Bridging Cultures: A Yelp Fireside Chat On The Power of Languages

In our increasingly interconnected world, language acquisition transcends being a mere skill;it serves as a vital conduit for understanding diverse cultures and forging meaningful relationships and communities. By embracing the opportunity to learn and work in different languages, individuals can foster deeper connections and enhance collaboration with people across cultures. Yelp Software Engineer Percy has experienced this first hand in his career working in various places such as Bolivia, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom where he has effectively communicated in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish. Percy’s journey has taught him that linguistic diversity can play a critical role in enriching personal interactions and strengthening professional ties, work environments. Learn more about Percy’s journey, insights at this fireside chat where he and PowerToFly’s Hunter Lee Canning will explore his takeaways in detail. This discussion will provide valuable perspectives on the transformative power of language in both personal and professional spheres. Consider attending to gain a deeper understanding of how embracing linguistic diversity can enhance your own interactions and collaborations.

Percy Dante Perez Aruni

Percy is a software engineer on the Corporate Application team at Yelp and is currently based in Cambridge, UK. Before Yelp he gained diverse experience across different industries and regions. In China, he worked as a middle office engineer in the Investment Banking sector in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen. In Japan, he served as an infrastructure engineer in the gaming industry in Tokyo. Before Asia, Percy was in South America, where he worked as an automation engineer at two telecommunications companies in his home country Bolivia. Percy is of Aymara descent and was born in Viacha (Bolivia) where he grew up speaking Aymara and Spanish.

Throughout his career, Percy has had the opportunity to communicate with colleagues primarily in their local languages, such as English, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish. This has not only facilitated effective professional interactions but also enabled him to learn, understand, and respect the cultural and social dynamics of each community. Outside of work, Percy is a big Bruce Lee fan (even learned some martial arts) and loves to swim every week.