The Uber Career Prep (UCP) program has truly been a game-changer for me over the past seven months. As an international student venturing into the competitive tech industry, I felt a mix of eagerness and apprehension. I questioned which skills were most valued and how I could refine my existing abilities to meet the demands of the professional world. UCP became the vital link connecting my academic background with the practical skills needed for a successful career. Being part of the 2024 cohort has been an incredibly enriching experience, one I feel deeply grateful for.
The program attracted over 2,000 applicants from across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. From this large and talented group, 80 individuals were invited for interviews, and ultimately, only 50 were accepted—a highly selective 2.3% acceptance rate. I was honored to be among those chosen, and I still vividly recall the thrill of receiving my acceptance email while at Rice Library. That initial excitement fueled my engagement and drive throughout every challenge and achievement within the program.
The Vision Behind the Uber Career Prep Program
The Uber Career Prep program wasn’t designed as just another coding course. Its ambition was far greater: to maximize our potential impact in future engineering roles and to cultivate us as leaders in technology. This intensive seven-month fellowship went beyond technical skills, emphasizing the importance of viewing failure as a crucial learning opportunity and developing the resilience needed to thrive in the fast-paced tech environment.
Comprehensive Workshops and Dedicated Mentorship
Throughout the program, we participated in five in-depth workshops carefully structured to cover the essential skills for tech industry success. These workshops focused on technical and behavioral interview best practices, effective communication strategies, design document creation, core engineering competencies, and practical software development in real-world scenarios. What particularly impressed me was Uber’s genuine 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 are considerate of every individual’s unique identity and experiences—deeply resonated with my values. It became clear how fundamental DEI is to Uber’s ethos and how it profoundly influences their products and company culture.
A cornerstone of the UCP program was the personalized feedback and guidance we received. This included four mock interviews and dedicated one-on-one mentorship sessions with experienced Uber engineers. I was incredibly fortunate to be paired with Justin Phan as my mentor. Justin generously shared his extensive knowledge and provided invaluable insights throughout our 14 one-on-one sessions. These meetings were an open forum where I could ask anything—from detailed feedback on mock interviews and tackling challenging homework assignments to gaining insights into Justin’s own career trajectory at Uber. Beyond these regular meetings, I also completed four “mock” mock interviews with Justin, each designed to hone my coding proficiency and communication skills under pressure.
The technical workshops and office hours led by Emma Ziegellaub Eichler were another highlight. Emma’s contagious passion for algorithms and teaching was truly exceptional. She crafted workshops that not only explored the intricacies of algorithmic thinking but also ignited in me a deeper appreciation for problem-solving. I made sure to attend every office hour session, eager to absorb her expertise on advanced topics like memoization and topological sorting. Emma’s enthusiastic approach and willingness to share her wisdom made each session feel like a valuable learning opportunity.
Key Program Takeaways and Personal Growth
One of my most significant achievements within the UCP program has been the substantial growth in my algorithmic thinking and implementation skills. The homework assignments were thoughtfully crafted to be impactful. Instead of overwhelming us with a vast number of random problems, UCP’s assignments focused on building a strong foundation in fundamental data structures and algorithms. We were challenged to implement core structures like binary search trees, heaps, tries, singly and doubly linked lists, and queues before tackling complex algorithm-specific questions. Throughout the program, I reinforced my problem-solving abilities by revisiting each homework problem three times. The consistent practice and structured guidance led to a steady improvement in my mock interview performance, culminating in earning “Double Thumbs Up” ratings on two occasions. This progress is a clear reflection of the program’s effective structure and the immense benefit of iterative practice.
Beyond the technical domain, I gained crucial problem-solving methodologies. UCP taught me the importance of breaking down complex problems into manageable parts and the value of seeking help when needed—essential skills applicable in both the tech industry and life in general. The workshops prompted frequent self-reflection on how to maximize my impact and navigate challenges and setbacks with a proactive, growth-oriented mindset.
