Alexandra Tirado Oropeza, Editor, Independent en Español

In a collection of interviews to mark International Women’s Day 2022, we shine a light on some of the brilliant women at the heart of The Independent. 

This conversation is with Alexandra Tirado Oropeza, Editor, Independent en Español.

Describe your job

I oversee Español’s content strategy, manage the team, and ensure the site meets the top editorial and SEO standards.

How did you get into your profession?

I always wanted to be a writer, but in 2017, I went back to my country, Venezuela, for the summer. That year, there were a lot of deadly protests and people marching on the street to protest the government. I got an internship at a local radio station, and even though journalists were being attacked on the streets and getting sanctioned by the government, they still covered every single one of them. That made me want to be a journalist.

Who and what has helped you break the bias?

Watching any woman that has had the courage to go after what she wanted instead of what was expected of her.

Which women do you admire?

Sandra Cisneros, Joan Didion, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Ava DuVernay, Patti Smith, Joana Hausman, my mom, and the women I work with every day.

What are your hopes for the future in terms of breaking the bias?

I hope that we women start being nicer to ourselves and realise that we belong in high positions.

What one bit of career advice would you give to others?

It comes in two parts.

The first one is don’t let impostor syndrome deter you from applying for a position you are qualified for. Sometimes we tend to sell ourselves shorter than we realise. 

The second one is always be open about what you do and what your salary is: it might help someone else evaluate their own pay.