On Cultivating An Inclusive Culture

As a People Operations Generalist in our San Francisco office, Jane Ahn plays a pivotal role in helping Upgrade move along smoothly! She supports our People Operations team’s recruiting efforts and arranges team member onboarding, both in our San Francisco office and for remote positions across the country. She also answers any questions new hires may have about life at Upgrade, including our great perks, benefits, policies, and more. Overall, she helps new team members feel supported, connected, and empowered to do their jobs.

It’s a busy role, and one that’s critical to Upgrade’s success! Here’s what Jane had to say about it.

What is your favorite thing about working at Upgrade?

The people! Upgrade is really unique in that everyone is approachable and happy to help. You can bring your authentic self to work.

We definitely agree with you there! What are some of your other favorite things about your teammates?

I love the open communication and camaraderie among my team. Everyone is always willing to help - there isn't a task too small or too big to tackle together.

Every team member has their own story of how they got here. What brought you to Upgrade?

After moving to the Bay Area from the East Coast last year, it was really important to me to find a workplace where I could resonate with the people, the culture, and the overall environment. Upgrade has been that and so much more; the people across all our teams and offices have been truly amazing to work with.

How have you grown, personally and/or professionally, since joining Upgrade?

I joined Upgrade in 2021, and since then I’ve already grown tremendously both personally and professionally. Upgrade has pushed me to manage situations that were new and challenging. 

I have a great team and leadership to help me along the way. It has also helped me to connect with so many different people, both in person and virtually. Each interaction has been so positive and rewarding. It's truly effortless to connect with people at Upgrade.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned since joining Upgrade?

It's okay to ask questions! I feel like I learn something new every day at work.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in a career at Upgrade?

Upgrade is growing rapidly, so there's a lot of opportunity to develop (or start!) your career here.

It’s important to us that our team members feel seen and understood for who they are outside of work. Share some non-work-related things about yourself!

I love reading articles and books, and listening to podcasts. A few of my favorite authors and speakers include Adam Grant, Carla Harris, Ramit Sethi, and Ryan Holiday.

AAPI @ Upgrade

In addition to her daily responsibilities, Jane has helped get Upgrade’s newest Employee Resource Group (ERG) up and running. The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) ERG unifies team members from similar backgrounds and cultures; advocates for their professional growth, representation, and visibility at Upgrade and in their larger communities; seeks to place AAPI team members in leadership roles; and upholds a culture of inclusivity for all. 

What motivates you in your ERG work at Upgrade?

As a Korean American, I personally resonate with our AAPI ERG. All of our ERGs at Upgrade started organically, driven by interests of Upgrade's employees to unite with one another to connect, share ideas, and further engage with each other through events and activities.

What changes would you like to see for future Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in tech?

While great progress has been made, I look forward to seeing even more AAPI leadership and notable figures emerge within the tech field.

Importantly, I’m so grateful to all my colleagues for helping to bring the AAPI ERG to light. A special recognition to Jaye Cabusi and Peter Cheng for all their hard work in creating a thoughtful proposal for the group, and to the additional colleagues that helped build out the ERG launch and champion its mission: David Bui, Andrew Cheng, Paola Lopez, Joseph Ngo, Kayloni Rittmer, and Vicky Choy, amongst others! 

We’re continuing to grow and are always looking for new team members to join our teams. Visit our Careers site to see if we have an opening for you.