Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what they do in their roles and how they prepared for their interviews.

Today, Ricardo Prada shares how his passion for helping users has led to a career building technology to positively impact the world.

What do you do at Google?

I lead the AI User Experience (AIUX) team in Google Research. Working alongside top research scientists, I study changes in society and science to create and bring product concepts to life. Outside of my core role, I also help out with our company-wide efforts to support the Latino community.

Can you tell us a bit more about your background?

I was born in Colombia and moved to California with my family when I was five. My dad was an engineer, my mom was a math teacher and I was a nerdy kid who loved science fiction and technology. I graduated from high school early and went straight to a community college, where I discovered my passion for applying psychology to technology and engineering.

How did you ultimately end up at Google?

I was a UX Design intern at Google while studying for my PhD at George Mason University in Virginia. After graduation, I worked for the aerospace company Boeing — and while I was there, I reconnected with my former team at Google. During one of our conversations, we started chatting about Gmail and I shared how I’d design Gmail labels based on my experiences in UX. We stayed in touch, and I eventually decided to return to Google.

What were you up to before your current role?

I’ve always been intentional about my career path and had a passion for working on technology that will have a positive impact on the world. I worked at X for almost eight years, where I led design for Project Chauffeur — Google’s self-driving car program, now known as Waymo — and was the first UX tester for many of X’s early-stage projects. I’m proud to have helped dozens of rockstar scientists and designers create principled and unexpected solutions to the world's biggest problems, from self-driving cars to medical devices.

What gets you most excited about your role?

In UX, my job is to understand our users — how are we going to make their lives better? For me, talking to people, listening to their problems and figuring out how to solve them has been super rewarding. I’m also part of the Latinx Leadership Council at Google, which has given me the opportunity to create even more impact. I’m proud to represent Colombia and help Google empower the Latino community, such as increasing representation in our use cases and workforce.

What inspires you to log on every day?

It’s really important to me to stay useful and not get bored. I'm coming close to 15 years at Google. Whenever I start thinking about my next move, someone tells me, "Go to this building and open this door." I'll go and think, "Whoa, I didn't know we were doing this!" Google is an incredible place to get really broad experiences, and that's what keeps me going.

What advice would you share with your past self?

Tell people what drives your decisions. At Google, we always say to focus on the user and all else will follow. I learned this early on and molded my work around it. Once you establish your values, everything will fall into place. You’ll attract people and projects that are aligned with those values.

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what they do in their roles and how they prepared for their interviews.

Today’s post is all about Adrienne (Ada) Hopkins, a Strategic Partner Manager at YouTube and a tireless advocate for Black creatives.

What do you do at YouTube?

I’m a Strategic Partner Manager on YouTube’s Top Creators team, where I focus on amplifying and accelerating the growth of creators from underrepresented backgrounds. I also co-lead efforts to promote inclusion across YouTube’s partnerships, and work to strengthen the relationship between YouTube and aspiring Black creators, artists, executives and creative communities. I’m called to use technology to ensure creatives, particularly those most marginalized, are educated about the businesses they occupy, have equitable access to opportunity, are compensated for their gifts and have safe spaces to use their authentic voices.

Can you walk us through a typical work day?

Part of the reason I love my job is because no two days are the same — my time is dictated by what my creators need and the big ideas they imagine. What is consistent is the fact that most of my days are spent in meetings collaborating with our most influential creators, building YouTube’s approach to driving equity and inclusion in our partnerships (including how we show up authentically in cultural moments), imagining ways YouTube can invest in aspiring creators and serving our employee resource group, Black@YouTube.

What were you up to before YouTube?

If you told me I’d be working in tech 10 years post college graduation, I would have laughed you out of the room! After graduating from Stanford, I started my career in investment banking. However, I realized I needed more purpose, so I took a mini “sabbatical” to join a social enterprise in Nairobi, Kenya. That set me on a path of purpose-driven work that included a stint in social impact consulting, leadership development and philanthropy advising. I wanted to go deeper in this space, so I enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania for my MBA. During this time, I co-founded a social enterprise to bring plant-based, affordable food to low-income, food desert communities.

How did you go from social impact to YouTube?

