The Wall Falls, A Woman Rises, a Memoir: How a U.S. Tech Entrepreneur Broke the Glass Ceiling and Helped Modernize Latvia By Dagnija Lacis

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 â€¯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 Ministryand 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.