From Family Expectations to Personal Dreams
On Kahlil Bagatsing’s LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as a nonprofit professional, dream catcher, coach, connector, and community builder. But anyone who has felt the warmth of his smile, his enthusiasm for helping others, or his passion for life would say he is all these things and so much more.
As a self-described “dream catcher,” Kahlil dared to capture his dreams and transform them into a life that brings him joy. He now does the same at Upwardly Global, helping job seekers and alumni build lives in the U.S. that match the visions they harbored when they first arrived.
Kahlil’s journey began in the Philippines. As the eldest son, he was expected to work in the family business and carry on the legacy his father had built. But deep down, Kahlil knew that wasn’t his dream.
“I was named after an author,” he said. “I’ve always been an artist.”
Finding Purpose Through Service
While he dutifully contributed to the family’s tech company, Kahlil made a personal pact to balance corporate life with community service. That decision led him to a 15-year volunteer relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he found his calling by helping others realize their dreams.
“That was a love affair,” he said with a smile. “I was like Santa Claus. I was a genie, helping make wishes come true. That’s what life is about.”
A Humbling New Beginning
When love brought him to the U.S. in 2020, the world was shutting down due to COVID-19, and so was his sense of direction.
“It was humbling,” he admits. “I thought with my background, I’d get a job easily. I didn’t even have a resume.”
Eventually, his partner’s friend recommended Upwardly Global (Upglo). Kahlil was skeptical. But what struck him wasn’t just the resume support, free training, and job coaching; it was the community.
“It’s different when someone says, ‘I get it. We’re here for you.’ That’s when I fell in love with Upglo,” he said.
Bringing His Full Self to Work
Soon after, an opportunity to join Upwardly Global opened. Despite using a Zoom profile picture of a meditating silhouette with chakras lit — a rookie move, he joked — he landed the job, and he brought his full, joyful self to it.
“I remember when I joined, I reached out to as many people as I could and asked them, ‘What’s the one piece of advice you’d give your younger self at Upglo?’ The answer I heard the most was, ‘Take care of yourself.’ That meant a lot.”
Creating Magic Through Connection
Kahlil began as a job coach, but today he’s Upwardly Global’s Community Engagement Manager, a role that feels tailor-made for him.
“I get paid to bring people together and help them become their best selves,” he says. “It’s all about creating fertile soil, building the right conditions so that when we bring alumni together, magic happens.”
His days are now spent organizing events, nurturing the Leadership Council, building the alumni network of over 12,000 alumni, and developing ways to help immigrant professionals thrive well beyond their first job in the U.S.
“It’s about building with people, saying, ‘Yes, and…’ That energy of collaboration … that’s how I approach my work,” Kahlil says.
Whether it’s starting a LinkedIn group, testing new programming, or hosting alumni networking sessions, Kahlil sees each initiative as a chance to co-create something meaningful.
A Vision for Bold Growth
Reflecting on his journey, Kahlil recalls one piece of advice that continues to shape him: “If you don’t go within, you go without.” During a soul-searching break in his career, he chose to go within. “I realized my favorite moments in life are when the dream and the dreamer become one,” he says. “At Upwardly Global, I get to help make that happen every day.”
Kahlil’s wish for Upwardly Global in the next 25 years is to “be the biggest, boldest, most authentic version of itself. To reach more people. To keep doing the amazing work we’re doing.”
Because when you believe in people the way Kahlil does — when you catch their dreams and hand them back whole — the possibilities are limitless.