A New Beginning in the U.S.
Caroline Luzze arrived in the United States in July 2017 through the Diversity Visa Lottery. Along with her luggage, she carried with her the hopes of building a brighter future for her children and the quiet strength to rebuild her career from the ground up. Today, she’s not only a successful HR Director for a social justice nonprofit, but also an active member of Upwardly Global’s Leadership Council and a trusted advisor to countless newcomers.
“My experience as an Upwardly Global alum has been very empowering,” Caroline shared. “I literally took everything I learned from Upwardly Global — tips, tricks, and my notes — and I use them to guide others.”
Caroline has since become a well-known name in her community.
“Now, when someone’s going through a tough time adjusting, they’re told, ‘Talk to Caroline.’ And I always say, ‘You can go to Upwardly Global and see if you qualify. Let’s start there.’”
Finding Her Footing in the American Job Market
Her journey navigating the U.S. job market wasn’t simple. Though she landed a survival job as a bank teller at Bank of America, a role that gave her pride, it wasn’t aligned with her long-term goal of returning to the human resources career she left behind in Kenya. But her job coach at Upwardly Global helped her achieve her dream of working in HR again.
“She said, ‘You are an HR person. That’s where you should be.’ And together we worked on my resume and cover letter,” Caroline recalled.
Breaking Through With the Right Support
Caroline credits Upwardly Global’s model, particularly the emphasis on coaching, accountability, and interview preparation, with helping her land her first HR job at the Boys & Girls Clubs, where her children took part in after-school programs.
“To be honest, I truly don’t think I would’ve cracked the job market without Upwardly Global,” she said.
Paying It Forward
Now thriving professionally, Caroline continues to pay it forward. She offers career coaching, HR consulting, and, through her role on the Leadership Council, helps guide Upwardly Global’s efforts in Washington state.
“Representation matters. It was female leaders who empowered me to advocate for myself as a solo parent,” she said. “I knew it was important to give back.”
Caroline sees a bold, enduring future for Upwardly Global. One of her dreams is to see Upwardly Global’s presence grow, not just as a service provider, but as a policy influencer.
A Vision for Systemic Impact
“I would love to see Upwardly Global invited more into policymaking spaces. They should be at the table when lawmakers are making decisions about immigrants and the job market,” she said.
“My wish for the next 25 years is that the impact we make remains inked, so that it benefits people for even a hundred years to come. I want Upwardly Global to be the name policymakers mention when talking about immigrants and workforce solutions.”
From resume revisions to reimagining systemic change, Caroline Luzze embodies the mission and spirit of Upwardly Global, proof that with the right support, newcomers can lead, uplift, and transform entire communities.
–
