Tag Archives: Googlers

How Unni’s passion for social impact led him to Google

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

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, today’s post features Unni Nair, a senior research strategist on Google’s Responsible Innovation team. As a second-generation Indian American, Unni’s background has helped shape his passion for sustainability and responsible artificial intelligence (AI).

What’s your role at Google?

I’m a senior research strategist on the Responsible Innovation team. In this role, I use Google’s AI Principles to help our teams build products that are both helpful and socially responsible. More specifically, I’m passionate about how we can proactively incorporate responsible AI into emerging technologies to drive sustainable development priorities. For example, I’ve been working with the Google Earth Engine team to align their work with our AI Principles, which we spoke about in a workshop at Google I/O. I helped the team develop a data set — used by governments, companies and researchers — to efficiently display information related to conservation, biodiversity, agriculture and forest management efforts.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but I lived in many different parts of the U.S., and often traveled internationally, throughout my childhood. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to live in and learn from so many different communities at such a young age. As a child of Indian immigrants, I was exposed to diverse ways of life and various forms of inequity. These experiences gave me a unique perspective on the world, helping me see the potential in every human being and nurturing a sense of duty to uplift others. It took dabbling in fields from social work to philosophy, and making lots of mistakes along the way, to figure out how to turn this passion into impact.

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, how else has your background influenced your work?

I’m grateful for having roots in the 5,000+ year-old Indian civilization and am constantly reminded of its value working in Silicon Valley. One notable example that’s influenced my professional life is the concept of Ahimsa — the ethical principle of not causing harm to other living things. While its historical definition has been more spiritually related, in modern day practice I’ve found it’s nurtured a respect for nature and a passion for sustainability and human rights in business. This contemporary interpretation of Ahimsa also encourages me to consider the far-reaching impacts — for better or for worse — that technology can have on people, the environment or society at large.

How did you ultimately end up at Google?

I was itching to work on more technology-driven solutions to global sustainability issues. I started to see that many of the world’s challenges are in part driven by macro forces like rapid globalization and technology growth. However, the sustainability field and development sector were slow to adapt from analog problem solving. I wanted to explore unconventional solutions like artificial intelligence, which is why I taught myself the Python programming language and learned more about AI. I started hearing about Google’s AI-first approach to help users and society, with an emphasis on the need to develop that technology responsibly. So I applied to the Responsible Innovation team for the chance to create helpful technology with social benefit in mind.

Any advice for aspiring Googlers?

Google is one of those rare places where the impact you’re making isn’t just on a narrow band of users — it’s on society at large. So, take the time to reflect on what sort of impact you want to make in the world. Knowing your answer to that question will allow you to weave your past experiences into a cohesive narrative during the interview process. And more importantly, it will also serve as your personal guide when making important decisions throughout your career.

How Google helped me live the dream at the Winter Games

For me, Google has become more than a great place to work. It’s become a place where I can continue to live out my passions — more specifically, my dream to get involved at the recent Beijing Winter Games.

In 2018, I got to work with a broadcasting company at the PyeongChang 2018 Games. But when I accepted an offer from Google Korea and moved from the U.S. to Seoul, I thought that dream was over. But I was wrong. Earlier this year I received the opportunity from the same company I worked for in 2018, to be part of the Beijing Winter Games.

It takes a team to dream

I was ecstatic and over the moon when they extended the opportunity for me to join their logistics team. But I didn’t know if it would be possible to say yes, given my current role and responsibilities at Google. After much thought and consideration (and a lot of encouragement from close peers), I presented the opportunity to my manager, who expressed unconditional support without hesitation. And before I even reached out for help, my colleagues were quick to offer their support to cover my duties while I was out.

I met many people in Beijing who wondered how I could get so much time off from work to be there. I never missed the chance to tell them about my amazing support team at Google that helped make it happen.

One team, one dream

Managing the logistics for the Winter Games during a pandemic is no easy feat. Every day was chaotic — change was a true constant — and there was certainly no shortage of rules and restrictions related to health and safety.

