When the Ground Shakes, the Village Steps Up: Navigating the Colombia Earthquake
August is typically a festive month here in Cali, Colombia. We host the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival, Latin America's largest celebration of traditional music and culture from our coast. But on the morning of August 10th, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck, leaving my city and thousands of families deeply affected.
Having been born and raised here, my heart broke for all the victims who lost everything they worked for in just seconds.
Although my family and I are safe, the feeling of knowing that just a stroke of luck or a blessing protected my home was bittersweet. The only way I could relieve the guilt of being safe was to go out and find a way to help, taking advantage of the privilege of being alive. I want to share my story not just to highlight what happened in my country, but to show how vital it is for organizations to stand behind their people when the unthinkable happens.
The Gift of Time When It Matters Most
On the morning of August 11, 2026 in nearly 40°C heat (104°F), my friends and I went out looking for open stores to buy water, food, and medicine. Seeing the streets, you could tell that the rest of the families who were safe were also finding their way to the donation centers. That’s being a caleño and that’s being a Colombian: we rush to help others, no matter if we know them or not.
When disaster strikes, the immediate priority isn't work. It’s survival, safety, and community. Because Coupa immediately granted me five days of domestic emergency leave, I was able to deliver those supplies without giving an extra thought to work.
The company activated specific Emergency Response Days during a localized crisis and that gave me the time to focus on recovering from the panic I felt during the minute the earthquake lasted—a minute I will never forget. It allowed me to be with my family to support each other, and it gave me the dedicated time to serve my community to help alleviate some of the pain. At Coupa, we have a robust Volunteer Time Off (VTO) policy that provides every employee with 40 hours of paid time each year to give back. I was also encouraged to use that time whenever necessary.
Global Support Through Benevity
The devastation across the Chocó Department, Valle del Cauca, and the Coffee Axis is severe, but the response from my colleagues around the world has been a light in the dark.
Coupa quickly established a relief effort through Benevity (our internal Social Impact Platform), allowing employees globally to support the Red Cross (Cruz Roja Colombiana), who have been on the ground providing search-and-rescue operations, emergency first aid, clean water, and temporary shelter.
Not only did Coupa kick off the campaign with a direct donation, but they also provided a 100% corporate gift-match for employee donations to double our impact. I wish to especially thank each member of the Coupa community who contributed, raising nearly $10,000 to support the victims in the most affected zones.
Being faithful to our local traditions, we Colombians ask for the universe to reward such profound generosity with abundant health and blessings for every donor.
The Empathy of the Coupa Village
I returned to work feeling a heavy mix of emotions. I am sad, and even feeling a bit dizzy from the ongoing aftershocks and stress, but most of all, I am returning grateful and with a renewed drive to contribute back.
I want to thank everyone at Coupa who reached out to me immediately following the earthquake. Electricity, internet, and phone signals were down across almost the entire city, but once I could finally receive messages, I was so relieved knowing my colleagues were checking on me. I want to especially thank my manager, Jaci Nunnelley who was always requesting signs of life and safety from me, my teammate Dana Baird for her empathy; our HRBP for LATAM Claudia Castro, and my colleague Nora Clark for their warmth, patience, and support.
You never truly know what a company’s culture is made of until you are in a crisis. I believe that a culture that puts lives and people first is destined for success and imminent growth.
While the restoration of our city won’t be quick, and the ones who left this world in such terrible circumstances will be missed forever, Cali and Colombia will make sure they are always remembered with love and respect.
I don’t want my city to be remembered as partially destroyed; I want it to be remembered for its beauty and its colors. So, I’d rather end this by sharing a picture of one of my favorite places: the Boulevard del Rio.
From the Coupa Talent Brand Team
(Note: This story was crafted in collaboration with Yury, who wrote this longhand to share her personal experience with us. If you would like to support the ongoing relief efforts, please contribute to the Red Cross in Colombia via these links to Benevity [Link 1 and Link 2]. To learn more about our commitment to global impact, visit Coupa’s ESG page)
