Belonging Spotlight: Hispanic Heritage Month
SkySat image of South Iceland, captured on September 11, 2024. © 2025, Planet Labs PBC. All Rights Reserved.
StoriesWe’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the experiences and perspectives of three Planeteers. Read the full interviews, below!
Andrea Maria Luis Valle, Space Systems Engineer
Preferred name and preferred pronouns?
Andrea - She/Her
What’s your job title and department here at Planet?
Space Systems Engineer (Starting November 1st I will have a new role, Tech Lead), Space Operations department
So, how did you find Planet and what made you want to join the team?
It's actually a pretty funny story how I discovered Planet. I was working in satellite operations at my previous company, and a major part of my job was handling conjunction warnings. I kept seeing an overwhelming number of potential events involving these "Flock" satellites — there were so many of them! The sheer number of them sparked my curiosity, leading me to research the constellation and find Planet. I saw an open position in Operations and immediately applied. Meeting the manager and the team, I knew the people and culture were exactly what I was looking for.
What does your day-to-day look like at Planet? Share with us what your job at Planet entails.
I make sure our SuperDove fleet is healthy, resolve any anomaly encountered, work on automation development as well optimization of the constellation.
We’d love to hear about any of your personal passions outside of work. What’s one thing that gets you really excited?
As cliche as it may sound, I absolutely love traveling. I love immersing myself into different cultures, seeing places that look completely different from home and trying exotic foods. I love seeing the world from new perspectives, which is also what I think is so cool about what we do at Planet.
What do you find most meaningful about celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?
For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is meaningful because it helps me stay connected to where I come from. I was born in Venezuela but had to leave when I was very young because of the political situation, so celebrating this month is a way of honoring that part of my story and the resilience of my community. It reminds me of the strength and pride in our heritage, even when life takes us far from home.
Hispanic Heritage Month is about honoring our roots and contributions — how has your heritage influenced the way you show up at work and lead in your role at Planet?
Having to migrate at a young age has fundamentally shaped the way I approach my role. The need to quickly adjust to a new culture, education system, and environment instilled a strong sense of adaptability and resilience, qualities that are essential when working at a fast-moving company like Planet.
Additionally, having roots in two very different places gives me a natural global perspective. I know that most of the times there isn't one 'right' way to solve a problem. This shows up in my work by ensuring I actively listen to different viewpoints on the team. I believe that being open to diverse perspectives, rooted in my own history of crossing cultures, is key to being an effective teammate and leader.
As Hispanic women working in different areas of the company, what unique perspectives or strengths do you feel we bring to Planet, and how can we continue to create more visibility and impact together?
I feel like we bring a really important layer of empathy and connection to the work environment. We're generally great at reading a room, bringing people together, and understanding how different backgrounds shape what someone is saying. That's a superpower for building strong teams and getting diverse groups to collaborate smoothly.
Lina Torres, Senior Regional Marketing Manager, LATAM
Preferred name and preferred pronouns?
Lina Torres - She/Her
What’s your job title and department here at Planet?
Sr. Regional Marketing Manager LATAM
So, how did you find Planet and what made you want to join the team
Honestly, Planet actually found me. After years in the tech industry, I never imagined I would land a job that felt literally “from another planet” (as we say in Spanish, meaning an amazing opportunity). Planet became the place where I could contribute to something with real purpose, while being part of two incredible teams—the global marketing team and the LATAM team. I am deeply grateful for that.
Two years in, I received one of the company’s highest recognitions—the Diamond Club award—becoming the first person in the marketing team to achieve it during the SKO. That moment is unforgettable and serves as a daily reminder of why joining Planet was one of the best decisions of my life.
What does your day-to-day look like at Planet? Share with us what your job at Planet entails.
As Sr. Marketing Manager at Planet, I focus on empowering clients across Latin America to unlock the full potential of our satellite imagery and data solutions. My role is to bridge innovation with impact, helping organizations understand how Planet’s technology can transform decision-making, drive sustainable growth, and address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. I’m deeply passionate about showcasing the unique value and opportunities that Latin America brings to the world, and I work every day to elevate the region’s role in shaping a smarter, more connected, and more sustainable world.