I began to feel overwhelmed and disillusioned by the magnitude of the problems I was tackling and knew there had to be another path to effect change. Music is a mighty tool for progress and has always played a central role in my life. Plus, I’ve always been struck by the challenges I witnessed artists grappling with. I thought that if I could empower creatives to manage the business side of their work while also tending to the spirit, it would help them create from healed places. That vision led me to Grammy-nominated recording artist Jidenna and other TV and film producers, directors and agencies. I found renewed purpose in this work and wanted to do it on a larger platform, which led me to YouTube.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired to open my computer everyday because at the core, I’m helping historically disenfranchised creators build intergenerational wealth. To do this work for the world’s largest platform is a responsibility and gift I do not take lightly. And with YouTube’s renewed commitment to racial justice, equity and product inclusion, there isn’t a better time. Service is my highest calling, I’m immensely grateful for each and every day.

Any advice for your past self?

Find your why — what you were uniquely put on this earth to do — and focus on just that. When you are aligned with your truest and highest self, things flow and you find the right opportunities. I would tell her difficult seasons are guaranteed but suffering is a choice so find peace within if you hope for peace in the world. Finally I’d tell her not to run from her light. We’re conditioned to play small and devalue our worthiness, but those days are over!

Anything else you’d like to share?

Yesterday I spoke at Google’s Transforming Tech event, a month-long campaign to highlight recent transformative work in tech, the Googlers behind it and their impact on the Black community. I spoke at the “Uplifting Black Voice on YouTube” panel, where we discussed our multi-year effort to center and grow Black creators and artists. You can find it at goo.gle/bhm2022 if you want to watch!

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what they do in their roles and how they prepared for their interviews.

Today’s post is all about Grant Bennett, a Human Resource Associate working remotely from North Carolina, and his passion for driving equity and inclusivity both in and outside of Google.

What do you do at Google?

I’m in Google’s Human Resources Associate program, a two-year rotational program for recent college graduates. Now in my second and final rotation, I work as an Operations and Analytics Specialist on the Retention and Progression team. I help analyze and share insights to improve Googlers’ experiences.

What’s your typical workday like?

I’ve been working remotely from North Carolina since I started at Google in 2020. My day usually begins with a morning workout and some dedicated reading time. Once I log in to work, I check emails, create my to-do list and take data science skills training. The rest of my day is spent jumping in and out of meetings with teammates and consultants, working through data and generating reports for my team.

Can you tell us a bit more about your background?

I grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. My father served in the military and my mother is an educator at our local community college. Baseball was my favorite activity as a kid. One time when I was practicing in downtown Fayetteville, a director asked me to make a cameo in a music video for the rapper J.Cole (which I eagerly accepted). I met J.Cole again years later, and we talked about the importance of branching out and having new experiences. That conversation inspired me to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). I enrolled at Morehouse College, the only all-male HBCU in the United States, on a baseball and academic scholarship. I studied psychology and got really involved in campus life. Through these experiences, I found my passion for social impact and research.

What’s your daily source of inspiration?

I’m inspired that Google continues to work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace, and I’m excited to take on projects connected to our HBCU commitments. I’m passionate about this work, because I understand the value of investing in communities that have been historically under-resourced and excluded.

Are you working on any projects outside of work?

I’m the Founder and Executive Director of The Two-Six Project, a nonprofit organization helping to develop leaders from marginalized communities. We provide funding, leadership development training and scholarships to youth athletic organizations in the Fayetteville area. Thanks in part to the generous support of individual Googlers during our holiday giving campaign, The Two-Six Project recently hosted its second annual “Christmas Giveback” event and provided food, toys and winter clothing to over 2,000 people. The success of this event led to a feature in Forbes Magazine and my participation on a panel about equity, moderated by Former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

How did you prepare for your Google interviews?

I really studied my resumé to help me tell my career story and quantify my impact. I also researched behavioral-based questions — “tell me about a time you…” — and asked close friends to conduct mock interviews.

What advice would you give to your past self?

I would remind myself that my perspective is valuable. Coming from an HBCU, you may feel a sense of imposter syndrome or self-doubt when going through the hiring process. But it’s important to remember that your unique experience helps you impact the world in your own way. I would tell myself to trust the path that got me here, and to focus on showing why I would be a good fit for the role.

