Get to Know EWA President Yuliana Briceño
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The County has 11 great Employee Resource Groups. They are each led by respective board of directors who all demonstrate commitment and stewardship of its members to the various sectors of our community. Get to know our Emerging Workforce Association President Yuliana Briceño.
Q: How long have you worked for the County and what departments have you worked for? What do you do in your role/what are your job responsibilities?
A: I began with the County in August 2022 as a Management Fellow for the Office of Emergency Services (OES). My first project focused on identifying ways that other jurisdictions had operationalized equity and sustainability objectives, two subjects that I have always been very passionate about, in the field of emergency management. The findings of this research had the potential to result in more equitable outcomes, not just for our department, but for the County and our communities, so I approached this with much enthusiasm.
Shortly after, just seven months into my fellowship, I promoted to the position of Emergency Services Coordinator (ESC). While I worked to complete my fellowship project, my new responsibilities as an ESC were expansive and fulfilling. The Office of Emergency Services (OES) coordinates the overall County response to disasters and is responsible for alerting and notifying appropriate agencies when disaster strikes; coordinating all agencies that respond and ensuring resources are available and mobilized in times of disaster; developing plans and procedures for response to and recovery from disasters; and developing and providing preparedness materials for the public. I am the OES Partner Relay Liaison, I oversee the Ready Disaster Service Worker Program, and I lead public outreach and education efforts for our office.
Q: What’s your workplace superpower?
A: I would say it is optimism. In a field where we are constantly preparing for the worst, it is important to remain positive, to be confident in our performance, in our drive, and in our passion for what we do. It is a priority for me to celebrate the incredible work that my team does for our communities, and to find joy in the opportunity to learn from situations that may be daunting.
Q. Who are your mentors? Who inspires you?
A: I draw inspiration from many of the amazing people in my life, both personally and professionally. As someone new to emergency management, I have to thank Shannon Nuzzo and Cody Gallagher, both Senior ESCs in our office, for teaching me so much about this work, for encouraging me to ask questions, and walking me through new processes as needed. They are patient, kind, and so, so knowledgeable, and I feel very lucky to be on their team.
Personally, I have to say that both of my parents, in their own unique ways, continue to inspire me. As an adult, I can look back and recognize how devoted they were to me and my siblings, and how much they have sacrificed for our family. All I want to do is be able to give back and share in new, different, and fun experiences with them.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?
A: It is a total cliche, but it rings true for me, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” We are capable of so much, of achieving anything we set our minds to, but we have to believe that we can, that we are worthy, that we are enough, and that we deserve the good things that happen to us. It is a game of mindset, and we owe it to ourselves to believe that we can.
Q: What are some resources that you find useful and recommend to others?
A: I find it really beneficial to have access to a database of articles and journals, like the Library Database at a university (as a proud Aztec, I use the San Diego State University one) so that I can stay on top of research occurring across multiple fields. As a supporter of cross-system collaborations, it’s important to know how findings in one field can affect another, especially when it comes to public service. The more informed we are, the more we can partake in advocating for ourselves before decisions are made.
Q: Who are you outside of work and types of activities do you enjoy?
A: I am a daughter, a sister, an auntie, and a friend. I’m a shameless Disney adult and a die-hard Swiftie. I enjoy reading, going to the movies, concerts, baseball games, paddleboarding, trivia nights, and visiting new places, and I love doing all of the above with my family and friends.
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about respectful and meaningful connection between humans, whether it be between families or in friendships, amongst your team at work, or the public we serve. I believe having the ability to be patient, understanding, and compassionate towards others fosters an environment where people feel safe to present as their authentic selves, and being your authentic self has got to be one of the best feelings in the world.
Q: Tell us about your ERG.
A: The Emerging Workforce Association (EWA) is an ERG that seeks to bridge the gap between generations in the workforce. Sometimes the frustration of not being able to identify with new or old norms can cause a barrier between teammates, but there is so much that we can learn from one another. I always joke about the common stereotypes, such a Boomers being unable to convert to PDF or Gen Z being afraid to pick up the phone and make an actual call (Millennials are perfect, though, you don’t have to worry about them)—but in all seriousness, if these two generations could teach and support each other, we would be unstoppable! Gen Z would be so confident calling people back!
That is the goal—reminding people that there is so much value in every generation, each with their own gem of a skill or skillset, and we should harness that as much as possible.
Q: How has being in your ERG improved your experience working at the County?
A: The networking has been incredible. I have gotten to meet extremely knowledgeable and experienced people. I’ve felt seen and understood by others of my generation, inspired by those who have been here longer than I, and excited by the new folks coming in, eager to make a difference and get paid to do what they love.
Q: What are your three favorite places to eat in San Diego? Or what is your most favorite meal?
A: OMG there are just too many! It’s too hard to narrow it down to three, so I’ll just share that my favorite dish is a Mexican soup called “carne en su jugo,” and my favorite American dish is grilled cheese and tomato soup—homemade only.
Q: Who was the top artist from your Spotify Wrapped? Or favorite artist to listen to right now if you don’t have Spotify.
A: Taylor Swift, naturally, followed closely by Bad Bunny. Oh, the duality.
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