Lina M. Echeverria has led teams of scientists and researchers in developing a wide range of products, including ceramic filters for car exhausts, glasses for TV screens, dental bridges, and dinnerware.

She was part of a culture that provided the world with innovations such as the optical fiber that forms the backbone of the Internet and the durable yet beautiful touchscreens used in iPhones.

At Corning, Echeverría fostered an environment that encouraged creativity and productivity among scientists, allowing teams to explore the edges of possibility.

She was recognized for her effective leadership and management skills and ability to impart those skills to other managers.

Her leadership took her to organizations in both New York and France.

In 2006, she received the Women of Color Technologist of the Year Award. Echeverría retired as Corning's vice president and director of exploratory markets and technologies in 2009.

After retiring, she worked as an innovation leadership consultant, was a principal at an innovation LLC, and collaborated with the American Management Association.

Echeverría made history as the first woman to graduate in engineering geology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Medellín, paving the way for future generations of women in a highly regarded engineering school recognized for its rigor.

She later earned a Ph.D. in geology from Stanford University. Throughout her career, Echeverría has contributed to creating cultures of innovation within companies and organizations while also pursuing wearable textile art in her studio.