Growing up in Zamboanga City, a southern province of the Philippines, some of Eli's earliest memories involve learning from his late father, who was a pastor. Together, they'd make boats out of paper and soap, which they would glide across the water or in the puddles that appeared outside their home after rainstorms.

As Eli grew older, his father continued to encourage and support him even if he started developing interests of his own. “I remember taking a fish from a pond near our house and putting it in a jar." When his father saw this, he bought Eli his first aquarium and filled it with more fish to discover. Soon they began breeding hamsters and rabbits, taking in lizards and quail.

Those memories with his father taught Eli the importance of learning something new and learning from others, understanding people’s needs and even encouraging the right things. When he was younger, he planned of becoming a veterinarian, but this changed over time. Through it all, he always had his father’s support, reminding him that any passion was worth pursuing.  All these invaluable life lessons proved to be an integral part of Eli’s work today in customer service and online technical support. Today, Eli lives in Cebu, a central province in the Philippines. And, while his plans changed, the love of animals that he shared with his father didn't. Today, he lives with three dogs—Mojo, a Labrador; Zoey, a Japanese Spitz; and Lily, a Labrador puppy that arrived just in time for the holidays.

What does success look like to you?

Success is reflected in the people I've helped along the way. As a peer coach, I've assisted multiple specialists in their growth and development, and their success is my success. It's really fulfilling to see someone who looked to you for help, now moving up in the company, and doing really well in what they're doing.

What do you consider the most valuable piece of advice you've ever received and where did it come from?

One of my high school teachers told me to always assert myself, especially when I know I'm right. When I was in high school, I was the shortest one, the smallest one, so I was often bullied. Sometimes it's difficult to believe in yourself and know that you're right. Since I'm an introvert, sometimes I still struggle with that. Introverts can be a little quiet, but I use that time to go into myself and think about what I'm going to say, to process my thoughts and make sure that when I say something, it's the right thing.

What has been the biggest obstacle you've overcome?

My biggest obstacle has been living on my own in a city where I don't have relatives. I'm the youngest of three and was always pampered by my parents. So moving to Cebu and living on my own was a big step. But this taught me a lot of invaluable life lessons and helped me discover a lot of things about myself. For instance, cooking my first pot of rice, that was a big deal for me. I even texted my mom to tell her: Hey, I cooked rice and I didn't burn it.

How did you start working at JPMorgan Chase, and what has your experience been like?

A friend of mine was working with JPMorgan Chase and told me it was a good company, with great compensation and benefits. So I joined the firm in 2014 as a customer service specialist, which means I helped customers with their needs. I also became a Peer Coach, which gave me the opportunity to help other people in the firm advance in their careers.

After 5 years in a customer service role, I wanted to try something different -  a job where I’d have the same opportunity for growth while expanding my cross-functional knowledge and experiences. Later on, I saw that there was an opening under the Corporate & Investment Bank - Merchant Services business, where I joined as an Information Owner and Project Control Analyst.

Mentorship seems important to you. How has your mentor helped you?

My mentor was my manager when I was in consumer online technical support. She let me bounce ideas off her and gave me regular feedback. It was great having someone to help me see things from a different perspective and have a sounding board. It really helped me stay grounded.

To this day, a lot of her advice and insights have stuck with me. We still keep in touch, and I still reach out to her for guidance on how to approach certain situations.

What has gotten you get though the pandemic?

Living alone helps though some people may look at it as a negative thing. For me, it gives me time to reflect. There was definitely a lot more cooking at home, but I really enjoyed that. There's a Filipino dish called Sinigang, or sour soup. That's something I've perfected. Now, I like to experiment with sour Italian sauces, since the spaghetti sauce here is too sweet for me. I've made four cheese and pesto. I like mixing them!

What advice would you give to new employees?

Joining a well-established firm like JPMorgan Chase might be intimidating, but never shortchange yourself. As an individual, you have a lot to offer. Bank on the things you're good at, be open to criticism and honest about your experience, and the company will surely take care of you.

For Karyl, the key to living a successful life is learning, growing, and improving the world around you. While having a goal is important, what’s equally significant is the process and the journey – and what you learn along the way.

