Senior Manager of Entertainment Technical Operations at Celebrity Cruises, Tania Ordoñez Prieto presents the Women In Tech Keynote at LDI 2025 on Tuesday, December 9 at 10am, followed by the Women In Tech panel at 11am, in which she will also participate. Both events are in the LDInnovation Conference.
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Her keynote, Project Managing the Impossible: How We Upgrade Entertainment Systems Without Stopping the Show, asks – and answers - the question, How do you manage multi-million-dollar technical upgrades while sailing across the globe, entertaining thousands, and never going dark?
Live Design: How did you get involved in this industry?
Tania Ordoñez Prieto: In high school, I was the kid who organized parties and campus concerts, booking acts, coordinating schedules, and running the soundboard and lighting. Those early productions taught me to spot what a show needs, manage logistics, and lead a team under pressure. I realized then that theater could blend creativity with tech to move people, and I never looked back.
LD: Education/training?
TOP: My background is in theater and production management, and I’ve kept building on that with professional certifications, including my PMP. I’ve also put a lot of focus on technical systems training lighting, sound, and automation because knowing the tools helps you manage them better. I was lucky to get a full scholarship to the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas, and the things I learned and the people I met there still form the foundation of my career.
LD: What led you to the cruise ship side of things?
TOP: Cruise ships are some of the most complex and fascinating entertainment environments in the world. You’re essentially operating a full-scale production venue that moves every day. I was intrigued by the challenge of the logistics, the scale, and the innovation required to deliver world-class entertainment at sea.
LD: What are your day-to-day duties?
TOP: As the Senior Manager of Entertainment Technical Operations, I steer the tech strategy across our fleet's entertainment venues—from lighting and sound to automation, video, scenic, props, and aerial systems. I mix project management, creative problem solving, and people leadership, working with shipboard teams, vendors, and production partners to keep delivering a standout guest experience through technology.
LD: What is the most challenging thing you face?
TOP: Balancing innovation with reliability. Our ships operate year-round, so we need to push creative and technical boundaries while ensuring every show runs safely and consistently. Managing upgrades across multiple vessels, each with its own schedule, systems, and operational constraints , is an ongoing puzzle, but one I truly enjoy solving.
LD: What can you tell us about your keynote presentation at LDI?
TOP: My keynote, Project Managing the Impossible, is about how we upgrade major entertainment systems on our ships while they’re sailing and still running full shows. I’ll be sharing real examples of how we manage tight timelines, coordinate vendors from all over, and keep the guest experience strong even during big technical projects.
LD: What advice do you have for the next generation?
TOP: Stay curious and never stop learning. Don’t be afraid to take opportunities that seem unconventional, they often lead to the most rewarding growth. And most importantly, approach every project with humility and teamwork. Technology changes fast, but great collaboration and attitude never go out of style.