TCS contest Codificadas seeks Latin America’s top female programmer
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is holding a coding competition aimed at discovering the best, young female programmer in Latin America. The winner will be announced on December 1 in Colombia.
The initiative from the Indian-origin IT services giant, named ‘Codificadas’, launched earlier this year. It is the first-ever individual programming tournament exclusively for women across Latin America. The goal is to boost female representation and celebrate their talent in the tech sector through a platform for learning and professional growth.
The competition is open to all women in the region who are interested in programming, regardless of their current career or educational stage. Among the 10 finalists are students from universities in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and El Salvador.
Participants will compete in three distinct levels based on their experience. The JrCoder category is for high school students aged 15 to 18, the UniCoder category is for university students graduating in October 2025 or later, and ProCoders are university or technical institute graduates.
Throughout the tournament, participants will tackle technical challenges tailored to their skill level, receive mentorship from industry experts, attend motivational talks, and engage in professional development sessions.
Winners at the Grand Finale in Bogotá will be recognized as the Best Programmers in Latin America and gain access to career opportunities, internships, and projects with Tata Consultancy Services.
The registration period ran until August 26, 2025, with a record number of participants applying for this edition. “We want every participant to feel supported, valued, and motivated to continue growing in technology. Codificadas is more than just a contest; it’s a platform to discover what we are capable of creating together,” said Ximena Jofré, HR Head of TCS in Latin America.
Addressing the gender gap in STEM
This competition is a significant step toward addressing the underrepresentation of women in STEM. According to a 2024 UNESCO report, only 22% of STEM jobs in G20 countries are held by women, a trend that is particularly alarming as the OECD projects that 80% of future jobs will be linked to these disciplines by 2030.
By offering tools and opportunities, initiatives like Codificadas aim to reduce this gender disparity. Jofré added that digitalization and artificial intelligence present historic opportunities for women to redefine their industry role, and TCS is committed to fostering a more diverse, innovative, and representative technological landscape.
Founded in 1968, TCS is a global leader in IT consulting and services, with over 607,000 consultants across 55 countries. Beyond its technological prowess, TCS is also known for its commitment to community empowerment, sponsoring major global marathons and supporting communities around the world.
