The past seven months in the Uber Career Prep (UCP) program have profoundly shaped my career trajectory. As an international student venturing into the competitive tech industry, I experienced a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. I questioned which skills were most valued and how to effectively adapt my academic foundation to meet real-world professional demands. The UCP program served as an invaluable bridge, seamlessly connecting theoretical knowledge with practical competence. Being part of the 2024 cohort has been an incredibly enriching experience.
The program’s selectivity was evident from the outset. Attracting over 2,000 applications from talented individuals across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, only 80 were invited for interviews, and ultimately, a highly selective 50 students were accepted. This impressive 2.3% acceptance rate underscored the program’s prestige. I still vividly recall the exhilarating moment of receiving my acceptance email in the Rice Library. That initial excitement fueled my dedication and engagement throughout every challenge and success within the program.
UCP’s Vision: Beyond Coding, Towards Leadership
The Uber Career Prep Fellows Program distinguishes itself by aiming beyond basic coding instruction. Its core objective is to maximize participants’ future impact in engineering roles while fostering leadership capabilities. This comprehensive seven-month fellowship emphasizes not only technical skill enhancement but also cultivating a crucial understanding of failure as a catalyst for learning and resilience—essential attributes for navigating the dynamic tech landscape.
Immersive Workshops and Personalized Mentorship
Throughout the program, we engaged in five intensive workshops meticulously designed to cover critical aspects of thriving in the tech industry. These workshops concentrated on technical and behavioral interview best practices, effective communication strategies, design document creation, essential engineering competencies, and insights into real-world software development. A particularly impactful aspect was Uber’s deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), embodied in their powerful motto: “Weave equity into the way the world moves.” This dedication to inclusive design—creating products that thoughtfully consider every individual’s identity and experiences—resonated strongly with me. It became evident how deeply DEI is integrated into Uber’s operational success and how it fundamentally shapes both their products and company culture.
A cornerstone of the UCP experience was the personalized feedback provided through four mock interviews and individual mentorship sessions with experienced Uber engineers. I was exceptionally fortunate to be mentored by Justin Phan, whose generosity in sharing his expertise and career insights was invaluable. Across 14 one-on-one sessions, I felt comfortable exploring any topic, from detailed mock interview feedback and homework challenges to Justin’s own professional journey at Uber. Complementing these sessions were four “mock” mock interviews with Justin, each strategically designed to refine my coding proficiency and communication skills under pressure.
Technical workshops and office hours led by Emma Ziegellaub Eichler were another highlight. Emma’s infectious passion for algorithms and teaching created an exceptional learning environment. Her workshops not only delved deeply into algorithmic thinking but also ignited a greater enthusiasm for problem-solving within me. I made it a point to attend every office hour session, eagerly absorbing knowledge on complex topics like memoization and topological sort. Emma’s energetic teaching style and open sharing of wisdom made each session feel like a valuable privilege.
Key Program Takeaways: Algorithmic Growth and Beyond
One of my most significant achievements through the Uber Career Prep program has been the substantial growth in my algorithmic thinking and implementation abilities. The homework assignments were thoughtfully structured, prioritizing a deep understanding of fundamental data structures and algorithms over a superficial breadth of topics. We were challenged to implement core structures such as binary search trees, heaps, tries, singly and doubly linked lists, and queues before tackling complex algorithm-specific problems. To reinforce my learning, I diligently repeated each homework problem three times. This consistent practice, combined with the program’s structured guidance, demonstrably improved my mock interview performance, culminating in “Double Thumbs Up” ratings on two separate occasions.
Beyond technical skills, the program instilled vital problem-solving methodologies. UCP emphasized the importance of breaking down complex challenges into manageable components and fostered a comfortable environment for seeking help when needed—a skill paramount in both technology and broader life contexts. The workshops encouraged continuous self-reflection on maximizing impact and navigating challenges and setbacks with a resilient, growth-oriented mindset.
Perhaps most profoundly, I found a strong alignment with Uber’s company culture, particularly its commitment to inclusive design and its proactive “go-get-it” ethos. The principle of weaving equity into the world’s movement transcends a mere slogan; it’s deeply integrated into Uber’s operational DNA, which I find incredibly inspiring. Oona King, Uber’s Chief DEI Officer, led a workshop that profoundly impacted my perspective, offering invaluable guidance on celebrating successes, managing setbacks without personalizing them, and maintaining a balanced outlook on both professional and personal life.
