Soaring to success: Nora’s growing as a management trainee at Uber

Launched in 2023, SOAR (Strategy, Operations, Analytics Rotational) is a management trainee program within APAC Community Operations designed to help recent graduates gain a broad range of skills foundational to a career at Uber. Nora Yao joined SOAR’s inaugural program in Taiwan, completing two rotations on our earner identity and access, payments, and risk teams. Throughout she’s had the opportunity to contribute to impactful projects, engage with stakeholders across the APAC region, deliver presentations to senior leadership, and experience significant personal and professional growth.

We sat down with Nora to learn about the highlights of her experience on the SOAR program and what she has learned during her time with Uber so far.

“SOAR is an 18 month journey of growth and discovery. The program, available in Taiwan and Philippines, is a gateway to a range of diverse experiences. Every six months, we embark on a new adventure, collaborating with Community Operations teams across APAC on projects that truly make a difference. I have had the privilege of delving into the customer journey across different personas, working on some of the highest-impact projects, and even presenting to senior leadership.”

“I have been closely following Uber’s journey since its launch in Taiwan and have always been impressed by the company’s marketing campaigns (it’s massive in Taiwan!), innovative products, and rapid expansion. As for the SOAR program, I am particularly drawn to its comprehensive structure, with rotations through different departments and exposure to various aspects of the business. This not only enables me to develop a versatile skill set but also gives me insight into Uber’s business model and its potential for growth.”

“Has to be assisting our customers in resolving their problems. In customer experience, our goal is to champion our customers’ interests and offer effective business solutions. I’ve personally found the entire problem-solving journey to be both intellectually stimulating and enlightening–translating customer requirements into strategic business plans. By conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis, we are able to extract the right insights and assess the impacts and implications for the business.”

“Adaptability–I always thought of myself as someone who thrives on routine, but the SOAR program has thrown many curveballs my way, from unexpected project changes to tight deadlines. I’ve learned that I’m actually quite adaptable and can adjust to new situations quickly which has also been very helpful in my personal life where I’m confident to confront new changes and thrive!”

“As a SOAR Management Trainee, I benefit not only from rotating across different teams and functions but also wide access to leadership. I’ve even had the opportunity to work directly with senior leaders. This has allowed me to gain experience in both on-the-ground operations and implementation, as well as organization-level strategy, planning and team enablement. This wide range of exposure and networking opportunities have helped me establish my professional profile and build strong relationships with teams and leaders.”

“I’ve interacted directly with Drivers and Couriers to collect their first-hand feedback through multiple company events. I’ve toured the APAC Leadership Team around the local wet market and Uber dark store to observe how the pick-and-pack process works in Taiwan. I’ve helped the team with their 2024 planning by facilitating workshops with participants from cross-functional teams and leadership. These are things I did not expect at all I would be doing before joining Uber but have become the most enjoyable part of my job!”

“It was actually from before I was hired! The SOAR team invited candidates to the Taipei office for a networking event midway through the recruitment process, offering an opportunity to gain insights from the Uber team before the final interviews”.

“Be proactive throughout the application process. Don’t hesitate to reach out to people at Uber for insights and guidance. This is the best way to ensure the role aligns with your expectations and showcase your passion for Uber. Demonstrate the real you! Uber is very open and inclusive to hear any ideas from anyone. #GreatMindsDon’tThinkAlike. Also familiarise yourself with Uber’s values. There are eight values that we as Uber employees embrace in our day-to-day work. The one I resonate the most with is Build with heart, because our work can deeply influence our customers’ lifestyle and even their income. Bringing positive impact with genuine care is always embedded in our day-to-day work.”

Interested in launching your career at Uber?  Learn more about SOAR →