This is the case with one of her biggest passions: environmental sustainability. "Sustainability involves learning to maintain natural resources to avoid jeopardizing them for future generations," Karyl explains. In her life, she works to integrate that goal into all her decisions. "Obviously, I have my lapses," she says. "But I try to practice sustainability at home and encourage others to do the same."

Karyl applies the same willingness to learn and desire to reach out to others in her work at JPMorgan Chase, whether on the job as a Collections Specialist with the Auto Collections Division, or being involved in employee engagement activities such as the annual JPMorgan Chase Sportsfest cheer dance competition in the Philippines.

"Being part of the competition made me realize that it doesn't just mean I have to dance," she says. "It meant showing unity and camaraderie with my team, through all our challenges and competitions."

What is the most important skill that you've gained at JPMorgan Chase?

Critical thinking. Working here, I've learned how to analyze and evaluate situations in order to gain a good understanding of a challenge, judge it effectively, and reach a good decision on how to resolve it. That skill has been extremely useful in my job and I think it's going to benefit my career in the long run.

What does success look like to you?

Success isn't about winning at everything. Success is when you gain something, grow as a person, inspire others, and make an impact on society.

I learned this while writing my college thesis. I wanted my thesis to show that expressing emotions through art can have a positive impact on out-of-school youth. I created an observational study by inviting teenagers to participate in focus groups and engage in creative activities like multimedia art or dance.

My college held a showcase for the top three theses. I was convinced that my thesis was going to win, but it didn't even get in the top three. I was upset, but then I learned that the teens I worked with were applying to college and submitting scholarships—and I realized that my work had made a significant impact on them.

How has having a mentor helped you?

My mentor is my team leader, and I've worked with her for almost two years. When I started working for JPMorgan Chase, I didn't know what to expect and it affected my business results for the first year. She guided me and even assigned tasks based on my improvement areas. Through her mentorship, I became a better employee, able to contribute to my team's numbers. In turn, her mentorship allowed me to broaden my knowledge and experience—and she has been a huge support in my career advancement.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

My family. They have been with me through all my ups and downs. My parents work overseas and aren't always available, but they've nurtured me in almost every aspect of my life, even from afar. My siblings have also always been there for me. I was living with my sister and my younger brother until recently. They only live 10-15 minutes away so we're all still close.

Whenever I have problems, I know I can talk to my sister. She is a good listener and often gives advice by drawing on her own experience. She understands me and lets me be myself—I'm very talkative and I have a sarcastic sense of humor.

My brother taught me tough love through hard work. I had financial difficulties during my time at college, but rather than lending me money, he gave me advice on how to become financially independent. I never felt like he was cutting me off—I knew he wanted me to learn independence. He's younger than me, but he thinks that way. Isn't that funny?

What do you consider the most valuable piece of advice you've ever received and where did it come from?

When I was having some challenges in a previous job, I sought for a piece of advice from a close companion. He told me that he'd once found himself in the same situation—having a difficult time at work—so he set out to do it well. He wanted to show people that he could even excel at something that he finds challenging.

His advice—"There are certain situations when you’d need to step out of your comfort zone., but even then, do it well"—really resonated with me. It got me through that work-related situation, and I started to apply it to all aspects of my life. We all have things that we must do but find difficult to navigate. Not everything that we do is easy, interesting or convenient. Instead of grumbling, why not become better at it?

What is the biggest obstacle you've overcome in life?

When my academic career began, I was a literature student at my dream college. Unfortunately, two years into my studies, I had to drop out and transfer to a different school. It was the lowest point in my life: I'd invested two years of work in that discipline and wanted to graduate from that school with a degree in literature. With that dream gone, I didn't know what my purpose was, and I felt helpless.

I applied to an art management program, even though I wasn't sure that it was for me. I found positivity and strength in a line from a Kelly Clarkson song: “What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." It took me a total of six years to graduate with a degree, but I'm proud to say that I stuck with it. I was able to overcome it by staying positive and facing things head-on. Obstacles in your life are not there to bring you down—they're there to make you stronger.

Work-from-home, go to the office, or a mix of both?