Building Invaluable Professional Relationships
The enduring relationships formed within the UCP community stand out as one of the program’s most rewarding aspects. I had the privilege of connecting with remarkable individuals, from my mentor Justin to various panelists, Uber engineers, and fellow cohort members, each contributing to my professional and personal development. Special recognition is due to Zach Singleton, the visionary founder of the program, whose motivational speeches consistently inspired us, and to Julia Alberts, MPA, the program’s dedicated staff manager, whose meticulous organization ensured the program’s seamless execution and overall success.
Furthermore, I extend my gratitude to Anne-Marie Freeman, whose recruiting expertise and energetic presentations were invaluable, and to Yara Radwan and Luis Filipe Sales, who hosted essential workshops and provided crucial technical interview guidance. Finally, Jacquelyn Villena and Emma Ziegellaub Eichler played pivotal roles in facilitating and leading technical workshops, providing continuous support throughout the program.
The Journey Extends Beyond the Program
Although the formal program has concluded, it genuinely feels like a beginning rather than an end. Despite being a virtual program with participants spread across numerous time zones, I never experienced a sense of disconnection. Julia and the entire UCP team ensured constant engagement by proactively sharing resources, contact information, and comprehensive post-workshop materials, which reinforced our learning and maintained a strong sense of community. Even now, as UCP alumni, we continue to network actively through the LinkedIn alumni group, confident that the relationships forged during this time will extend far into our professional futures.
Reflecting on my experience, it’s challenging to fully articulate the profound impact of this program. I have significantly enhanced my technical capabilities, sharpened my problem-solving acumen, and, most importantly, gained a clearer understanding of my place and potential within the tech industry. Inspired by the UCP alumni who presented in workshops, I now aspire to contribute back to this incredibly supportive community, hoping to one day pay it forward by supporting the growth of future cohorts.
Ultimately, the Uber Career Prep Fellows Program transcends algorithms and coding exercises. It’s about cultivating leadership qualities, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and developing the essential mindset to thrive in both professional endeavors and life’s broader challenges. I am deeply grateful for the program, the dedicated individuals behind its success, and the invaluable network of new friends and mentors I’ve gained along this transformative journey.
Returning to Uber for Summer 2025
The workshops and mentorship sessions were strategically designed not only to refine our engineering skills but also as Uber’s investment in our potential. They were preparing us to return as highly skilled software engineers, ready to make significant contributions. Our performance throughout the program, coupled with two final conversion interviews, provided a pathway to return to Uber next summer as official software engineering interns! I am thrilled to announce that I was among those selected, and I eagerly anticipate meeting these inspiring individuals in person for the first time at Uber’s offices!
Final Reflections: Connecting the Dots
Exactly one year prior to joining UCP, during the Fall 2023 semester at Rice University, I undertook a venture capital course. For my research paper, I chose to analyze Uber, delving into its market size, business model, competitive landscape, and financial performance. I was astounded by the remarkable growth trajectory of this relatively young, 15-year-old company. It’s fascinating to consider that despite its current global success, the initial concept of a “next generation car service” was just a slideshow presentation on founder Garrett Camp’s computer screen back in August 2008.
At that time, I could scarcely imagine that just one year later, I would be completing such a transformative program at Uber, connecting with its welcoming and exceptionally talented community. And even more incredibly, that two years later, I would be joining this pioneering company in a role that genuinely excites me.
I deeply appreciate Steve Jobs’ insightful quote from his 2005 Stanford Commencement speech: ‘You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.’
For me, looking back, I can now clearly see how my diverse academic, leadership, and technical experiences have converged. Guided by faith, family, mentors, and friends, I’ve been proactively creating new ‘dots’ with passion and gratitude. I trust that these dedicated efforts will indeed pay off, and all these seemingly disparate dots will eventually coalesce into a meaningful and beautiful line, perhaps with a few curves, but always leading me towards my intended path.
I am filled with anticipation for what lies ahead! While the future remains uncertain, I am confident that whenever opportunities arise, I will be ready to embrace them and – GO GET IT!
