Among the most influential Hispanics in the technology industry there is a Cuban

October 15, 2019

On the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, the specialized site Digital Trends in Spanish prepared a list of the most influential Hispanic people in the technology industry, which included Cuban Ralph de la Vega, who played a key role in bringing the iPhone to market.

De la Vega "has been one of the most influential vice presidents in the technology industry. In 2002 he was the top authority at BellSouth for Latin America. From there he moved to Cingular Wireless, from where he made the leap to the vice presidency of AT&T Inc," the media outlet noted.

As leader of AT&T Mobility, he was in charge of the company's transition from 3G to 4G wireless technology, which radically changed the way mobile devices were used.

However, De la Vega's most notable effort was working with the late Steve Jobs to secure exclusive distribution rights for the first iPhone. The executive was among the first people to see an iPhone. He swore he wouldn't tell anyone anything about the device.

In 1961, at ten years old, De la Vega arrived alone in Miami from Cuba. He was reunited four years later with his parents in the United States.

He studied technical drawing while working and saving to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Atlantic University. He later received a Master's degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University.

In 2009 De la Vega was co-author of the book Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity to Advantage in Business and Life, with Paul Brown.

The book's objective was to provide professional and life advice to young people starting their careers, through "four pillars of success" and "six fundamental points" in which the authors use their personal story to structure their advice.

De la Vega has also written for periodicals such as CNET.

In the past he was selected Executive of the Year by the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting and has been ranked as one of the "50 most important Hispanics in the US in technology and business."

In 2011 he was awarded the Global Innovation Prize from Emory University. He has also served on the Board of Directors of Morehouse College.

Ralph de la Vega is currently president of the De La Vega Group, which focuses on investments in entrepreneurial startups.

The Cuban appears on the Digital Trends list alongside Venezuelans Álvaro Celis (Microsoft) and Lilian Rincón (Google), Ecuadorian businesswoman Nina Vaca (Pinnacle Group), Bolivian Marcelo Claure (Softbank), Mexican Kety Esquivel (AnitaB.org), Chilean Ignacio Contreras (Qualcomm), and Colombian Diana Trujillo (NASA).

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