ARUP Laboratories’ “Warmful” Culture Creates Opportunities for Employees To Grow

Kanako Yumioka joined ARUP Laboratories nearly five years ago while learning a new language, navigating a new culture, and living far from family and friends. New to the United States and in an unfamiliar environment, Yumioka accepted a housekeeping position and worked evening and overnight shifts.

"I didn't know how careers worked here," Yumioka said. "I just knew I wanted to try."

Today, Yumioka works in Specimen Processing, which requires intense focus and precision. She's learning new skills and building a deeper understanding of laboratory operations. Her career path reflects more than personal determination; it highlights how mentorship, support, and intentional talent development can help employees discover what's possible and thrive.

Starting Over Without a Map

Before moving to the U.S., Yumioka worked in a hospital setting in Japan and coordinated physician and residency programs. She and her husband relocated to Utah so he could attend the University of Utah, and she found herself starting over professionally.

At ARUP, she worked independently for much of her shift, cleaning offices after most employees had left for the day. While she appreciated having a job within walking distance of her home, she wanted more and applied to ARUP's mentorship program.

Learning to Navigate ARUP

Yumioka was paired with Agata Golcz-McGill, a program manager for robotic process automation within ARUP's Information Technology (IT) division, and someone who understood the challenges of starting fresh in a new country. Golcz-McGill is originally from Poland and started at ARUP as an events coordinator.

"When you're new to the company, especially new to the U.S., there's so much being thrown at you, it can be daunting," Golcz-McGill said.

Much of their work together focused on helping Yumioka understand how ARUP is structured, how to navigate internal systems, and how to read job postings with context. Golcz-McGill also encouraged Yumioka to have her bachelor's degree in economics from Japan accredited in the U.S., a step that ultimately saved her years of additional schooling and significant expense.

"Someone gave me guidance, and I want to give that back to others. Having someone eliminate obstacles can help people see possibilities they didn't know existed," Golcz-McGill shared.

Over time, Yumioka's confidence grew, and her English improved. Golcz-McGill challenged her to practice using Duolingo, a language app.

With encouragement from her mentor and supervisors, Yumioka pursued an internship with ARUP's Institute for Research and Innovation in Diagnostic and Precision Medicine™, which allowed her to work in an office setting during daytime hours. She learned some administrative tasks, such as reserving conference rooms and ordering catering, and helped draft new validation documents for lab equipment. She also did inventory and ordered supplies in preparation for the opening of the Innovation Central Laboratory.

"It helped me understand what ARUP really does, and now I can imagine different paths," Yumioka said.

A 'Warmful' Culture

Yumioka often describes ARUP and Golcz-McGill using a word she chose herself: "warmful." To her, it means working with people who are kind, patient, and willing to help. People who also take the time to listen and explain.

"When Yumioka described ARUP as 'warmful,' I knew I had succeeded in what I was trying to pass on," Golcz-McGill said. She compares mentorship to a tree.

"You build roots with the company, and then you branch out," she said. "You start learning about other departments and roles and meeting people."

That sense of connection, she added, is critical. "So people know there's someone they can turn to as a resource."

Continuing to Improve

Mentorships align with ARUP's core values of creating a good working environment and continually improving. Now in its fourth year, the mentorship program continues to grow. This year's cohort includes more than 60 pairings, carefully matched by Human Resources (HR) partners.

"The development of our own employees is a primary focus of ARUP. When a company invests in their employees, those employees, in turn, invest their skills and passion right back into the company," said Misty Smith, ARUP Talent Acquisition Manager.

In addition to mentorship and internship programs, ARUP offers tuition reimbursement, career coaching, programs that reward ideas that strengthen the organization, and occasional job shadowing. HR subject matter experts also host classes throughout the year to help employees polish résumés, practice interviewing, and strengthen communication skills.

Looking Ahead

For Yumioka, working in specimen processing represents progress and possibility.

"The mentorship and internship changed my life," she said. "They opened my eyes."

She's proud of how far she's come and is grateful for the people who encouraged her along the way.

"If I get a chance, I try, and here, people help you try."

Yumioka's career continues to evolve, and it's clear that support, guidance, and opportunity helped her find her path and the confidence to keep moving forward.

Bonnie Stray, [email protected]