Every July, our teams set out for Cloudera’s Season of Service: a month-long initiative that gives Clouderans the opportunity to get outside of the office, work together, and give back to our communities. To make it happen, we host events around the world, led by our exceptional team of Cloudera Cares ambassadors.
This initiative is one of the many that contribute to our broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
Season of Service: What It Means to Us
Our ambassadors are Clouderans who opt into additional volunteering opportunities beyond their day jobs and perfectly embody the value of giving, both in and out of the office. Before jumping into this year’s events, we asked them to share what they most hoped to accomplish during this year’s Season of Service.
Gloria Benko, Software Engineer, shared that she was “most looking forward to the smiles of the people and the happiness that comes from giving back—it’s the most rewarding feeling.” While Kylie Drake, Data Analytics and Insight Manager, shared that she was “looking forward to empowering others with abundant opportunities to make a difference in the world.”
As Clouderans, we do what we can to ‘think globally, and act locally’–a mantra that keeps us grounded in the fact that even the small things we do each day make a big difference. Ken Tabuchi, Customer Operations Manager, shared that this mindset is what makes him believe that by working together for the greater good through events like Cloudera’s Season of Service, we can “overcome geographical barriers and foster a stronger sense of shared purpose and collective impact across our diverse teams.”
Cloudera Cares Initiatives
If you ask a Clouderan what makes working here special, most of them will tell you about the unique corporate culture rooted in a group of people who actually care–about each other, our customers, and our impact. That culture is a large part of why we believe this year’s events were so successful.
Our 2025 Season of Service events brought together Clouderans from around the world, offering their time and energy to causes that support children, seniors, underserved communities, and those in need of essential supplies. Together, we made a meaningful difference across continents, demonstrating the power of collective action and compassion.
Our contributions spanned both virtual and in-person efforts, including: mentoring children in Bangalore, assembling SAFE kitchen kits in Austin, supporting the elderly in Cork, community gardening, preparing Maitri care packages in Santa Clara, crafting toys in Budapest, and much more.
Cloudera Cares has an impressive 29 ambassadors representing 12 countries across nine business units who brought these events to life around the globe. As we wrap up a busy few weeks of engagement, we invited our ambassadors to reflect on their experiences and share why this month holds such significance for them, touching on their goals for this season and why they joined the program in the first place.
Here’s what they had to say.
Meet Our Cloudera Cares Ambassadors
When asked why the Cloudera Cares ambassadorship matters, Gloria Benko reflected on the greater alignment with her personal values. “Becoming a Cloudera Cares Ambassador was a natural step for me. Through this role, I can help bring people together around meaningful causes, create opportunities to give back, and foster a sense of community and compassion at work. It’s about making a difference, even in small ways, and encouraging others to do the same.”
Other ambassadors shared similar sentiments. Kylie Drake told us that she
recognized a profound personal need to contribute more meaningfully to the world around her. Natalia Aviles Fioravanti, Lead Data Analyst, added that service is part of her DNA. To her, “Cloudera Cares just felt natural.”
Ken Tabuchi had more personal ties to the cause, sharing that “My journey as a Japanese American, raised in the U.S. and now living in Japan after years in Australia, has deeply ingrained in me the philosophy of ‘Think globally, act locally.’” When considering the Cloudera Cares initiative as a whole, he expressed that it was really the global perspective, combined with a passion for making a tangible difference that drew him into the program.
Kylie Drake added, “I see it as a powerful platform to channel my time, talents, and effort towards initiatives that create a better world. For me, contributing in this way is not just a duty, but a privilege, and the least I can do to help foster positive change.” A mindset we feel both perfectly embodies our ambassadors and our company-wide approach toward facilitating the change we wish to see.
“What’s most meaningful to me about being a Cloudera Cares Ambassador is seeing the real impact we can have—both in our communities and within Cloudera.
Just last week, I delivered donations to a children’s hospital where kids with ADHD were preparing for their summer camp. Seeing how happy they were to receive even a small present was incredibly heartwarming. Moments like that remind me why this work matters so much. It’s not just about giving—it’s about connection, kindness, and showing people they’re not alone.”
- Gloria Benko, Software Engineer
“I enjoy the moments when we connect beyond our usual work settings—Clouderans coming together as a community to support one another and create a positive impact. It’s these experiences that truly bring the spirit of "We’re better together" to life.”
- Irene Li, Associate HR Business Partner
““The opportunity to provide service and witness the positive ripple effect of our collective actions through Cloudera Cares brings me immense joy. It's more than just a program; it's a chance to live out my values and contribute to something larger than myself.”
- Kylie Drake, Data Analytics and Insight Manager
“I’m most looking forward to promoting the culture of engagement as a Cloudera Costa Rica office, outside the work space, while doing activities that serve the community.”
- Natalia Aviles Fioravanti, Lead Data Analyst
“As a Cloudera Cares Ambassador, I see an incredible opportunity to pave the way for corporate social responsibility (CSR), no matter where I am in the world. Cloudera allows me to actively contribute to initiatives that align with my vision of a more sustainable and equitable future, demonstrating how a global mindset can translate into meaningful local action.”
- Ken Tabuchi, Customer Operations Manager
To learn more about our corporate culture, Season of Service or to become a Cloudera Cares Ambassador, get in touch.
