limitations, I was fortunate to attend a private Catholic school throughout my upbringing thanks to a combination of scholarships, sponsorships, and community-based programs. These opportunities offered structure, values, and discipline that transcended all facets of my life that I may not have had otherwise.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I was 22 years old, and I was beginning my work in the South Bronx at a Title I Charter School and still learning my job while helping families navigate the same education system I had once guided my parents through.

One morning, a father approached me after dropping off his daughters. He had recently come home after serving 10 years and wanted help setting up his email so he could receive updates from their teachers. He looked in the eye and said, “I don’t want my daughters to make the same mistakes as me, and I want to be able to talk to their teachers before conferences. I want them to see me involved.” For the next week, we sat together every morning going over the basics — how to set up an email account, how to reply to messages, how to receive notifications, and how he can advocate for his daughters directly to teachers. He was determined to catch up with the times, but most importantly, it was fatherhood that drove him.

That experience changed me. It showed me that educational equity isn’t just for the student; it’s for the families supporting them with the tools they are given, because when we meet people where they are, education becomes more than a system, but a doorway to possibilities.

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful to who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I owe a great deal of who I am to my parents, Marisol Maldonado and Carlos Gonzalez. They carried the weight of sacrifice so that I could have a future. But outside of home. One of the first people I met was my 10th-grade English Literature teacher, Velia Bellomo.

Her classroom was the first place where I learned that stories were mirrors and windows to the plight of humans. Mirrors that reflected pieces of myself I hadn’t yet understood and windows into worlds, histories, and struggles beyond my own. She saw something in me and nurtured it throughout my high school career and beyond, even with something as little as a pep talk. Under her, literature became the lens through which I could see and understand the world while awakening my critical consciousness, cultivating empathy, and equipping people, especially those who have been marginalized. Ms. Bellomo helped plant that seed, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.

Could you please share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” That quote from The Alchemist has echoed through many moments in my life. I didn’t come from privilege. I received many opportunities thanks to the generosity of my community, while my father worked tirelessly, and my mother devoted her life to her children and family. However, they gave us everything that mattered: faith, resilience, and hope. When I stayed focused with my purpose, even if I didn’t know where something was leading, the right opportunities began to unfold.

When the universe conspires to help you achieve your goals, it appears in the form of mentors who believed in and supported me, strangers who extended their kindness, and, most importantly, programs that expanded my mind. That quote is a constant reminder that when you lead with your heart and your intentions are clear, life will always find a way to meet you halfway and pave the way.

You are a successful business leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Resilience: My path wasn’t paved for me. I had to construct it piece by piece through my lived experiences, navigating unfamiliar systems without a clear roadmap, driven by an internal desire to overcome every barrier while using my inner strength to lead with determination, adaptability, and a resilient mindset.

Mission-Driven Empathy: As a product of someone who benefited from access-based education programs, I have always led with a deep understanding of what equity in education should look like and really mean. I approach all my work with empathy and collaborate with educators, products, and teams to ensure that technology serves as a bridge for learners, not a barrier.

Visionary: In a world that is rapidly evolving, particularly in technology and education, being a visionary enables you to anticipate change, identify emerging needs, and build towards a future that others may not yet see. It forces me not only to react to problems, but also to reframe them more effectively. It has forced me to ask more profound questions.

Ok super. Let’s now shift to the central part of our discussion about the tech tools that you are helping to create that can make a positive social impact on our educational systems. To begin, what problems are you aiming to solve?

As Director of Education and Reentry at Viapath Technologies, I’m focused on addressing how to deliver equitable, high-impact, and reentry support resources that support learners using technology, specifically addressing the digital divide behind closed doors, fragmented educational pathways, and reentry without readiness. For years, incarcerated individuals have been excluded from the digital age and the rapid technological growth that we see, experience, and feel in modern-day society.

How do you think your technology can address this?

Viapath Technologies Education Team addresses critical gaps in correctional education and reentry by hosting and managing various corrections-safe digital platforms that deliver programming across the United States. We utilize our tablets to partner with recognized organizations in this space that offer a broad range of programs targeting Academic and Vocational Education, including GED Prep, digital literacy, financial education, and career readiness, as well as Mental Health, Substance Abuse Disorder, and Family and Spirituality courses and resources. This model allows for self-paced, individualized learning while ensuring compliance with industry security standards for all learners with access to our tablets.

By hosting these Free platforms for learners, we ensure technical stability and implementation support, which in turn enables agencies to measure impact and align with programming and workforce demands while digitizing content in a cost-effective, yet human-centered approach. At its core, Viapath Technologies is leveraging our technology to reduce recidivism, promote equity, and create real pathways to a successful reentry.

Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about education?

My passion for education was born out of necessity very early on, but it grew with purpose.

As the youngest of three in a first-generation household, like many, I was often the one translating medical records, bills, school documents, and appointments, and I remember the weight of responsibility at such a young age. It made me deeply aware of how much access and understanding are tied to power and success. Being exposed to various socioeconomic groups and having received private Catholic education from a NYC school, not only did it teach me to think critically, question systems, and use my voice; I then began to realize that education wasn’t just about personal success. It was about community, justice, and the ability to rewrite narratives.

Education gave me a language for my identity, my questions, and my dreams, and I knew then I wanted to transform it, especially for those who were never given the full access they deserved.

