Beyond the horizon: How Mia Garzón turned adversity into purpose

Welcome to Beyond the horizon, a monthly series celebrating the people who shape Upsun’s culture, innovation, and heart. As we open this new chapter, it feels fitting to begin with someone whose work touches every corner of our company.

Mia, our driving force behind employee experience, brings a unique blend of creativity, discipline, and deeply human insight to the work of shaping our culture.

Her story is one of reinvention and resilience, rooted in years of classical ballet training, strengthened through personal transformation, and guided by a lifelong commitment to connection and movement. Today, those experiences fuel her mission at Upsun: to create a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to do their best work.

Mia approaches culture-building with an artist’s eye and a strategist’s mind, crafting experiences that make Upsun not just a place to work, but a place to thrive. Whether she’s designing moments of joy, building community across continents, or simply reminding us of the power of being seen, her work helps define what it feels like to belong here.

Her journey to Upsun is a powerful reminder that our horizons are shaped not just by our skills, but by our courage, determination, and the belief that something meaningful is ahead. As we share her story, we also celebrate the culture she helps nurture: warm, intentional, and boldly human.

We’re honored to highlight Mia this month, whose impact is woven into the everyday experiences that make Upsun a truly special place to grow.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do and most importantly, who are you outside of work?

At Upsun, I focus on navigating the evolving world of remote and distributed work by designing employee experiences, events, and initiatives that strengthen engagement, well-being, retention, and our employer brand. I'm passionate about creating innovative, sustainable, and people-centric solutions that make work feel meaningful and connected.

Outside of work, my background is quite different; I trained as a classical ballet dancer. From age 10 to 17, I spent every weekday in regular school followed by four hours of dance lessons at the Dance Conservatory (no holidays ever!). That discipline and love for movement have stayed with me, even as my knee injury took me into other worlds. My passions still revolve around movement and creativity; music, dance, theatre, and literature are my happy places.

At home, I share life with my wonderful daughter (my greatest source of joy and motivation) and my dog, my loyal best friend. I'm determined, efficient, and energetic, but I also fully believe in the power of doing nothing every now and then! 

If you could describe your journey in one sentence, what would it be?

How a 50-year-old divorcee with a young child got her dream job after two years of job hunting.

What's a challenge you've faced and how have you grown from it? 

Being unemployed after a collective dismissal was really tough. The market was difficult, with very few openings in my field. In many selection processes, I reached the final interview stage, people were impressed by my skills, but being a mom with no support often raised biased doubts about my performance and commitment. It felt like that was always the "decisive" factor for being turned down.

I was frustrated because my personal life has never been an obstacle to being a strong, reliable contributor, even while managing large teams. When I joined Upsun, things were different. My professional acumen and experience were valued from the very beginning; what I could bring to the company was all that mattered. No one judged my personal circumstances; in fact, they were seen as a strength, a sign of determination and multitasking ability 😉.

That made me feel safe, respected, and truly considered. It's a reminder of how important it is that we never let bias or prejudice shape how we recruit or treat people.

Is there someone at Upsun who played a key role in your journey or made your experience possible? 

Yes: Caroline Leroy. She immediately recognized that Employee Experience is essential in a company that strives to be more than "just a company." She trusted my skills and experience from the very first interview and was eager to embark on this journey together. I've told her this many times, but it's worth saying again: thank you, Caroline!

As we say at Upsun, 'Your greatest work is just on the horizon.' What's the next horizon you're excited to reach in your journey? 

​​I've always loved making others feel happy, and that's ultimately what my job is about. My goal is to make everyone at Upsun so happy and fulfilled that they can't imagine working anywhere else and can't stop talking about how great their company is.

We've set sail on a new chapter with so many exciting projects, ideas, and people dedicated to improving employee happiness and engagement. My next horizon is simple but powerful: seeing more smiles and watching the company grow!

Thanks for joining us on this month’s journey. Beyond the horizon is all about the stories that shape who we are. We hope you’ll return next month as we continue celebrating the people who inspire our culture and move Upsun forward. 💙