Event held October 16, 2024 — Yelp x PowerToFly

Bridging Cultures: A Yelp Fireside Chat on the Power of Languages

At The Diversity of Latinidad summit, Percy Dante Perez Aruni, a software engineer at Yelp, shared his incredible journey navigating multiple languages, cultures, and industries. In conversation with moderator Hunter Lee Canning, Percy reflected on how curiosity, adaptability, and linguistic diversity have been central to his personal and professional growth.

This fireside chat wasn’t just a discussion about languages—it was an inspiring exploration of how embracing diversity can create opportunities, build connections, and shape meaningful experiences.

Here are some of the thought-provoking questions asked during the conversation, along with Percy’s insightful answers:

What inspired you to leave Bolivia and explore opportunities abroad?

"I had two big inspirations. First, I grew up watching Shaolin monk movies—those old martial arts films where they leap between mountains and perform incredible stunts. I truly believed I could fly like them if I trained hard enough! That dream made me curious about China, even though I had no idea where it was at the time.

Second, I visited a technology fair in Bolivia and saw robots for the first time. They were basic, but I was fascinated. One of the professors there handed me a magazine about Japanese robotics, and that stuck with me. These two interests—kung fu and robotics—planted the seeds for my journey to Asia. I wanted to learn, see the world, and pursue my dreams where they seemed possible."

What was it like to learn new languages and immerse yourself in different cultures?

"Learning a new language is like being a kid again. You start small, like learning to say your favorite food, and that first success feels like an aha moment—you realize you’re starting to belong. But it’s not always easy. Sometimes you’re trying to explain something that takes one word in your language, but it requires a long explanation in another.

That can feel frustrating and isolating, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Language isn’t just words; it’s a key to understanding people, their culture, and how they see the world. The joy of those small victories—making a friend, ordering food, understanding a joke—always outweighed the challenges for me."

Can you share a moment where speaking another language led to an unexpected opportunity?

"In Japan, I was working as an infrastructure engineer and hit a roadblock on a technical problem. I searched everywhere in English but couldn’t find an answer. Then I decided to search in Japanese and found a researcher who had written about my exact issue. I reached out to him, and we collaborated to solve it. Without Japanese, I wouldn’t have found that connection or completed the project.

Another time in China, I was stuck in a traffic jam and made small talk with someone on the bus. They told me about a nearby place I should visit, which led me to a bookshop where I found one of my favorite childhood books—in Spanish! That small moment of conversation turned into something incredibly meaningful.

How has being multilingual influenced your approach to work?

"Being multilingual helps me think about problems from different perspectives. I ask myself, how would this challenge be approached in Latin America, where I grew up? How would it be tackled in Asia, where I’ve lived? Or now, in Europe, where I currently work? Each culture brings unique ways of thinking, and being able to see through those lenses makes me more creative and inclusive in my work.

It’s not just about speaking a language—it’s about understanding the context and adapting to collaborate with people from all kinds of backgrounds."

How did your upbringing in a bilingual environment influence your career?

"Growing up in a bilingual environment taught me how to navigate between two worlds. Speaking Aymara at home and Spanish at school gave me the ability to bridge cultural gaps and adapt to different contexts. This skill became invaluable in my career, helping me connect with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and understand how to work effectively in global teams.

It wasn’t just about the languages—it was about understanding how different people think and relate to the world. That foundation has been a constant advantage in my personal and professional life."

For the full conversation and more inspiring moments, don’t miss the recording linked at the top of this blog!

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