Any tips for aspiring Googlers?

No matter what, be authentic. Google is a melting pot of diverse people, so know that you will add just as much value to the company as it will add to your professional growth. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, be intentional with your energy and build healthy habits around networking.

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what their roles are like and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.

Today’s post is all about Divya Gonnabathula, a Client Success Acceleration manager based in Hyderabad, India who’s always gravitated toward new experiences — including here at Google!

What do you do at Google?

I’m a Client Success Acceleration manager leading a team of digital marketing strategists. We collaborate with sales teams in the UK to help our customers succeed using Google Ads. As a manager, I also make sure I spend time with my reports in team and individual meetings — I’m passionate about leading with respect.

What’s something about you that might surprise us?

I consider myself a nomad. Over the years, I’ve lived in many different parts of India. I was born in Vijayawada, went to school in Kolkata, attended college in Bhubaneswar and worked in many cities around the country. Thanks to these experiences, I can easily connect with people from different cultural backgrounds and have a keen interest in languages — I speak six and I’m picking up a seventh!

Why did you apply to Google?

Like so many others, Google’s products and services are part of my daily routine. I can’t imagine a day without searching for things online, watching YouTube or checking emails. The opportunity to create such impact at scale inspired me to look for open roles on the Google Careers website. Once I found one that matched my career goals, I applied.

What was the journey to your current role like?

I’m a sales and marketing professional, and I’ve spent most of my career in the Indian consumer goods industry. A few years ago, I jumped to consumer tech — which led me to Google. By the time I started, I was eight months pregnant. Joining a new organization always comes with a lot of change — but the thought of going on maternity leave in just one month, combined with onboarding remotely, was pretty overwhelming. Luckily, Google made things easy. My recruiter, manager and onboarding “buddy” helped me ease into the company, creating a custom onboarding plan and encouraging me to build a support network on my team.

How did you prepare for your interviews?

I started by brainstorming questions the interviewer might ask and practicing my responses. I also reflected on my previous roles, including my strengths, management experiences and leadership philosophies. I brushed up on my knowledge of Google Ads products, too.

What’s one of your favorite things about working at Google?

My teammates! The opportunity to work with some of the greatest minds in the industry is a very big motivator, because I believe we learn so much from the people around us. In order to bring my best self to work, it’s important that I have colleagues and managers who inspire me.

Any advice for your past self?

Don’t doubt yourself. I was in a marketing role when I applied for this sales position at Google, so I was worried that I wouldn’t be a good fit. But I realized through the hiring process that having diverse skills and experiences is actually really valuable.

Any tips for aspiring Googlers?

Throughout my Google interview process, I was determined to be myself. I made sure to show my personality in all of my interviews and approached them as candid conversations with future colleagues and managers. This gave me a better understanding of what I was signing up for, and helped my interviewers see how I would really fit into the role.

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what their roles are like and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.

Today’s post is all about Chai Madan, a Google Cloud consultant in our Singapore office, who is passionate about making a difference through her work.

What do you do at Google?

As a Google Cloud consultant in Singapore, I work on infrastructure and security projects with some of Google Cloud’s customers in Southeast Asia. I love partnering with enthusiastic customers who want to change the world through their business, and seeing the impact of our work on everyday life — from booking a cab here in Singapore to ordering gifts for my parents online. Cloud computing is making this possible, which is why I’m proud to do this work.

Can you tell us more about yourself?

I’m Malayalee and was raised in Dubai until I was 17 years old, when I moved to India to enroll in university. When I’m not working, I’m most likely having fun with friends and family, fitness training, listening to podcasts, exploring restaurants or traveling around the world (at least, before the pandemic).

Why were you interested in this role?

Throughout my career, I’ve gravitated towards new and exciting areas in the tech industry. This includes the cloud computing space, which is where most businesses around the world are heading. And now, in keeping with my personal mantra of “dream big and dare to fail,” I'm starting a new role on Google Cloud’s Digital Natives team, where I'll help businesses with their digital transformation programs. I can't wait to use my skills and experience to make an impact with those customers, and I’m excited for the challenge.

What’s your daily source of inspiration?

