Belarusian immigrant rebuilds his project management career through Upwardly Global
“It’s really hard when you don’t know where to go, and Upwardly Global is guiding you and even pushing you sometimes, which is great — it’s what we need as newcomers,” says Andrei, an immigrant from Belarus. “That means everything to me. … They have a very special place in my heart.”
Finding a new path in America
In 2015, Andrei moved to the United States as an asylum seeker, equipped with a master’s degree in management and economics and more than seven years of professional experience. However, restarting his career proved challenging upon arrival, leading him to take on roles in restaurant kitchens and as a receptionist at a hair salon.
“Even though I have a work permit and social security number, being an immigrant, it’s really hard to find a good-paying job. Even with education, people are still skeptical,” he says. His initial jobs, aside from being physically demanding, lacked the professional fulfillment and financial stability he sought.
Discovering Upwardly Global during the pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, Andrei became unemployed after the hair salon closed its doors. Contemplating a career shift, a local community center referred him to Upwardly Global due to his high educational background. Upon connecting with Upwardly Global, Andrei underwent professional training and received personalized guidance from a job coach.
“I was lost and wasn’t sure what I really wanted to do,” he remembers. “But COVID happened and that kind of changed my life — those brave nurses and doctors jumped up to fight this horrible disease and were helping people.”
Inspired by the pandemic, he decided to pursue a career in healthcare. His job coach directed him to the returnship program with NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP). In August 2021, he secured an internship working as a registrar at COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites. His contract was extended multiple times, providing him with valuable experience and professional connections.
Growth and leadership at NewYork-Presbyterian
“I’ve met so many great people — employees from NYP and also other Upwardly Global alumni,” he says. His manager at the testing sites became a professional mentor, and engagement with colleagues formed a supportive network contributing to his positive internship experience.
After the internship’s completion in May 2022, Andrei was offered a full-time position as a Program Coordinator at NewYork-Presbyterian’s ambulatory care network operations. One year later, he was promoted to Project Leader within the same department.
His leadership and hard work stood out to his colleagues, and in July 2023, he was elected into the Emerging Leadership Council at NewYork-Presbyterian. As an immigrant and member of the LGBTQ+ community, he is proud to be a champion of inclusion in the workplace.
“If not for Upwardly Global and the amazing people working there and the programs that they designed, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” he says.