Mariana holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, as well as a master's degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She has over 6 years of experience in international development, cybersecurity, and project management, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, as is passionate about training young talents in cybersecurity.

In her current capacity as Cybersecurity Program Officer at the OAS/CICTE, Ms. Cardona leads the coordination of cybersecurity capacity building activities, including workforce development projects that seek to train youth in cybersecurity, and contribute to closing the skills gap in Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently, Mariana also leads the implementation of gender initiatives, including the “Cyberwomen Challenge”, which seeks encourage more women to strengthen their technical skills and join the cybersecurity industry.

Before working at the OAS, Ms. Cardona conducted research in Brazil and volunteered in several nongovernmental and non-profit organizations that seek to promote development in Latin America, as well as in other regional organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).