How do you think your technology might change the world?

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I believe Viapath Technologies has the power to radically transform the way we view justice, opportunity, and human potential when it is designed with dignity at the center, and where it meets the end users where they are. In a country where mass incarceration has dehumanized millions, technology has become the lifeline for many. It can reach the people we’ve pushed to the margins. Through accessible, secure platforms. We can bring education, skills training, and personal development to those who are often overlooked by society. We must continue to build systems that are culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and focused on the outcomes that restore lives. I genuinely believe that technology, when implemented correctly, can do more than reduce recidivism- it can rewrite futures.

Keeping the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks to this technology that people should think more deeply about?

We often speak about technology as an equalizer- a tool that can democratize education, expand access, and drive innovation. However, as someone who has been working at the intersection of technology, education, and justice for over 10 years, I’ve learned that even the most well-intentioned tools can carry unintended consequences. The law of unintended consequences warns us that progress, when pursued without thoughtful design, ethical foresight, and community input, can do more harm than good. In carceral and marginalized environments, this risk is especially acute. When tablets are introduced into facilities without robust educational content or responsive programming, they risk digital distractions rather than catalysts for transformation. We’ve also been able to see how tech can deepen the digital divide. When you introduce equipment or platforms without training, infrastructure, or trauma-induced support, we risk reinforcing the very inequities we claim to solve, leaving behind the most vulnerable individuals.

We can’t stop innovating; it’s about leading with accountability, involving those most impacted by the process, and measuring success not by reach, but by the futures reimagined. We must never lose sight of the people technology is meant to serve and the endless possibilities it holds.

How do you envision the landscape of education evolving over the next decade, and how does your technology fit into that future?

As we look toward the future, I believe the most significant evolution won’t be just technological but more importantly, societal, and who we build them for and whether those tools will close gaps or deepen the divide. Access to education and digital literacy will become as essential as fundamental necessities. If we don’t design intentionally, we risk an impact on millions of people, particularly those in carceral systems and marginalized communities.

That is why the role of technology must shift: from efficiency to equity, from data extraction to human empowerment. At Viapath Technologies, we’re working to make that change real. By delivering secure, intentional platforms for incarcerated learners and returning citizens, we are not just distributing content; we are providing a vital support system. We’re restoring access, building pathways to meaningful careers, and helping individuals rewrite their futures. The most transformative technologies won’t be those that reach the most people the fastest. They’ll be the ones who reach people who have been historically left out of opportunities and ensure they have a meaningful place in what’s coming next.

Here is the main question for our discussion. Based on your experience and success, can you please share “Five things you need to know to successfully create technology that can make a positive social impact”? (Please share a story or an example for each.)

1. Lead with the problem, not the product

Social impact starts by listening to end users. Innovation isn’t about flashy features; it’s about solving real, often complex, problems. If you don’t understand the lived experience behind the need, you risk building something irrelevant.

2. Design with Dignity

Technology should empower users, not create barriers. We observe higher engagement with content and platforms designed by or for justice-impacted individuals, as representation matters.

3. Question Your Assumptions

Even good intentions lead to flawed outcomes. While working on a project, we assumed digital literacy came naturally the moment a learner was handed a tablet. That was until the first time I went into a facility and learners flooded me with questions about their struggles to understand tablet functionality. True design started at the user’s current reality.

4. Working Across Systems, Not In Silos

Tech alone isn’t the solution; the real impact happens when education, workforce, and reentry systems align. Our free platform offerings to learners gained traction because they plugged into real-world pipelines- certificates, certifications, and community resources.

5. Measure Meaningfully and Adapt

Impact isn’t just numbers. When our content deals disconnected at ViaPath, we adapted- adding real-world content and resources, including cultural nuances. The desire for access rose, not because we added features, but because we partner with providers who focus on building the human connection.

Tech doesn’t change the world-people do. When technology is designed with empathy, equity, and adaptability, it becomes the most powerful tool for transformation.

In the world of EdTech, data collection is a widely practiced approach. How do you ensure the ethical handling of user data, especially when it concerns students?

In EdTech, especially in corrections education, data collection is a double-edged sword — it can either empower rehabilitation or reinforce control. Viapath Technologies takes seriously the responsibility that comes with collecting and managing student data. Our systems are designed to align with FERPA and security compliance standards. We collaborate closely with facility leadership to ensure that educational data is segregated from behavioral and disciplinary systems.

We also implement role-based access controls to limit who can see what and why. Data related to a learner’s progress, certifications, or academic goals should be used to open doors, not close them.

Ultimately, ethical data use in corrections means ensuring that technology respects both security protocols and human dignity. Trust and Transparency are everything in this work, and it’s earned by designing systems that prioritize the learner’s future.

If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?

Start with your community- positive change doesn’t have to be big or loud to matter. When you show up, listen, and take action, no matter how small, you create ripples that uplift others and inspire change.

Is there a person in the world, or the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? They might see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

If I could have a private breakfast or lunch with anyone in the world, it would be Michelle Obama. As a first-gen college student, daughter of working-class parents, and a woman who has consistently used her platform to elevate education, equity, and empowerment, she embodies the values I strive for every day. For so many of us, especially women of color, she has reminded us that we belong in every room, that our stories matter, and that power and grace are not mutually exclusive.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Readers can follow my work via LinkedIn by searching Camila Gonzalez.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.