Chimers’ stories of career growth and change: A Women's History Month feature
At Chime, growth is about tackling bigger and bigger challenges for our members, adapting to new opportunities, pushing hard to hit our goals, and holding ourselves to a high bar. To honor Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the career journeys of three Chimers who embody this spirit and have navigated major shifts, taken on new challenges—and learned valuable lessons along the way.
From career pivots to breaking into new industries, Sarah Lin, Cathy, and Gaby’s stories reflect the many ways women step into the unknown, grow into new opportunities, and shape their own careers at Chime. Whether it’s learning to advocate for themselves, embracing discomfort in the pursuit of professional growth, or finding the right support along the way, these Chimers share insights that resonate far beyond their own paths.
Embracing career pivots: Adapting, growing, and stepping into new opportunities
Sarah Lin Baxter’s journey from risk compliance to program management
Sarah Lin’s career at Chime has been defined by a willingness to step into new spaces—even when it meant taking on new challenges.
When she joined Chime, Sarah Lin was part of the business risk compliance team, focused on auditing and transactional work. But as she gained experience, she realized she wanted something more: a role that involved using creative problem-solving and implementing operational improvements rather than just reacting to individual cases. “I knew I could do my job very well and either continue to do that or learn something new,” she says. “I listened to what drives me—curiosity—and pursued the new role.”
The shift to her new role wasn’t immediate, though. She had to advocate for herself, making it clear that she wanted to move into program management—a new focus area for her. Now, as a senior disputes program manager, she focuses on efficiency, KPIs, and business results, applying strategic thinking to create long-term solutions and supporting her team with the tools and insights to help them succeed.
Key lesson from Sarah Lin
“Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. If you want to pivot, ask yourself: Is it more important to be comfortable or to be challenged? For me, it was important to learn something new and feel challenged. If comfort is your priority, listen to that!”
Cathy Su’s transpacific career pivot from business to data analytics
For Cathy Su, career growth has been a series of bold decisions—across industries and continents. Born and raised in Taiwan, she started her career in Japan, working in sales and consulting before realizing she wanted to pursue a different career and lifestyle.
She found herself drawn to data analytics and entered the field by taking on a web analytics role and then moving into advanced data science. This shift required her to build new technical skills (all while working in a new language), often studying outside of work to bridge the gap. When the opportunity arose to move to the U.S. and take on a new role, she took another leap to further her data analytics pursuit—this time into an entirely different work culture and new language. Today, Cathy is a Senior Data Analyst on Chime’s Funding team. “Moving to the U.S. meant learning to fit into the working culture here with a whole new team, but my experience living in Japan prepared me for navigating a new environment,” she says.
Key lesson from Cathy
“Define what success looks like for you, set goals, and then achieve them. When you’ve achieved a goal, embrace the growth it brought you and set another. If you want to make a change in your career, try to do so quickly—there’s no time like the present.”
Breaking new ground: Carving a path in a new field
Gaby Perez’s non-linear path to software engineering
While Gaby Perez originally studied pre-med and chemistry, she realized midway through college that her focus wasn’t the right fit. Instead, she pivoted to electrical and computer engineering, drawn to the logic and problem-solving aspects of coding. “I loved math in high school—especially the step-by-step approach—and heard that software engineering was similar,” she says. “My existing skills were transferrable and I gravitated towards the field.”
As a first-generation college graduate, Gaby navigated many unknowns on her own, from attending college to starting her career. And breaking into the tech industry came with its own challenges, including moments of imposter syndrome. But instead of letting that hold her back, Gaby found strength in her lived experiences, reminding herself that belonging isn’t about fitting in—it’s about making meaningful connections and contributions while bringing your full perspective to the table.
Now, as a software engineer on Chime’s account management and security team, Gaby applies her unique perspective to improving member experiences, ensuring accessibility, and building intuitive, user-friendly solutions for Chime’s members.
Key lesson from Gaby
“Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Remember that you’re not alone—just knowing that can make a big difference, instill confidence, and help you push through.”
Lessons in growth
While each of these Chimers took different paths to get to where they are today, their stories remind us of the importance of self-advocacy, embracing discomfort, and seeking support.
Advocate for yourself: Career shifts don’t happen automatically; you hold the power to shape your future by understanding your strengths, goals, and the impact you want to create. Once you do, you have to make what you want known—after all, you’re the driver of your career.
Embrace discomfort as part of growth: Change is often uncomfortable, but it’s also where the most learning happens.
Find the right support system: Whether through managers, mentors, or peers, having people who encourage your growth can make a world of difference.
At Chime, career journeys aren’t one-size-fits-all. These stories highlight just a few of the many ways Chimers have built meaningful careers, embracing change, and defining success on their own terms.