At the Games, I learned about the power of unity, and the amazing outcome that results when a team truly operates as one. The logistics team I worked with consisted of people from all over the world, in different life stages and with varying backgrounds, and every person had a different reason or motivation for being there. Moreover, our team had to work cross-functionally around the clock with many other teams.

If we all operated according to our own needs and desires, it would have been a logistical disaster and an emotional mess. But we instead put our team’s goals first in everything that we did. Despite all of the complexities, especially during the pandemic, and on top of any personal differences, we accomplished our goal as one team.

Quite frequently throughout the Beijing Winter Games everyone would say, “one team, one dream.” It really is incredible, the things that can happen when you put not yourself but the team first.

Google took a big chance by letting me take this opportunity to go to Beijing, and my experience there was something I will never forget. I’ve come back refreshed and rejuvenated, and with a whole new level of gratitude (and skill sets) and a more defined sense of purpose for the work I do here. Sure, the Beijing Winter Games are over, but I can still say that I am living the dream.

Why this Pixel engineer chose Google Taiwan

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns, apprentices 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 Gordon Kuo, a Taiwan-based engineer on the Pixel Mobile Wireless Team. He shares what makes Google Taiwan a unique place for engineers to work and advice for anyone interested in applying to Google.

What’s your role at Google?

I’m an engineering lead on the Pixel Mobile Wireless team. Our goal is to help connect people across the world with Google Pixel phones. We solve hardware and software challenges and work with different teams to improve functionality and performance. We talk about everything from design and bug fixes to performance optimization, which makes every day feel different. I love that no matter what we’re working on, it’s always interesting and helpful.

How did you land in your current role?

After completing my PhD in Computer Networking, I started my career at a Taiwanese integrated circuit (IC) design company. After that, I worked on modems at a technology company in China for several years. During that time, I had a few friends and former colleagues at Google, and when we spoke about their jobs and the company culture, everyone shared really positive experiences. Getting the chance to build a career around work that I enjoy was one of the biggest draws. So I applied and interviewed — and now, two years in, I’m leading a team.

What was your application and interview experience like?

Above everything, my recruiter was really supportive, which helped make the process feel much more straightforward. I actually applied and interviewed for another engineering position at first, but I didn’t end up getting it. I was disappointed at the time, but it wasn’t long before my recruiter shared another position that was even more aligned with my skills and career goals. Finding the right fit doesn’t always happen right away, and I appreciated that my recruiter was so committed to setting me up for success.

What have you learned about leadership since joining Google?

Google is a place where people truly listen and communicate openly. Because of this, I’ve learned to never assume anything. Instead, I put in the time to better understand my team and others we work with. It’s important to stay on the same page when you’re leading a team or project, and that requires respect and regular communication.

What makes Google Taiwan such a special place to work?

Taiwan is home to world-class integrated circuit design companies and is known for its thriving manufacturing industry. There’s a lot of exciting product development work happening here too, and it’s one of our largest sites in Asia. In fact, Taiwan is our largest hardware hub outside of the U.S. — with an engineering team that is uniquely skilled in both software and hardware integration. We collaborate with other functions and teams worldwide, and have opportunities to lead important projects from start to finish. From working on widely used products to building and leading a team, I’ve had growth opportunities here that I couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. I’m continually inspired by the work we do.

On a more personal note, Taiwan is a relatively small island, easy to get around and nestled between the beach and the mountains — it’s a pretty nice place to work!

You recently participated in a live-streamed event about career opportunities at Google Taiwan. Can you tell us more about that?

The event was aimed at helping potential candidates learn more about technical career opportunities at Google Taiwan and what it’s like to work with us. I really enjoyed the conversation! If anyone is interested, they can watch the recording.

What advice do you have for aspiring Googlers?

