FiT Feature: Thomas Joseph Sevilla
Name: Thomas Joseph Sevilla
Title: Manager, Data Analytics - Data Infra & Strategy
Age or Age Range: 34
Company: Uber
How long have you been in tech? 6.5 years
You previously worked in Tech in Manila, a booming tech market, how would you compare to working in tech in the Bay Area? The tech presence in Manila is mostly geared towards customer support; specifically, a lot of global tech companies, Uber included, have analytics teams in Manila to support the customer support work done on the ground. In the Bay Area, however, tech spans all aspects and is not just limited to support; here you can meet people working in all departments and be in the heart of the tech world, so to say
How did you know you wanted to get into tech? My engineering background and my lifelong obsession with numbers and science motivated me to get into tech
Do you have any advice for any Filipinos in the Philippines who would also like to transfer within their company to their US counterpart? My advice is to get involved in global projects and operations, and to develop your problem solving and stakeholder management skills in order to be able to contribute at a global level
What skills from being an Assistant Instructor do you think helped you break into tech? Being able to communicate complex ideas is something that is common between teaching and working in a tech role, and this soft skill is extremely important when working with different teams and stakeholders globally
Were you supported by your family to get into tech? Initially they were apprehensive, as Uber was not as well known in the Philippines 7 years ago as they are now, but they were supportive of my decision to work for Uber
Do you feel represented in tech? Yes, there is an ERG for Filipinos at Uber, and a good number of colleagues who also went through a similar path
Do you feel supported by the Filipinos in tech community? Outside of my company and my immediate circle of friends I feel that there is still gap in community that needs to be filled and made more visible
What advice do you have for other Filipinos in tech who are having issues growing and obtaining promotions at their company? Keep at it, and try exploring projects or initiatives that would normally not fall within your general scope. This is something you should take advantage of, especially if the company allows for some flexibility with projects. The skills learned should translate in this job or the next
What personal accomplishment are you most proud of? I am proud of being able to move to SF for work and adjusting to the demands of my new workplace; it is a life-changing decision that needed a lot of preparation, effort, and support
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I see myself still working in tech, hopefully still leading a team in a Data Analytics, Data Science, or Data Engineering role. I want to make sure I develop not just my technical skills, but my soft skills, especially leadership and strategy skills, as well
What would you like to see more of from Filipinx in Tech? In-person networking events would be ideal, as it would facilitate meeting and interacting more effectively with fellow Filipinos in tech in the Bay Area