A New World, A New Chapter: Mayda's Journey from Cuba to Barcelona

This March, as part of our Women in Tech campaign, we celebrate Mayda, a Cuban student whose life changed when Harbour.Space believed in her. Through our Work & Study Programme, she left everything she knew behind, flew to Barcelona, and began a Master's in Data Science — all within days of arriving. Her story is one of courage, talent, and what becomes possible when an institution truly invests in a person.

March is our Women in Tech month at Harbour.Space — a time to celebrate bold decisions, brave leaps, and the women shaping the future of technology. Mayda's story is exactly that: a leap of faith across an ocean, powered by talent, determination, and an opportunity that made it all possible.

Originally from Cuba, Mayda arrived in Spain on January 8th, 2026 and just two days later, she was already sitting in her first class. Most people would need weeks to settle into a new country, a new city, a new life. Mayda needed two days.

Her path here was made possible by Harbour.Space's Work & Study Programme: four hours of studying, four hours of working within our ecosystem. In return, we cover her tuition in full and provide a monthly stipend so she can focus entirely on growing and becoming.
 

Mayda didn't arrive at Data Science by accident. Her relationship with programming began in high school through competitive programming contests, sharpening her thinking long before most people consider a career in tech. She went on to study Computer Science, specialising in Artificial Intelligence, and then set her sights on Harbour.Space. "I applied for the Harbour.Space scholarship to prepare myself for the world of Data Science" she says. Deliberate, forward-looking, disciplined. She didn't wait for opportunities to find her. She built herself up until she was ready for them.

The Work & Study Programme is built on a simple but powerful premise: if you have the talent and drive, financial barriers shouldn't stop you. We identify people like Mayda and invest in them fully, covering tuition, providing a living stipend, and integrating them into our community as real contributors from day one.

Less than two months in, Mayda already feels at home, something she credits to the people around her. "I love how friendly everyone is," she says. A highlight so far has been the Snow Summit in Andorra, a Harbour.Space tradition where students ski together, attend workshops, and bond outside the classroom. For someone who crossed an ocean alone, finding her people in just a few weeks is no small thing.

Outside of classes, Mayda is discovering Barcelona in her own quiet, joyful way, wandering bookstores, collecting books, painting, photographing landscapes, and firmly believing that cheese with jam and a glass of wine is one of life's perfect pleasures. She loves the beach, the cafes, the ease of making spontaneous plans with friends. 

Mayda's story is a reminder that transformation doesn't require perfect conditions, it requires the right opportunity and the courage to take it. Throughout March, all accepted women receive €5,000 off their tuition fee. If you're ready to redefine your path in tech, this is your moment.