Work closely with your recruiter! My recruiter guided me through Google’s interview process, shared tips about how to answer leadership-based questions and gave me insight into what the technical interview would be like. I hadn’t experienced this kind of interview support and care before, and it went a long way in helping me prepare. If you’re applying for an engineering role, I recommend doing programming exercises to practice your coding abilities. I also revisited my textbooks to review material, brushed up on my skills and searched for tips online from previous interviewees. Going through an interview process can be nerve-wracking, but the best thing you can do is just go for it.

Fostering inclusive spaces through Disability Alliance

I was 2 when my parents discovered I had polio, which impacted my ability to stand and walk. Growing up in China, I still remember the challenges I faced when I wanted to go to college. Back then, all potential candidates had to pass a physical test, which posed a challenge. Knowing this, my parents, my teachers and even the local government advocated for me. Thanks to their support, I was granted an exception to attend college, where I graduated with a degree in computer science.

When I joined Google in Shanghai in 2011, the real estate team was working to open a new office space. I was part of the planning process to ensure we designed an inclusive workspace, especially for individuals with physical disabilities. When I discovered the desks at the office were too high, or if the meeting space was not designed wide enough for someone in a wheelchair to enter, I worked with the team to solve the problem. I also suggested building wheelchair-accessible restrooms when they were not available on the floor I was working on.

These experiences showed me everyone has the voice to drive change — including myself. I decided to co-lead our Disability Alliance (DA), one of Google’s resource groups in China, with other passionate Googlers. We wanted to create a space to help address challenges Googlers with disabilities face, and build allyship among the wider Google community. We also wanted to create a platform to increase awareness of different forms of disabilities. For example, some people don't think about invisible disabilities, but it's equally important to build awareness of disabilities you might not immediately see. I'm incredibly excited to see how we continue to grow our community in the coming year across China.

Having a disability doesn't limit me, and I've been fortunate to be surrounded by people who value my abilities instead of my disability. Over the years, I've achieved my goals and dreams from leading an incredible team of 50 at Google, taking on physical activities such as skiing and marathons, and driving change for the broader disability community.

Male Googler in a wheelchair posing for the camera with a thumbs up. He is at a running marathon and is wearing his running attire with a race bib. Behind him are three colorful mascots from the marathon organizer.

I was ready to compete in a marathon in China back in 2021

As we commemorate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, I also spoke to Sakiko, a fellow member of our Disability Alliance chapter in Japan, to learn more about what drives her, and why it’s important that we provide equal opportunities for all.

The image shows three Google employees sitting in a conference room facing an audience. One Googler is sharing her personal experiences as a person with a disability in Japan.

Sharing my personal experience at an external event. I’m seated at the extreme right in a gray sweater.

Tell us more about yourself. What keeps you going at Google after more than nine years?

I was born with spina bifida, and I move around with crutches. I’ve always wanted to work in sales, but when I was job hunting, I was turned down by several companies because of my disabilities. I knew I had the ability and knowledge to sell, and I enjoy interacting with people, so I didn’t give up. When I interviewed at Google, the interviewers focused on my potential and abilities, and not my disability. That surprised me, because I’ve never experienced that. I recalled asking one of my interviewers if my disability would impede this opportunity, but he said, “if you have the ability to sell, it shouldn’t stop you from doing that.” It was amazing and encouraging to hear that. I currently work in the Google Ads team and have experienced various roles. When my clients shared how grateful and thankful they are for my dedicated support, that really keeps me going.

What is a memorable experience you’ve had with the Disability Alliance?

I once hosted a workshop where we invited students with disabilities to have hands-on experience coding their own web application, giving them the confidence to pursue their interest in engineering. At the end of the event, several parents shared that they didn’t know their children had the potential to code and create applications all by themselves. I still remember this day vividly, because it demonstrates everyone has the chance to shine when they are given the right opportunities to learn and develop new skills.

Office spotlight: Chicago

“It almost feels like the first day back at school,” says Rob Biederman as he waits in line for breakfast at the Fulton Market cafe. It’s April 4, and Chicago Googlers like Rob have just started their first official week of hybrid work.