I’m inspired by the fact that I enjoy my work. Particularly, I enjoy seeing and experiencing our impact in action. Outside of my core role, I also like participating in our fun work events. Last year, my daughter joined me for Google’s virtual Take Your Child to Work Day and won prizes for designing her own Google Doodle and making a Google-themed snack at home.

What was your application and interview process like?

I applied directly on the Google Careers website and heard back from a recruiter shortly afterward, who asked to set up a phone call. I remember thinking “It’s just a first round with the recruiter,” so I didn’t prepare much — gee, was I in for a surprise! My recruiter knew the requirements for the role and conducted a mini interview. I was a little stunned, but she ultimately helped me see that I had what it took to succeed. I had never felt so supported during an interview before. I would encourage anyone interested in exploring roles at Google to apply without hesitation!

Any advice for aspiring Googlers?

Have a strategy, but be open to tweaking it along the way. You will make mistakes, but you can learn from them. Once your interview is scheduled, practice, practice, practice. Write things down and do mock interviews. And finally, don't wait for a job description to be a 100% match. As long as you are passionate about the role and feel like you can get the hang of it, apply and make your mark!

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns and alumni about how they got to Google, what their roles are like and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.

Today’s post is all about Ernesto Gutierrez — a Partner Development Manager in our Mexico City office — and the obstacles he overcame on his journey to Google.

What’s your role at Google?

As an ISV Partner Development Manager at Google Cloud, I am responsible for opening the ISV (Independent Software Vendors) area in Mexico. Our goal is to help these software vendors use the Google Cloud Platform, and I help them do this. One of the things I really enjoy about this role is that I get to meet and promote so many passionate partners throughout the region.

What’s your typical work day like?

In the morning, I check my schedule to see what adventures await me throughout the day. I then wake up my 4-year-old twins — my motivation and the reason for everything I do. Together, we head to my home office, where they occasionally join in on my meetings throughout the day. These meetings are often with my partners to review our progress and identify challenges. Each partner has a very particular vision of the future and the strategy we need to get there — I learn a lot from them. I also meet with my manager to go over what I’ve learned and the way I think we should move forward. Last, I devote time to closing out pending issues and planning my next day. I spend the rest of my evening in my most important role — having fun and laughing with my twins.

What was your path to this role like?

Since I was a student, I dreamed of working at Google. However, I feared I lacked the professional experience needed to apply, so I didn't until I received an email from a Google recruiter. During my interviews I focused on just being myself — and I got an offer.

When I joined Google, I became Partner Manager for large agencies in Latin America and was responsible for promoting the use of data driven marketing. I was constantly learning new things. Around this time, I realized that the future is cloud computing, so I decided to make the change to my current role. While I didn’t have much experience with Google Cloud before, I am grateful for the ample opportunity I was given to grow into this role.

What resources did you use to prepare for your interview?

I prepared a lot for my interviews. I started by researching and reading everything I could find about Google’s Marketing Platform until I understood very well where the company was going. I also studied other companies in this space, which gave me a lot of clarity around how the same industry objective can be approached from different perspectives. Once I learned all of this information, I organized my thoughts around my own career. I reread the success stories from what I developed or participated in and I practiced articulating how my focus on innovation could add to Google's objectives. I also spoke with people who worked in companies similar to Google to measure my knowledge and test answers to possible complex questions. And finally, the support and trust of my family before and after each interview helped me get here.

Any tips for aspiring Googlers?

Be your true self, and don’t be afraid to apply because you feel inadequate. Google looks for people capable of learning and problem-solving over people who have complete technical mastery. After you apply, be sure to prepare for the interview so you are able to confidently speak about yourself and your experiences.

What’s something people might not know about you?

I was born with a cleft lip, a condition that required seven surgeries, years of speech therapy and counseling to cope with the bullying. This condition made it difficult for me to speak publicly and socialize. But my mother challenged me to have big aspirations — she pushed me to dream big regardless.

Today I’m an Ambassador of the Smile Train Foundation, an organization helping children born with cleft palates and lips. I’m committed to inspiring these children that they can achieve any dream they set their minds to. I am extremely grateful for everything I have.

What advice do you have for your past self?

Never be afraid to express when I don’t know, and never try to hide my cleft lip and palate. Acknowledge that if I don’t know how to do something today, I can learn it tomorrow.