Beyond disability: Jesse’s being the change he wants in the world

Meet Jesse Machado, Uber Brazil’s Able at Uber ERG co-Lead, to discuss what drives him on his career journey and how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is vital to Uber’s success. 

Born to a single mother, Jesse Machado carved an independent path of resilience and determination, overcoming obstacles he faced with a visual impairment––severe loss in his left eye and partial loss in his right eye––to become the first in his family to attend university.

Below, he delves into his journey from Pernambuco – Brazil to becoming a Corporate Operations Analyst at Uber. “Being a disabled, black, gay, and northeastern person who has managed to achieve professional growth and success through my own determination is beyond rewarding because where I am today has enabled me to break previously impossible taboos and do things that many considered impossible for a person like me,” shares Jesse.

“Success is only success when it’s shared with others, and every time I moved up in my career or life, I was committed to bringing others along too. “According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Brazil is almost twice that of the general population. In addition, many people with disabilities who are employed are working in low-skilled and low-paying jobs. I’m committed to helping change this and providing advanced opportunities to others. 

I’ve worked in recruitment for over 10 years, and when I received an invitation from Uber to interview, I didn’t think twice. Before becoming an Uber employee, I remember the Uber ad campaign “If you tolerate racism, delete Uber,” and it really touched me emotionally because I’d never seen a company position itself with such direct support of DEI. I truly felt that Uber was where I belonged because this message is exactly this kind of bold stance that has the power to help to change prejudices in society, both in Brazil and around the world. 

When I joined, I was able to see that this was not just a campaign but something that is part of Uber’s day-to-day culture and embedded into our values. I felt this difference from the very first phone call with my recruiter. During the process, I was delighted by both the flexibility and accommodation of getting an Uber voucher to ride into the office, for example.”

“I joined Uber last year through the Talent Program for People with Disabilities, Uber’s first-ever program designed exclusively for people with disabilities in Brazil. Through the program, I developed skills in marketing, a new area for me. This surprised me, as the talent team was able to see my transferable skills and give me the knowledge and tools that have allowed me to shine. My background in studying psychology really helped me to work on various aspects that were essential for networking. One of the actions I took early on was to listen to the demands of our salespeople and work to help improve the team and their needs. This interest and commitment gave me a chance to lead the charge of a major new project which was implemented at the beginning of November in 2023 and is already bringing about positive results across Brazil.”

“I joined Able at Uber on my first day. After active involvement as a member, I felt that I could contribute even more to its success by taking on a leadership role, and since stepping into the role of Head of Able at Uber for Brazil, I have been championing its benefits ever since. ERGs are a strong tool to connect with people of all levels and lines of business inside and outside Uber. Being a leader of an ERG supports me in my professional development, because of this exposure but also with the leadership, organizational skills, and stakeholder management skills that I am able to grow and develop outside my day-to-day role.”

“Able at Uber is a global community for caregivers and employees living with disabilities. Our mission is to strengthen and sustain Uber’s inclusion efforts for employees living with and supporting those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. My vision for Brazil is one of autonomy, valuing differences, and welcoming all people. Leading Able at Uber – Brazil and being a leader in Lat means seeing possibilities, understanding the demands of each country, and developing proposals related to these realities. Brazil is an extremely diverse country with its challenges, and I am committed to ensuring each member feels seen and valued. Able at Uber LatAm has a very inclusive vision in building and recognizing diversity in Brazil which is also consistent with Uber’s global values.”

“Diversity is a recognized and developed value across Uber globally. Able at Uber develops strategies to value and recognize diverse talent, which leadership then takes action on to make our company an even more inclusive environment to develop all different types of talent. 

In July, we organized an entire month dedicated to People with Disabilities in Brazil. During this month, one of our key successes was joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, which is a simple lanyard for people to voluntarily wear to share that they have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that they may need supporting, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces. Uber was able to distribute these cords to all employees and their family members who have a visible or invisible disability. We also held conversation circles to talk about our internal and external actions, in line with our theme: Breaking the taboo: Talking about Mental Health without (Pre)concept.”

“You can be the change you want to see by making inclusion a constant practice in every aspect of your life. Become an ally to help us open doors that are often closed. It’s easier to share our experiences within the safe space of our ERG, but it is important to have other perspectives echo these experiences to senior leadership and act as representatives where we may not have a seat at the table. 

On a personal note, I am seen as a role model to my sister who is also now studying business administration. Acting as her reference and uplifting those around me so that I am not the only one to achieve new opportunities, in and out of the job market, has been truly rewarding. I encourage others to do the same.”

“The access and involvement of leaders in advancing our agenda. Our leadership team gets involved in the ideations of equity and takes these topics to ensure they become constant practice. At Uber, we are encouraged to question current practices to make space for current employees and future ones too. This dedication to constant improvement enables us all to focus on reimaging change for the better, both for those who work at Uber and for the communities we serve.” 

Learn more about Diversity and Inclusion at Uber→