Opened in 2000 with only two employees, the Google Chicago office in the West Loop neighborhood has now grown to more than 1,800 employees across two buildings. In 2021 alone, more than 500 “Nooglers” — what we call new employees — joined the campus.

Chicago Googlers work on all kinds of products and teams. You’ll meet engineers designing Pixel devices and working on Search, Ads and Cloud projects; salespeople helping businesses across North America grow; and folks working across finance, human resources and product management. “It's amazing to now see all the different organizations and product areas represented in Chicago,” says Britton Picciolini, who was the office’s tenth hire in 2002. “It feels like such a great cross section of what we do at Google.”

  • Three Googlers smiling outside at a table. One of the Googlers is holding a phone and the other has a laptop that’s open. The Chicago skyline is in the background.

    Googlers Lauren Guzman, Daniel Muskovitz and Sonya Garg work from the rooftop of Google Chicago’s Fulton Market building.

  • Amy holds a stuffed toy and a digital camera, taking a photo of a brown dog in a red turtleneck sweater. Behind them is a white chair and wooden office desk with a monitor, mouse and keyboard.

    That’s me, Amy (and my pups Hudson and Finn) celebrating #NationalLoveYourPetDay! As a marketing manager for our Employment Brand team, you’ll find me leading projects for our social media channels — like taking photos of the Chicago campus and Googlers working remotely.

  • A large hallway room with white tables, a kitchen space and a black and white picture of a lion statue.

    The Chicago office’s dedicated event space where Googlers can host meetings and events. It includes a 400-person theater and an outdoor mezzanine space.

Every Google office has its own distinctive decor, and the Chicago campus is no exception. As you explore the Fulton Market building, you’ll see painted murals from local graffiti artists on nearly every floor — including a special installation replicating a Chicago viaduct covered in street art. Meanwhile, in the Carpenter building, you’ll find (and smell) pizzas fresh out of the oven, an outdoor terrace with a firepit and a retro game room with a secret entrance — you’ll have to visit to find out where.

  • A hallway with gray, concrete walls covered in art installations. On the left wall are two, light gray hanging chairs with white basket weaves. To the right of the chairs is a tall, green painted monster holding a telescope next to a yellow sun. On the right side is a window and double doors leading to the escalators.

    The 11th floor art installation is one of 16 murals across the Fulton Market building, all created by local street artists.

  • A large staircase leads to three separate floors. A person on the bottom floor looks up towards a kitchen on the next floor, where three Googlers are sitting at tables. A person on the top floor looks down from the balcony.

    The six-story atrium in our Fulton Market building serves as the heart of the office and a way for Googlers to interact between floors.

  • Three people sit at a table and smile at the camera. From left to right is Daniel, George and Yaseline. Daniel is wearing a gray cardigan with blue jeans, George is wearing a blue and yellow striped shirt and blue jeans, and Yaseline is wearing a light brown cardigan and a black tank top.

    Googlers Daniel Johnson, George Martin and Yaseline Muñoz have breakfast in the Fulton Market cafe during the first week of hybrid work.

  • A large archway with four gray chairs in the center, where two Googlers are sitting. Another Googler is sitting at a chair next to large windows overlooking the city. Another employee walks by three arched windows looking out to a hallway.

    The Carpenter building includes a coffee bar with great views — plus a golf simulator, game rooms and several outdoor terraces.

  • A rooftop overlooking the Chicago skyline with a silver train car. Next to the train are silver and green chairs and two silver tables. Around the rooftop is a balcony wall and a set of stairs that lead down to a second platform.

    The Fulton Market rooftop features an ‘L’ train car with tables and chairs for Googlers to work on warmer days.

