How it all started

“Why don’t we ask the youth directly?”

WorkWonder emerged from a simple yet profound question: Why don’t we ask the youth directly?

Instead of making assumptions about their interests, we decided to engage them directly in the planning process. By including young individuals in conversation with clients and strategy meetings, we help guide and mentor young individuals toward their curiosity, passions, and confidence to be part of shaping a project and the decision-making processes.

The program took shape through collaboration with Co-Designer Interns, who were both public high school students and paid Interns to the initiative. Today, WorkWonder serves thousands of high school students, offering them paid internships that empower them to develop their networking skills and workplace readiness. Through this experience, they grow more confident in advocating for themselves, whether in virtual meetings or one-on-one discussions with mentors, ultimately proving that innovation has no age bounds.

WorkWonder operates on the philosophy that the world is evolving, and consequently, so must our approach to learning. Many employers now seek ways to tap into a global talent pool, and WorkWonder stands as a global youth movement for just that. By equipping youth with the skills, they need for workplace readiness and honing their networking abilities, we’re ensuring they become the architects of their futures. In this way, WorkWonder contributes to a thriving global talent pipeline, and empowers young individuals to be the hero in their stories.

How it all started

“Why don’t we ask the youth directly?”

WorkWonder emerged from a simple yet profound question: Why don’t we ask the youth directly?

June Bayha

Founder and CEO of Bayha Group

What brings me joy is working directly with youth to co-design for youth. Since 2006, I have enthusiastically hired high school and college interns.

As a high school junior, my summer internship at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) left a lasting imprint as I gained WQ – Workplace Intelligence skills and lifelong mentors. Working at JPL changed the trajectory of my life.

For fun, I paddle a one-person outrigger canoe and am part of the San Diego Dragon Boat Team. My guilty pleasure is binge-watching Korean dramas. I also love San Diego Comic-Con and going to see movies on opening night (so no spoilers). I am an all-around super fan, especially of all my WorkWonder interns and the amazing work they do!

Harlen Bayha

CFO/CTO

Since 2019, I managed the finance and technology teams at Bayha Group, an educational consulting and grant support firm based in San Diego, California. Prior to this, I designed reporting, compensation, incentive, compliance, and retail sales systems applications in my 20-year career at Wells Fargo, a large financial institution with operations across the continental United States.

I have also been an active member of the board of directors of Pacific Arts Movement since 2010, where I held the positions of President, Vice President. I am currently Treasurer.

Barbarella Fokos

Creative Director

I wear many fancy, feathered hats at Bayha Group, my favorite of which is Mentor.

I’ve been working with Bayha Group since 2018 and never tire of the work, as I’m constantly learning new things in a fun, productive environment with passionate people. In my spare time, I make documentary films and produce all sorts of video content. My number one hobby is making chocolates.

Marcella Wiggan

Relationship Manager and Grants Specialist

Just completing my BA in sociology and disability studies from Georgetown University, I am beginning my pathway in education and community organizing. Building on a diverse background in advocacy work, I am deeply passionate about social justice. In college, I researched and wrote extensively on social movements, earning honors on a thesis examining the intersections of prison abolition and disability justice. I translated this academic work into grassroots organizing of community events, affinity spaces, mutual aid networks, and other direct advocacy work on campus.

At Bayha Group, I am leveraging my background to support youth-driven initiatives and strengthen community connections. Alongside supporting grant-writing efforts, I am working on Sending Kites, a storytelling project and podcast for formerly and currently incarcerated people. Always foregrounding a lens of equity, I am excited to work with Bayha Group and expand our ability to support our communities.

Barbi Pimentel

Media Director

I am a self-taught lifelong learner who brings visions to life in a cinematic way. At the age of 3, I discovered my creativity through the art of drawing, which led me to develop my visual skills. By the age of 11, I found a love for photography and videography, starting my learning journey by watching videos on YouTube. Today, as a Media Director, I bring my ideas to life, showcasing all my skills to enable people to live a more fun and colorful life.

Alani Bayha

Co-Designer

I am an architecture major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and also a member of the Cal Poly Unicycle Club. Throughout my life, I’ve taken classes on illustration and graphic design. I contribute my artistic skills by developing visual communications, merch, and logo designs. I grew up in project-based learning schools from elementary to college. I believe creative and collaborative education develops versatile and compassionate people.

Alexis Tenorio

Co-Designer

I am a Co-Designer specializing in Social Science and Research. In the past I have worked on gathering information from the surveys from our past summer interns to evaluate their feedback and how we might improve the WorkWonder experience. At this time, I am working with a creative team of individuals to organize an annual convention, WorkWonderCon, in which we hope to promote leadership and growth to our interns as well as give them a space to network. I want to be the change I want to see in the world, in the sense that I want to share knowledge and lift others up so that they may be able to accomplish their goals.

