Redefining Power, Purpose, and Possibility in Tech
Photography by Luis Vazquez Photography
In 1994, Janie Gonzalez was a 21-year-old working her way through college in the admissions office of a local community college and university. That same year, she encountered the internet for the first time. While others saw complexity and hard science, Gonzalez saw a revolution—an open door to shape her future.
“I didn’t set out to build a tech company,” Gonzalez recalls. “I set out to create economic mobility and access.”
With that clarity of purpose, Gonzalez and her husband co-founded what would become San Antonio’s original web development firm, Webhead. From their home on the Southside, with a stripped-down computer, open-source software, internet access, and a credit card, Webhead was born. There was no roadmap—just vision, instinct, and a deep belief that technology could change lives, including her own.
“I wasn’t building just to survive,” she says. “I was building something to lift me out of poverty, earn credibility, build generational wealth for my children, and create impact for others.”
Three decades later, Webhead is a full-scale digital transformation firm specializing in secure DevSecOps, rapid AI prototyping, enterprise-grade application development, and scalable cloud architecture. It serves federal agencies, defense clients, and innovative organizations nationwide.
During the pandemic, Gonzalez also invested in Quantum Realm Computing, a startup founded by her husband to explore the frontiers of AI and quantum-readiness. While she chose not to serve as CEO, she remains at the helm of strategic direction, growth, and funding.
“While my husband brings scientific depth, I bring business strategy, technical translation, and market insight. I’ve built infrastructure, scaled products, and led operations. This is what a CEO does—and I’ve done it. Not symbolically, but with technical depth, business acumen, and measurable results.”
As Gonzalez explains, bias remains: “People assume men are automatically credible in tech and business, while women—especially Latinas—have to prove their qualifications at every turn.”
This reality was clear even during her tenure as Chair of the CPS Energy Board of Trustees, one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities. “I was expected to be just a supportive voice,” she says. “But with the Mayor, City Council, and CPS leadership, I helped lead the most ambitious transformation in the organization’s history.”
Her leadership and advocacy helped shape Vision 2027 and Horizon 2050—strategic blueprints grounded in energy affordability, resiliency, grid modernization, and workforce readiness. Under her guidance, CPS Energy made its single largest one-time investment in digital business transformation, championed and shaped an AI policy framework, and acquired two generation plants to firm up capacity and prepare for a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Back at Webhead, her commitment to innovation continues. One of Webhead’s standout initiatives, WorkforceConnect.AI, is a smart digital assistant platform developed for workforce boards, colleges, and mission-driven organizations. The solution provides 24/7 intelligent support and real-time data insights that adapt to the unique voice and needs of each organization.
“We help our clients demystify AI,” Gonzalez says. “It’s not about replacing people—it’s about extending human capacity and increasing equity.”
Another game-changing project involved modernizing a legacy flight operations system and several associated applications for the U.S. Air Force. Webhead transformed the outdated infrastructure into a fully integrated suite of mobile applications for the Supervisor of Flying—significantly improving real-time decision-making, mission readiness, and safety through custom dashboards, data visualization, and communication tools.
Still, Gonzalez doesn’t forget where she started.
“I was often the only woman, the only person of color, and the youngest in the room,” she recalls. “I was ignored, harassed, underestimated—and still expected to outperform. So I did. I built Webhead with very little support outside of a few key client sponsors—facing resistance from both the industry and the ecosystem around me. I used grit, integrity, and an unshakable commitment to deliver and show up.”
“Many founders are celebrated for vision and innovation. I’ve done the same—and more—but because I’m a woman, especially a Latina, I had to work twice as hard for half the recognition. Frankly, after a while, I gave up hoping to be acknowledged or recognized for it. I stayed focused, stayed consistent, and sharpened my skills.”
Times are different today. Women have more visibility and opportunity than ever before—and it’s powerful to witness. However, Gonzalez also recognizes the misconception that the playing field is now level. “That drive comes from hearing people say, ‘I don’t understand why some people are still poor—I worked hard, I made it.’ Or, ‘If she did it, I can too.’ But the truth is, we don’t all enter the race equally. Poverty is not a choice. Especially now, with DEI programs rolled back and procurement opportunities disappearing, we’re being told everything is fair when it clearly isn’t. That’s what keeps me moving.”
With three adult children and a young daughter, Gonzalez is deeply committed to building a future where more men and women—especially young men and girls of color—see themselves in leadership, tech, and entrepreneurship.
“My fire comes from every door that was closed, every boardroom where I was dismissed, and every brilliant woman still working in the shadows. I’m not here to ask for a seat—I build the table, design the room, and decide who gets in.”
Gonzalez’s story is one of visionary leadership, deep expertise, and unrelenting determination. She’s not just a woman in tech—she’s reshaping the field.
For more information, visit https://webheadtech.com