Whether at the office or at home, Googlers often connect through clubs, cultural celebrations and employee resource groups (ERGs). Google Chicago has more than 16 ERGs focused on personal and professional development. For example, the “Being a Mom @ Google Chicago” ERG launched Mom2Mom mentorship, a program that pairs experienced moms with new moms to help them ease back into work after maternity leave. Meanwhile, to celebrate Chicago’s vibrant music culture, the Chicago Culture Club runs an annual office-wide concert — including a virtual version in 2020 — featuring local musicians and DJs, plus great eats from local food vendors.

Chicago Googlers are also passionate about giving back to their communities. In 2018, we launched the Chicago Contribution Awards, an annual award recognizing outstanding contributions by Chicago Googlers to our office and the local community. In 2021, for Black History Month, the Chicago chapter of the Black Googler Network ERG spotlighted Black small business owners through a virtual storefront experience. And in 2022, our office partnered with Google.org to award a $1M grant to support job training on Chicago’s South and West sides.

  • Six Googlers smiling at the camera outside on the street. All of them are wearing exercise gear, with some wearing a running number attached to their shirts. Three of the Googlers are wearing red and gold medals with red ribbons.

    The Asian Googler Network, an ERG focused on supporting the Asian community at Google, hosted a series of in-person and virtual events in May 2021 to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In partnership with Google.org, the Chicago chapter donated $53,000 to local Asian-focused charities.

  • A DJ booth with two hands adjusting multiple buttons and knobs.

    Googler Ross Bessinger shows off his DJ skills in a virtual office-wide musical event.

  • Three large cardboard boxes lined up next to each other, each filled with backpacks of different sizes and colors. On the white wall behind them is the Google logo with four red stars underneath symbolizing the Chicago flag.

    For the last 11 years, Chicago Googlers have partnered with local organizations to donate school supplies and winter holiday gifts, and raise funds towards essential household supplies for children and families in need across the city.

This is just a peek into the incredible culture at Google Chicago. I moved here in 2016 and can’t even count the number of people who welcomed me with open arms and encouraged me to get involved. Now, I participate in all types of ERG-led events and even write the office’s monthly newsletter to help others embrace all the possibilities that Google Chicago — and the community around us — has to offer.

Interested in learning about job opportunities at Google Chicago? Explore open roles on our Careers site.

How one summer program led Randy to work at Google

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns, apprentices 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 Randy Raymond, a software engineer on the Google Docs team. Randy’s path to Google started with our Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) — which is now accepting applications until April 29, 2022 at 11:59PM ET.

What’s your role at Google?

I’m a software engineer on the Google Docs team, where I spend most of my days improving the ability to convert different document formats into Google Docs (and vice versa). I also build new Google Doc features — I just finished up a project to “pin” the top row of a table so it repeats on every page. I've used this feature in my own documents and it's really rewarding to know I had a hand in developing it. Outside of that, I write design docs, lines of code and tests to make sure that my code is working properly.

How did you first get interested in software engineering?

Growing up, my brother and I discovered a computer program that let us create our own video games. My brother managed the plot, and I was in charge of programming. It fascinated me that lines of text could bring a game to life. In my 11-year old mind, it was nothing short of magic. Before I knew it, I was picking up books at my local library to learn different programming languages. I started participating in online communities, publishing tutorials on how to code and bringing people together to build interesting games. It wasn’t just the technology that inspired me, but the people I shared it with.

What was your path to your current role?

In my senior year of high school, I applied and got accepted to Google’s CSSI program. During those three weeks, we got a deep dive into introductory web development, learned the programming language Python, worked on our resumes and teamed up to create our own websites. CSSI gave me confidence, a professional network and lifelong friends.

Afterwards, I applied for the Google STEP (Student Training in Engineering Program) internship in Mountain View, California for first and second-year undergraduate students. As my first professional gig, that experience was definitely challenging — but thankfully, I had supportive teammates who helped me become a much better engineer. After a few other Google internships in Boston and Montreal, I started working for the Google Docs team full time.

Randy in a cap and gown at his college graduation.

What was it like interviewing for a full-time position at Google as an intern?