Aleyda Tobar

Co-Designer

I am the project coordinator for the College Admissions Academy. I am currently studying public health at the University of California, Irvine. I work alongside Joyce Yamaguchi to guide students with writing their college essays. I also work with other co-designers to host WorkWonder Con. I was exposed to new diverse perspectives that broadened my horizons. I am passionate about teaching others the skills that I have acquired over the years.

I am incredibly appreciative of being a part of a company that is instrumental in my personal growth and career goals. Bayha Group helps me build strong relationships and resilience.

Angela Dang

Co-Designer

Hello there! I am currently studying Computer Science with a specialization in Intelligent Systems at the University of California, Irvine. I will be a software engineer, specializing in machine learning and AI, creating new and robust projects to improve the efficiency of existing AI technologies. Eventually, I hope to move toward the project management side of software engineering.

With 3 years of professional work experience, I have strong communication, leadership, proactiveness, problem-solving, collaboration, and more skills in my toolbox. I’m a generalist. I gain my various skill sets by always jumping in and trying in any situation. I work well with people from all facets of life. I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and work. My “can-do” attitude and perseverance often guide me through obstacles and lead me to new perspectives in my academic and professional careers.

I’m proud to be a part of the effort to mitigate the gender gap in Tech and Gaming. I strive to be a role model and mentor for young females in and out of the field. I believe Tech is for anyone who’s willing to learn. More girls should experience programming and see its fascination. My passion for empowering Youth gives me a sense of purpose and sparks joy in my career journey.

Casandra Martinez

Co-Designer

I am grateful for all of the experience I have gained working here. In addition to my work, I am attending UC Davis as an Environmental Engineering major with hopes to become a conservation scientist. I love being active by playing sports, such as basketball and tennis, almost as much as exploring the outdoors and going on hikes. Some of my other hobbies include sketching and painting. I am proud of the work the team and I have thus far created and am excited to see what lies ahead.

Catherine Quinones

Co-Designer

I am currently a student at the University of Southern California, delving further into my interests in cognition influencing both behavior and emotions. Outside the realms of science, I am a zealous writer, constantly searching for stories that amplify unspoken narratives of Latino communities.

Christine Nguyen

Co-Designer

I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Business at UC San Diego. My passion for tech and love for connecting with people leads to my interest in working as a product or project manager. I enjoy seeing a product go through its life cycle, from the conception of the idea, to the making of the product, to the launch, and repeating the cycle through the different iterations.

At Bayha Group I work as an IT and Project Coordinator, working on many projects where I manage relational databases, perform administrative work, or even plan events. I find that my work is impactful as I get to design programs for the youth and give back to the community that gave me the confidence in myself through my first paid work experience.

I am passionate about building the communities around me because I have learned through my own experience that community is what builds character. I am who I am today because of the individuals, mentors, and communities that I am a part of who have supported me along the way, passing down their knowledge, and fostering a safe environment for my growth. Seeing how much of an impact community can have on people, I strive to create welcoming, supportive, and strong communities through my work.

Emily Brent

Co-Designer

I am a proud Co-Designer at Bayha Group. A little about me is that I am studying Engineering at Harvey Mudd College, and I aspire to work in the aerospace industry in the future. My favorite pastimes include hiking, running, binge-watching movie series, exploring beaches and coffee shops, and going on spontaneous drives and adventures. My projects at Bayha Group include working with the WorkWonder Con team and the Merchandise team, as well as any other tasks that I can work on to help. My goal is to positively impact the world through education and sustainability, specifically through the lens of engineering. I hope to utilize my skills to design programs that promote sustainable practices within the industry while also supporting the education of the youth.

Emma Manetta

Co-Designer

Throughout my experience, I have been able to dive deeper into my passion for writing as well as strengthening my ability to connect with others through my work. I am either writing poetry or singing in my free time, sometimes both! My passions have heavily influenced my decision to major in comparative literature at UC Irvine as well as compiling my first poetry collection, which will be published. Through my writing I hope to connect with those who have experienced sexual violence, inspiring them to step into their own power as well.

Enrique Llanes

Co-Designer

I love helping others out in any way I can, and for better or for worse, have become a jack of all trades. I may not be good at certain things, but it won’t stop me from learning! At Bayha Group I do things such as merchandise design, apparel design, database work, and graphic design, among other things. Although I may just be a cog in the wheel, I do want to have an impact on the world by inspiring others to foster growth within themselves to bloom, chase their dreams, and remain positive. Remember, you don’t have to be great to start following your dreams, but you’ve got to follow those dreams in order to be great.