Employee Belonging is something that’s very important at Planet, and it’s uniquely personal. I was curious to know what Belonging feels like for you, or how you would define it?
Without a doubt, the sense of belonging at Planet is a very strong part of our culture. To me, it’s the feeling and the shared strength that unites us toward a common goal, the thing that allows us to overcome challenges and celebrate our achievements together.
We’d love to hear about any of your personal passions outside of work. What’s one thing that gets you really excited?
I love playing with my daughter, reading her books, and making up stories. I love traveling, discovering new places, meeting new people, trying different foods, and learning new recipes. And what truly moves my soul is dancing and listening to good music.
What was a really good piece of advice that one of your mentors gave you that has made a lasting impact on your career?
Dream big, but remember true leadership is measured not by personal success, but by the success of those you lead.
What do you find most meaningful about celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?
Celebrating our roots and legacy is an honor! Being Colombian is my greatest pride, it’s what drives me to showcase the best of who we are and everything we’re capable of achieving. I also consider myself very lucky, because not only was I born in Colombia, but I’ve also lived in Brazil for many years. This has given me the privilege of speaking another language and experiencing firsthand such an energetic and positive culture like Brazil’s.
Okay, big question, but what is something that you would like to see in the future?
I’d love to see a cleaner world, cities that are better organized and people who have a stronger sense of awareness and responsibility for our planet. My dream is to be able to swim in the rivers of big cities, especially in Latin America, and to see people living in more dignified, sustainable homes, with an overall better quality of life in my region.
Hispanic Heritage Month is about honoring our roots and contributions — how has your heritage influenced the way you show up at work and lead in your role at Planet?
My heritage influences me every single day, it’s at the core of how I show up, how I collaborate, and how I lead. Growing up in a culture rooted in community taught me that challenges are not meant to be faced alone. So at work, I don’t just look for solutions individually, I bring people together and make sure my entire team feels part of the journey and part of the solution. My Hispanic heritage reminds me that no matter the obstacles, we lead with heart, we lift others as we rise, and we always believe in a brighter future.
As Hispanic women working in different areas of the company, what unique perspectives or strengths do you feel we bring to Planet, and how can we continue to create more visibility and impact together?
As Hispanic women and especially as Colombian women we bring an incredible mix of resilience, creativity, and optimism to Planet. We are problem-solvers by nature; we’ve grown up finding solutions even with limited resources, and that has made us adaptable and fearless in the face of challenges.
We bring warmth, empathy, and community to the workplace. We don’t just deliver results, we lift others as we rise. Our positivity is contagious, and our mindset is always “sí se puede”, it can be done, and better days will come.”
Valeria Muñoz, Sales Engineer
Preferred name and preferred pronouns?
Valeria - She/Her
What’s your job title and department here at Planet?
Sales Engineer
So, how did you find Planet and what made you want to join the team?
I moved to Germany to study a Master in Remote Sensing. During this period of time I started looking for a job and there was a working student position at Planet. I did some research about Planet and fell in love with its mission and vision. I started as a working student for 1 year and then I was promoted to a full time employee.
What does your day-to-day look like at Planet? Share with us what your job at Planet entails.
I work as a remote sensing technical expert on the sales team, demonstrating how the Planet’s products solve a customer's specific problems. As a sales engineer I execute technical evaluations, bridging the gap between customer business needs and product functionality.
Employee Belonging is something that’s very important at Planet, and it’s uniquely personal. I was curious to know what Belonging feels like for you, or how you would define it?
Support and community. One of the things I like the most about Planet is its culture. How diversity and inclusivity is encouraged and promoted. The sense of community in the Berlin office is amazing, people support each other in professional and personal activities.
We’d love to hear about any of your personal passions outside of work. What’s one thing that gets you really excited?
Travelling and salsa dancing. I love travelling and learning about the culture and traditions of different places.
Salsa dancing has become my stress relief therapy. This year I discovered that Berlin has a huge Salsa community. I love that it brings people together to enjoy and have a good time.
What was a really good piece of advice that one of your mentors gave you that has made a lasting impact on your career?
Maintaining a harmonious blend of work and life is the foundation upon which true well-being and peak productivity are built.
What do you find most meaningful about celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month?
Hispanic Heritage month is an opportunity to share our traditions and stay connected to our roots.
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