My only official interview was for the STEP internship. After that, my "interviews" were how well I did on each of my internship projects. I’ll never forget towards the end of my first internship, I accidentally deleted my entire project! Thankfully, I had backed it up so I could still submit it in time.

Are you still involved in CSSI?

Actually, it’s sort of a full-circle story. During the pandemic, I relocated to Miami and started working with the CSSI team to try and start a new CSSI cohort there. And we just found out it’s officially happening! South Florida is my home and I've always dreamed of a chance to bring more tech opportunities there. CSSI has the potential to change the lives of aspiring computer science students in the area — it certainly changed mine.

Any tips for future Googlers?

It's OK to ask questions. Googlers are more than willing to help and there is no such thing as a bad question. And if you don’t feel comfortable speaking up in a meeting at first, jot down a list of your questions and sit down with a trusted teammate to go through them.

Why this engineer made a career move after 25 years

Welcome to the latest edition of “My Path to Google,” where we talk to Googlers, interns, apprentices 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 Manav Mediratta, an Engineering Manager based in Bengaluru, India who made a career change after 25 years to follow his passion for AI.

How would you describe your role?

I’m an Engineering Manager on Google’s Silicon team, which develops software for Google’s hardware products — like Google Tensor, the chip used in Pixel phones. We keep Google's research in AI and machine learning at the center of our work.

What does your typical workday look like?

My days vary, but I usually focus on growing our relatively new teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. I also work with teammates in Taiwan to make sure we’re on track to deliver new devices for our customers. Because we work in such a fast-moving industry, we need to stay on our toes every day.

Manav sitting at his desk at home with an orange curtain behind him.

Manav working from his home office

What made you decide to apply to Google?

I worked in the same company for more than 25 years before I joined Google, so this is only my second job. Throughout my career, I discovered my passion for developing products with both hardware and software components. When I saw that Google had started the Silicon team, I was drawn by the potential to focus on this passion and create impact through machine learning and AI. Plus, I knew it would be a fun ride and a great opportunity to solve interesting problems.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

A lot of hard work goes into these small devices in our hands, and I’m always inspired by the difference it makes in people’s lives. Think about translation apps that bridge language gaps or camera features that capture memories — these are important, real-life moments powered by technology built by our team.

Manav stands on top of a mountain while on a hike with his wife and son.

Manav and his family

What was your application and interview experience like?

It was very smooth and accommodating! At first, the interviews seemed extensive and intimidating. But I learned you can work with your recruiter to organize an interview schedule that suits you. Google offers a lot of flexibility like this to help candidates feel comfortable. A couple of my interviews will always stick with me. They never felt like tests — they were conversations with passionate practitioners who were honest about what they did and just wanted to see how I’d fit in.

Any particular methods you used to prepare for your interviews?

I wrote down the top 10 problems I’ve solved throughout my career, technical or otherwise. This is very helpful to have on hand for any behavioral or situation-based questions.

What advice do you have for aspiring Googlers?

Everyone feels nervous before an interview — I definitely did! But I quickly realized that Google has designed the interview process to bring out the best in you. So be an active participant and co-create the interview experience you want. And don’t be afraid to take the plunge!

What Breaking the Bias means to these Googlers in Africa

Breaking the Bias was the theme for International Women’s Day 2022. It was a call to create a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive – where difference is valued and celebrated.

In Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) this year we celebrated the theme of breaking the bias by highlighting the work of Africa’s women entrepreneurs through a campaign called #LookMeUp, highlighting Africa’s women entrepreneurs on the continent with programming designed to break the biases around their leadership in building Africa’s economy.

Meanwhile, inside Google, we ran a #LookMeUp campaign for female Googlers to share their career stories and the biases we should look them up for breaking. Some powerful themes emerged:

Understand your own biases

Felicia Otolorin, Industry Manager in Nigeria points out that to her breaking the bias is “first being aware of what our own internal biases are, understanding how we can best navigate them to make the world around us and our approach to the world around us better”. It’s about creating the space to help yourself and others understand your own biases — how they shape us and how we defy them.