Felipe Caceres-Fernandez

Co-Designer

I am driven by my desire to understand the world. Because of this, I am interested in practically everything and I love exploring new ideas, perspectives, and ways of life. This passion led me to start an interview platform where I can fully pursue my curiosity. Ultimately, I want to use my understanding to solve global problems and one way to do so is through robotics. I have gone after engineering most of my life and I want to combine robotics with entrepreneurship in the future.

Jazmine Gary

Co-Designer

I am currently a sophomore at Chapman University. I have been a Co-designer for a year now and it has strengthened me tremendously. At Bayha Group, I am part of the social media team where I assist with content creation, in addition to being a project coordinator where I use my abilities in many aspects of the company. Due to the skills that I have gained, the impact that I want to have on the world is to be of service to people. Im passionate about helping others and in the future, I want to reflect these abilities onto my future career goals.

Juan Giraldo Ramirez

Co-Designer

I am a competitor dreamer. Since I was little, I loved to compete and dreamed of big aspirations like being a professional soccer player. This drive led me to a lifelong learning journey searching for what successful people do differently to achieve their biggest dreams. I believe in taking ownership of our dreams by competing against ourselves to be our best without blaming external circumstances or others. My mission is to empower individuals to realize their full potential and create a life of fulfillment by being the heroes in their own stories.

Kimberly Olivares

Co-Designer

I am a Co-Designer for Bayha Group. I have various roles at the company, some of which include graphic design, event planning, and supporting our WorkWonder Summer Internship Program. I really enjoy working with youth and helping them grow professionally and personally. I am a very ambitious person who is always striving for personal growth. I am also a third-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine, where I am studying Criminology, Law, & Society, and Business Administration. I hope to pursue a career in Immigration law and make a difference in people’s lives. I hope to serve as a voice for those who do not have one and help create more justice in the world.

Margot Thompson

Co-Designer

I am a Co-Designer for Bayha Group. I am helping with the Filmmaking deep-dive and merch. I hope that I can help people achieve their dreams because I know first-hand how difficult it is to find your direction without a bit of guidance.

Megan Lee

Co-Designer

I am passionate about all things creative and ensuring that there is equity and representation within every sector of life. Currently, I am studying American Studies and English at UC Berkeley, and hope to eventually work in the entertainment industry in a creative position. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, listening to music, and taking walks with my dog, Molly. In everything I pursue, I hope to contribute to a future that is one of inclusion, hope, and limitless innovation.

Mia Alvarez

Co-Designer

I am a sociology student at California State University Long Beach. I am deeply interested in exploring both social and emotional behavior and am also a co-designer at Bayha Group. Here, I have the opportunity to help contribute to the social media team, creating diverse and unique content for our page.

Nicole Wong

Co-Designer

I am studying computer science at UC San Diego. In my free time, I like to brush up on my programming skills or develop my creative side through digital art. As a Co-Designer, I try to incorporate everyone’s thoughts into the fold so that no voice goes unheard. I’d like to work towards a future where creators have the freedom and technology to express themselves without fear of suppression or replacement.

Rigel Bayha

Co-Designer

I am a student of the 2027 class of New York University, and I have been working with the Bayha Group since 2020. I am interested in the visual arts and history, and I enjoy drawing, reading, and cooking in my free time. Being a part of the WorkWonder Summer Internship Program has given me the chance to learn from a wide range of different mentors, fellow codesigners and interns. This community thrives by giving one another the skills, tools, friendships, and experiences to take their goals to the next level, and it’s incredible to see what we can do with each step forward. I am happy to be a part of Bayha Group, and to have the chance to support young people in reaching their goals.

Ryan Diaz

Co-Designer

Though I don’t like to express it too much, I am very enthusiastic on the inside about the things I like. Soccer, video games, and programming are all things I am passionate about so whenever someone brings these topics up, I’m all for it! At Bayha Group, I do some merchandise design, database creation, event planning, and other things. My goal is to provide a safe working space where my colleagues can also dream and follow their passions.

Sharon Kang

Co-Designer

I am a Co-Designer and music producer for Bayha group. I co-teach the music production internship and I make music for Bayha group events and videos. I’m a singer, cheerleader, traveler, and café lover.

Sophia Rubio

Co-Designer

I am a filmmaking enthusiast pursuing my studies in video production. Beyond the classroom, I’m passionate about exploring new horizons and expressing my creativity. With the invaluable support of Bayha Group, I have developed my skills in scripting, editing, storytelling, and live streaming. I thrive on trying new things and embarking on diverse projects to expand my knowledge and unleash my creative potential. When I’m not immersed in my work, you can find me outdoors, indulging in activities like hiking, working, soaking in the sun, and discovering new places with friends. For me, life is all about embracing new experiences, discovering what ignites my passion, and surrounding myself with uplifting individuals.

If you qualify, check your email for a unique application link

How it all started

How it all started