Description
A story about new beginnings: how a refugee became one of the first woman tech executives and helped modernize her homeland, Latvia
The perfect gift for graduates, immigrants, and dreamers everywhere.
“Dagnija Lacis’ memoir is a story of courage, upheaval, and persistence… Watching through her memoir, we see her tenacity and resilience when confronted with obstacles. The way she always finds a path forward is inspirational for us all.” —Lynn Miller, author of Sweating Bullets, historical fiction
When Soviet tanks rolled into Latvia in 1944, Dagnija Lacis was just a baby. Her family fled, spending five years in a displaced persons camp before resettling in Indianapolis. What began as a story of survival became a groundbreaking life in technology and international relations.
Dagnija’s approach and message—perfect for those launching their lives and careers—is simple and powerful: “Stick to your goals. When confronted with obstacles, don’t give up. Find another path forward!”
By 1964, Dagnija had shattered her first glass ceiling—becoming the first woman programmer at Burroughs Corporation in Detroit, then the world’s second-largest computer company.
She didn’t stop there. Rising through the ranks, she became the first female line vice president at Burroughs (now Unisys), making her mark in the male-dominated world of tech leadership.
But her most daring chapter came next.
When the Berlin Wall fell, Latvia called her home, not as a visitor, but as a visionary. Tasked by the newly independent government, Dagnija
- Modernized the Foreign Ministry and national systems using Western technology
- Founded Baltic Technology Group (BTG), bridging expertise across the U.S. and Latvia
- Connected Latvia to the global economy, bringing SWIFT to the region
This powerful memoir charts:
- A woman’s rise in a male-dominated tech industry
- Firsthand experiences as a country transitioned from communism to democracy
- The behind-the-scenes effort to build a nation’s digital backbone
- Practical strategies for resilience, leadership, and forging your own path
Why readers love this book:
For graduates, immigrants and dreamers: Proof that perseverance and ingenuity can shape your future—and change the world
For Women in STEM & Business: a real-life “Lean In” story—packed with strategies for navigating male-dominated fields
For History & Tech enthusiasts: A firsthand account of Eastern Europe’s transformation after the Cold War
About the Author
Dagnija Lacis, born in 1943 in Latvia, was forced to flee there in 1944. After five years in a displaced persons camp in Germany, she immigrated with her family to Indianapolis. Dagnija graduated cum laude from Butler University with a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics. Her career includes being the first woman programmer at Burroughs Corporation, then the second-largest worldwide IT company, and later becoming the first woman VP at Unisys. When the Berlin Wall fell, the newly elected Latvian prime minister and foreign minister asked Dagnija to install modern technology in the foreign ministry. That began her work to modernize Latvia and connect it to the West.
In 1991, Dagnija founded and continues to run Baltic Technology Group with locations in the US and Latvia.
She and her husband, Andris, have two children. Andris currently serves as the Honorary Consul for Latvia for the State of Michigan. The couple live in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. THE WALL FALLS, A WOMAN RISES, A MEMOIR is Dagnija’s first book.