Lead with authenticity

Googlers talked about how owning your excellence and letting purpose drive you is what allows them to challenge stereotypes in meaningful ways. Dorothy Ooko, Head of Communications and Public Affairs in Africa, says, “to me breaking the bias means living my life with excellence so naysayers are proved wrong and giving others the space to do so”. Country Director of Kenya, Agnes Gathaiya, describes being driven by the purpose of ensuring more women have a seat at the table — every day, everywhere— to ensure the sustainability of female leadership.

Have courage

Zelda Tintinger, ​​Channel Territory Manager, in the Cloud team in South Africa speaks of having to break the bias that women should be seen and not heard to own her seat at the table, initially as the first female engineer at Microsoft and now one of the first in the Sub Saharan African Region at Google. It’s about owning your voice, in careers and work spaces where women are often underrepresented. For Pren-Tsilya Boa-Guehe, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, it’s about not letting your fears or your challenges get in the way of you trying to reach for your dreams. Finally Oluwatamilore Oni, Program Associate, Google.org states that to her breaking the bias is going beyond her comfort zone and to reach for the opportunities she’s interested in and things she would like to explore.

Create space for others

Lastly, create space for others. For Juliet Ehimuan, Country Director of Nigeria, breaking the bias means “Going beyond perceived limits, giving everyone the freedom to bring all of who they are to the table in service of their greater self”. Additionally, Head of Brand and Reputation for the region, Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, describes the importance of being open to learning and listening deeply to understand other viewpoints, perspectives and lived experiences knowing that people see things from different sides of the prism as well as opening yourself to new opportunities and adventures to improve your knowledge.

It is only when we have honest conversations that we can have corrective conversations. Nozipho Tshabalala
CEO of the Conversation Strategist

What can others do in their organizations or lives to break the bias?

  1. Don’t make assumptions about people, based on their gender, race, age, background or how they speak. You do not know someone’s story, the odds they’ve defied or the extent of their experience and excellence unless you make the room to get to know them.
  2. Encourage women to take up space. When you are in rooms with women and in rooms without them, ask yourself what voice is not being heard, and why? And then create the room to ask and more importantly to listen.
  3. For the women trailblazing and forging spaces in unknown territories, do not forget to lift as you rise. Ensuring sustainable female leadership and leadership pipeline is important, so that in generations to come women are not fighting the same fight and we are creating environments where we can all thrive.
  4. If you see something, say something. It is important that we hold ourselves accountable for creating the culture we want to have, calling out discriminatory and biasd behaviour when we see it as well as own when we ourselves make mistakes. This should be done in a manner that cultivates growth and encourages us all to be better and reminds us that we are the custodians of our organization’s culture.

To find out more about the campaign head to #LookMeUp, and watch the full video below.

Full video of women at Google talking about their experience
10:25

Empathy and trust: How 3 women influence Google products

This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating Googlers who contribute to products and features that people rely on each day. Last week we heard from women working on our crisis hotlines and Street View. Today, we hear from three more Googlers about how they build products — like Maps, Google Assistant and Google News — with safety, empathy and collaboration in mind.

Making the internet safer for women

What do you love most about building at Google?

Few companies in the world have the level of impact that Google does. When I tell people I work on Google Maps, they tell me how much they love Maps and how it’s a part of their everyday life. That’s the best part of doing this job!

What is the best career advice another woman has given you?

I had a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty about returning to work after my daughter was born. During that period, my mother encouraged me to think beyond the initial anxiety and adapt to my new way of life as a working mother. Her simple advice was to take a long-term view of my life and happiness and make decisions based on that.

Why is it important to moderate things like reviews on Google Maps?

Women-owned businesses often face threats of trolling, shaming and digital sabotage through fake reviews and other malicious practices. To make Google Maps universally safe and trusted — especially for women — we must constantly invest in fighting abuse and misinformation.

