From LATAM to the World: Rocio, Alonso, and Stefan’s Global Relocations

One of the benefits of working at a company that operates in 70+ countries is the ability to chart a career path that can traverse roles, teams, and for many––countries. Relocation is an integral part of our growth philosophy and it’s common for employees to transition cities, countries, and even continents. To learn more about Uber, we sat down with three former members of our Latin American team who started their careers at Uber in Mexico and Brazil and are now making their mark on our business in Chicago, Amsterdam, and Australia.

Rocio: I hail from the charmingly petite Ciudad Valles nestled in the breathtaking Huasteca Potosina region of México. By day, I’m a Learning and Development enthusiast, weaving my passion into crafting training solutions, always looking to elevate my team’s talents, all while cultivating a culture of continuous learning.

Alonso: I was born and raised in Mexico City, I have a major in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration. I am an openly proud gay man and happily married.

Stefan: I graduated in manufacturing engineering and also received an MBA in Project Management & Innovation. I was born and raised in Sorocaba-SP, Brazil.

Rocio: My Uber journey started as a Greenlight Expert at the San Luis Potosí Greenlight hub in Mexico. After a couple of stops in Monterrey and Mexico City, I’m now living in Chicago working within the US&C Learning and Development team as a Learning Delivery Manager.

Alonso: I started as a Driver CX Program Specialist in Mexico City and currently am a Program Manager within the Global Operations & Insights Team based in Amsterdam.

Stefan: Back in 2019, I joined the IRT Safety team as a Specialist in Sao Paulo. About a year and a half ago, I moved to Sydney, Australia, and transferred roles to become a Sr. Safety Operations Manager focused on Mobility and SME for Interpersonal Safety in Australia and New Zealand.

Rocio: One of my previous managers gave me an incredible piece of advice that has inspired me throughout each of my relocation adventures. He said, “The only decisions I’ve regretted are the opportunities I’ve passed up”. Moving to Chicago was a monumental change for me and my husband because this was our first time leaving our country, ever! However, having the guidance and recommendations of other friends at Uber who also migrated before was super helpful during our adaptation process.

Alonso: I felt I was ready for my next challenge within Uber, but wanted to stay in customer experience where my passion lies. When a similar role to mine opened in Europe, I didn’t hesitate to apply. It was challenging adapting to a new continent, but my partner and my new teammates were very supportive and guided me every step of the way.

Stefan: I finished my graduation in Italy and fell in love with traveling the world, other cultures, and anything that could drive my growth, personally and professionally. When I came back to Brazil after college, I had a very clear goal to one day work in another region. The more I learned about our Uber Australia team, the more excited I became. When a role finally opened there, I jumped on the opportunity without hesitation!

Rocio: Uber’s support during our relocation left a lasting impression. The highlight was undeniably their thoughtful inclusion of our two beloved pets in the trip budget. From covering veterinary expenses to flights and beyond, their comprehensive assistance made the entire experience not only seamless but also deeply appreciated. Uber enabled and encouraged us to keep our family together. 

Alonso: First of all, they helped me with every stage of the relocation process from obtaining a visa to covering all expenses. Plus, my new team was fantastic because there were several ex-pats already who embraced me and shared best practices. My experience was extremely smooth overall.

Stefan: The VISA is the most complex part of any move to another country and I was pretty surprised how Uber was easily and quickly able to support everything I needed. The biggest challenge was finding the perfect apartment!

Rocio: Uber’s Learning and Development team plays an integral role within the Global Support Operations team, fostering regular collaboration with colleagues across various regions and departments. Through the valuable connections I’ve made, I’ve been fortunate to participate in global projects and collaborate with exceptional mentors. The guidance of these Uber mentors from across the globe has proven invaluable, particularly as I navigated my search for the next step in my professional journey.

Alonso: I always try to maximize my strengths and learn from others in everything I do. At Uber, I have been able to develop my skillset by stretching myself in some projects outside of my day-to-day where I can leverage my expertise or by getting ongoing feedback from leaders in my organization to be able to learn what I need to develop and keep growing.

Stefan: I had the amazing luck of joining a very experienced team, with people excited to help and support my career growth. My manager was excellent at providing feedback in all areas of my career growth so I could ensure I was well-rounded and set up for success in any role I wanted to take next. After a year at my first Uber position, I was promoted from Manager to Sr. Manager. I’m really proud of my career growth journey and the people that I’m surrounded by and support every day at Uber.

Rocio: Uber, along with the exceptional managers I’ve had the privilege of working with, has empowered me to engage in countless local and global projects and initiatives right from day one. I’ve consistently viewed this early involvement as a gateway to a multitude of opportunities and a broader professional scope. Similarly, the admirable and vast array of development resources has been invaluable including our Employee Resource Groups, Uber’s drive your growth support and mentality, mentoring at Uber, gigs where you can take on a 10-30% project on another team, and more.

Alonso: I have stayed at Uber because every week here is like week one. There’s always a new opportunity or challenge that helps me learn, grow, and evolve both personally and professionally. Also, the diversity of our company is amazing. I have gotten to know such a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and unique parts of the world who have become reliable colleagues and incredible friends. 

Stefan: At Uber, I truly feel like I am able to make an impact on the lives of others around the globe. I appreciate our values and how Safety is embedded into everything we do. Today, I look back and I can see how much I’ve learned and still, how many challenges Uber provides that can keep enabling my growth.

Rocio: Starting something new can be a bit nerve-wracking at first—it’s totally normal to have doubts. But don’t let those worries hold you back from discovering all of the cool opportunities waiting for you on the other side of those fears. Try connecting with folks who share your vibe, whether it’s in your professional field or nationality. Hearing their stories and picking up on their advice can be super handy as you navigate your way through this whole process. Trust me, it’s always worth a shot!

Alonso: Go for it! It sounds scary, and it is, but the experience is worth it. Getting to work and live in another country gives you a completely different perspective on how to approach problems and grow in ways you never thought possible before. Also, you get to build a new home and support network that will become a part of you, always.

Stefan: Don’t be afraid of changing your life! Jump on it. New experiences can reveal a very strong side of yours that may be hidden. Growth is always worth it.

Rocio: “Do the right thing,” no ifs, ands, or buts! It’s simple but powerful: doing the right thing always brings in the right results. 

Alonso: One Uber! Since day one, it was clear to me that everyone at Uber is committed to delivering the best experience possible to our customers around the world. Regardless of what team you are on, everyone is working towards the same goals and will support you no matter what!

Stefan: As a member of the Safety team, I can’t think of a better value than Uber’s commitment to Stand for Safety. I moved teams once, to CX Marketplace, but I returned to safety as soon as I realized my passion and drive for this topic. We know the work of safety never stops, yet we can and will challenge ourselves to always be better for the communities we serve. 

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