I live two hours away from the office, so the commute has always been challenging. I miss seeing my colleagues and friends but working from home has helped me manage my time better. I'm able to get enough rest before and after work, I get to spend more time with my family, complete errands, and try and squeeze in time doing things I love.

When Ryan talks about the Philippines—especially the beaches—his excitement is palpable, his enthusiasm contagious. Simply put, he loves his country—and he loves sharing it with others.

The youngest of three children, Ryan was born and raised in the Philippines, but has traveled far beyond its borders. In college, he participated in an exchange student internship program that brought him to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he interned at an amusement park as a sales associate and a harness zip line attendant. It was yet another place where his natural enthusiasm and passion came in handy, as he coached children on the zipline and ensured their safety.

Today, Ryan brings that joy and excitement to work for JPMorgan Chase, where he works for the Wholesale Lending Service department, tracking loan documents and ensuring that they are complete. It's a job that requires attention to detail, and which allows him to use some of his natural enthusiasm to help build relationships across the bank.

Recently, that friendliness—and his comfort with training others—came in handy. Ryan worked with the bank's Client Services team, helping to train them on his team's processes and working with them to develop a strategy to streamline their collaboration. Whether he's training people on a zipline or in a meeting room, the basic goal is the same. "It's about working to the fullest of my ability," he says. "I'll never even know my true full capacity until I'm really pushed to the limit."

What advice would you give to someone who wants to join JPMC?

JPMorgan Chase offers a fun working environment that greatly values its people and presents a lot of choices for career growth. I would suggest being true to yourself and sharing your experiences that showcase how you've been able to contribute to the overall success of your team. Be open to opportunities that will be given to you along the way. Every experience allows you to build your character and improve yourself.

What does success look like to you?

For me, success lies in balancing work and passion. I set concrete goals and figure out what things I need to do to accomplish those goals. At work, my goals are to meet my targets and obtain a managerial position, so I asked my manager to give me extra tasks that align with managerial skills. That way I'm accomplishing goals that I've set for myself as well as my career. I track the progress from time to time, so I know where I'm at.

I also set goals for things outside of work like staying healthy, being mentally relaxed, and having hobbies. I must trust the process. Goal setting is integral to success.

Do you have a mentor? If so, how has the mentorship benefited you?

My mentor is my manager. Working with her has helped me improve my personal and career development. It builds my own sense of diversity and perspective by giving me the opportunity to share my opinions, knowledge and ideas with a more experienced person.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

Growing up, my mom was consistently there for us. She's such a positive person—whenever we encountered problems or sickness, she was there to guide us and tell us that everything would be okay and that every problem in life will eventually pass. She has been incredibly supportive of every path her children have taken.

My mom taught me how to handle life and how to see life. I've considered moving out, but in my culture, the parents want the children to be close to them and to take care of them, so I vowed to stay around.

What do you consider the most valuable piece of advice you've ever received and where did it come from?

I was 14 years old, at a birthday party my family was throwing for one of my relatives. My relatives asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. They all started debating on whether I should become a lawyer, an engineer, or even a pilot. Then one of my uncles stopped and said that whatever I wanted to become in life, just make sure it's what I want to do and try to be good at it. And then he told me that he wasn't just talking about careers; he wanted me to do the things I love and focus on them. That is good advice for a child to hear. There's always pressure from parents and relatives, but your decision is the only thing that matters.

What is the biggest obstacle you've overcome in life?

When I was a student, my professor asked me to represent my school as a member of the badminton team during the annual sportsfest. I knew basketball and volleyball, but badminton was new for me, so I was hesitant at first. But I tried it out and enjoyed it! After that, I told myself that I must be willing to explore new things in order to find opportunities that I enjoy or will help me learn.

Aside from playing sports, I also work out regularly. This has taught me the importance of discipline—I discover what works for me and what doesn't, and I track my immediate and long-term fitness goals. When I was a kid, I thought that I would never be fit. But when I started working out, I began seeing changes in my body, I realized that once you focus your mind on something, you can accomplish anything.

Work-from-home, go to the office, or a mix of both?

A mix of both. I found during the pandemic, being able to have that flexibility of working remotely or being physically in the office to collaborate with a group has contributed to a more fun working set-up.