Before joining Year Up United in 2021, Celia Soriano was working part-time jobs as a server and a COVID-19 tester. She was also a first-year community college student studying public health. As a COVID tester, she saw how healthcare facilities used technology and analytics to track outbreaks of the virus, and how working with technology could truly make a positive impact on people’s lives. Although this sparked her passion for tech, she was unsure how to break into the industry. Her path became clear when she met a Year Up United graduate who spoke highly of the program’s hands-on approach and strong support system, exactly what she needed.
Enrolling in the program, Celia immersed herself in what she notes was “a rigorous yet rewarding experience that laid the foundation” for her future success. Through Year Up United, she developed in-demand technical skills including coding and quality assurance, opening doors to new career paths.
The journey wasn’t easy. One of the biggest challenges Celia initially faced was networking and self-advocacy. "I didn’t know how to navigate corporate settings, and I was insecure about speaking up. I felt unpolished. Year Up United taught me how to build confidence, ask for feedback, and handle rejection."
Celia also learned important career readiness skills that she has carried with her in the years after completing the program. "Professionalism, communication, teamwork—these are things I use every day. I work with cross-functional teams now, and while I might not be an expert in everything, I’m proactive and resourceful. I go out of my way to learn things that I don’t know. That’s how I have grown in my career."
These skills became invaluable when she secured an internship at Workday, a partner with Year Up United since 2013, and a company Celia quickly realized was the ideal fit for her aspirations. "They didn’t sideline me because I wasn’t ‘traditional.’ I didn’t have a four-year degree, and I had a different background than a lot of people on the team, but they gave me opportunities to learn. I felt empowered."
During her internship, Celia was mentored by Chassidy Tabios, a fellow Year Up United alum who played a crucial role in her professional development. "Chassidy was someone I could go to who could answer the questions I was afraid to ask others. She was empathetic to my journey, and without her, I wouldn’t have felt as comfortable navigating corporate spaces. Even now, we meet monthly and continue to learn from each other." Celia and Chassidy’s mentorship and support of each other is representative of our 30,000+ strong alumni community committed to lifting as they climb the corporate ladder and helping other Year Up United interns and grads navigate their own careers.
Before Celia’s internship ended, she met with a Workday colleague to learn more about the Customer Success team and the roles available. Though she was not converted to a full-time role immediately after completing her internship, a few months later, a Customer Success role opened up at Workday. Celia decided to apply, and when she landed an interview, she was able to leverage the career readiness skills, technical skills, and Workday knowledge she gained through Year Up United and her internship. Her preparation and initiative paid off – she was hired as a full-time Customer Success Manager.
Two years later, Celia is now a Program Manager on the Digital Customer Success team. Her time at Workday has been marked by significant milestones. "Starting off being completely new to the corporate tech world, then within a year being trusted to lead initiatives beyond my original job description—it was incredibly empowering. I proved I was capable and earned a seat at the table."
She was also featured on Workday’s podcast with chief philanthropy officer, Carrie Varoquiers, where they discussed the importance of skills-first hiring and how it benefits both businesses and individuals.
“For managers, that one decision to call someone back and not dismiss an untraditional employee can be life-changing for you, for the company, for your own personal development,” Celia said on the Workday podcast. “I would encourage managers everywhere to be more open-minded and really believe in skills-first.”
Her passion for Workday extends beyond work, as she actively contributes to her community. She serves as a board member for Los Niños Primeros, a nonprofit supporting under-resourced Latinx children, noting Workday’s culture of service. "Workday is very people centric. They encourage volunteering and giving back, which means a lot to me."
To those considering applying to Year Up United, Celia offers this advice: "Be prepared for a transformative experience. Be coachable. Even if the outcome isn’t what you expected, commit to learning from it and be ready to pivot. It’s a lot of hard work, but the reward is worth it.”
More about Year Up United and Workday’s Partnership
Workday has been a partner and strong supporter of Year Up United since 2013. In 2024, Workday, in partnership with Lebron James and Maverick Carter’s The Springhill Company, produced UNTAPPED: Closing America’s Opportunity Gap, a documentary that follows a group of Year Up United students as they navigate the program. Now streaming on Netflix, UNTAPPED showcases howtalent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. With insights from Mark Cuban and top CEOs and business leaders, the film highlights how skills-first hiring practices can impact lives, business, and the economy.