Perhaps most importantly, I found a strong alignment with Uber’s company culture, particularly its emphasis on inclusive design and its proactive “go-get-it” attitude. The principle of weaving equity into the world’s movement is more than just a slogan; it’s deeply integrated into Uber’s operational framework, which I find profoundly inspiring. Oona King, Uber’s Chief DEI Officer, led a workshop that had a lasting impact on me. Her invaluable advice on celebrating successes, not internalizing setbacks, and maintaining a balanced perspective in both professional and personal life was incredibly insightful.
Building Invaluable Professional Relationships
The connections I forged during UCP are among the most rewarding aspects of the program. I had the privilege of interacting with a diverse group of incredible individuals, including my mentor Justin, insightful panelists, Uber engineers from various teams, and my fellow cohort members, each contributing to my professional development. I want to especially acknowledge Zach Singleton, the visionary founder of the program, for his inspiring talks that kept us motivated and focused. Additionally, Julia Alberts, MPA, the program’s staff manager, deserves immense credit for ensuring the program ran seamlessly and for her unwavering support, which was crucial to the program’s overall success.
Furthermore, I extend my gratitude to Anne-Marie Freeman, whose energetic presentations and recruiting expertise were invaluable. Yara Radwan and Luis Filipe Sales also played significant roles, hosting multiple workshops and providing essential advice for technical interviews. Finally, Jacquelyn Villena and Emma Ziegellaub Eichler were instrumental in facilitating and leading the technical workshops, offering consistent support and guidance at every stage.
The Journey is Just Beginning
Although the formal program is concluding, it genuinely feels like the beginning of a longer journey, not the 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 we remained actively engaged by consistently sharing resources, contact information, and comprehensive post-workshop materials, reinforcing the knowledge we gained. Even now, as UCP alumni, we continue to network and support each other through the LinkedIn alumni group. I am confident that the professional relationships cultivated during this program will extend far into the future.
Reflecting on my experience, it’s challenging to fully articulate the profound impact of this program. I’ve significantly enhanced my technical capabilities, sharpened my problem-solving skills, and—most importantly—developed a clearer understanding of my place and potential within the tech industry. Inspired by the program and the Uber community, I now aspire to contribute back to this community that has given me so much. Witnessing UCP alumni leading workshops was particularly inspiring, and I hope to one day have the opportunity to pay it forward, contributing to the growth of future UCP cohorts.
Ultimately, the UCP program has been about much more than just algorithms and coding. It’s been about cultivating leadership qualities, learning to embrace challenges as growth opportunities, and developing the essential mindset to thrive in my career and life beyond. I am deeply thankful for the program, to everyone involved in making it so impactful, and to the new friends and mentors I have gained along the way.
Excited to Return to Uber in Summer 2025
These intensive workshops and mentorship opportunities were not just about enhancing our engineering skills; they represented Uber’s strategic investment in us, preparing us to return as highly skilled software engineers ready to contribute meaningfully. Our performance throughout the program, combined with the final conversion interviews, provided us with the incredible opportunity 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 all these exceptional individuals in person for the first time at Uber’s offices!
Final Reflections
Exactly one year ago, during the Fall 2023 semester at Rice University, I enrolled in a venture capital class and chose Uber as the focus of my research paper. I analyzed Uber’s market size, business model, competitive landscape, and financial performance. I was amazed to discover the remarkable growth this relatively young, 15-year-old company had achieved. Despite its current global success, back in August 2008, the concept of a “next generation car service” was just a slideshow presentation on founder Garrett Camp’s computer.
At that time, I could never have imagined that just one year later, I would complete such a transformative program at Uber and become part of this welcoming and incredibly talented community. And that just two years later, I would be joining this innovative 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.’
Looking back, I can now clearly see how my previous 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 am confident that these dedicated efforts will prove fruitful, and all the dots will eventually align to form a meaningful path, perhaps with some curves, but always leading towards my intended purpose.
I am eager to see what the future holds! While the specifics remain unknown, I know that when opportunities arise, I will be ready to –
GO GET IT!