Bringing empathy to technology

What’s early career advice you’ve gotten from another woman?

When women don’t meet every qualification on a job description, they often assume they’re not qualified for the job. A friend gave me the advice to believe in my capabilities and tell the story of what made me qualified in the moment, instead of assuming that I needed to do more or be more. It’s a mindset shift that’s allowed me to stretch and grow in unexpected ways.

When you create experiences with this in mind, it keeps you focused on being of service to people as opposed to being of service to goals or ideas.

Your work focuses on making the Assistant more empathetic. Why is empathy an important part of the user experience?

Empathy is an important part of the human experience. We need each other, and we all want to feel understood and cared for. When you create experiences with this in mind, it keeps you focused on being of service to people as opposed to being of service to goals or ideas.

Other than Google Assistant, what’s your favorite Google product or feature?

I’d be lost without Maps.

Collaborating across perspectives

How have your experiences impacted the way you build products?

Before joining Google, I’ve felt at times that my voice wasn’t heard; this led me to approach my current role with empathy and curiosity. I have a strong desire to deeply understand and incorporate a wide array of perspectives — from considering the needs of people using Google News to collaborating with others internally to create different ways to deliver essential news through the app. I believe this helps us build more inclusive experiences for people with a wide range of circumstances and needs.

Making sure everyone has equal access to this essential information empowers everyone, including women, and fuels a well-functioning society.

Why is it important for women to access quality news and information?

Everyone needs to be able to access reliable and authoritative news to make informed decisions, engage in their local community, have conversations with friends and family, and stay safe. Making sure everyone has equal access to this essential information empowers everyone, including women, and fuels a well-functioning society.

Empathy and trust: How 3 women influence Google products

This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating Googlers who contribute to products and features that people rely on each day. Last week we heard from women working on our crisis hotlines and Street View. Today, we hear from three more Googlers about how they build products — like Maps, Google Assistant and Google News — with safety, empathy and collaboration in mind.

Making the internet safer for women

What do you love most about building at Google?

Few companies in the world have the level of impact that Google does. When I tell people I work on Google Maps, they tell me how much they love Maps and how it’s a part of their everyday life. That’s the best part of doing this job!

What is the best career advice another woman has given you?

I had a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty about returning to work after my daughter was born. During that period, my mother encouraged me to think beyond the initial anxiety and adapt to my new way of life as a working mother. Her simple advice was to take a long-term view of my life and happiness and make decisions based on that.

Why is it important to moderate things like reviews on Google Maps?

Women-owned businesses often face threats of trolling, shaming and digital sabotage through fake reviews and other malicious practices. To make Google Maps universally safe and trusted — especially for women — we must constantly invest in fighting abuse and misinformation.

Bringing empathy to technology

What’s early career advice you’ve gotten from another woman?

When women don’t meet every qualification on a job description, they often assume they’re not qualified for the job. A friend gave me the advice to believe in my capabilities and tell the story of what made me qualified in the moment, instead of assuming that I needed to do more or be more. It’s a mindset shift that’s allowed me to stretch and grow in unexpected ways.

When you create experiences with this in mind, it keeps you focused on being of service to people as opposed to being of service to goals or ideas.

Your work focuses on making the Assistant more empathetic. Why is empathy an important part of the user experience?

Empathy is an important part of the human experience. We need each other, and we all want to feel understood and cared for. When you create experiences with this in mind, it keeps you focused on being of service to people as opposed to being of service to goals or ideas.

Other than Google Assistant, what’s your favorite Google product or feature?

I’d be lost without Maps.

Collaborating across perspectives

How have your experiences impacted the way you build products?

Before joining Google, I’ve felt at times that my voice wasn’t heard; this led me to approach my current role with empathy and curiosity. I have a strong desire to deeply understand and incorporate a wide array of perspectives — from considering the needs of people using Google News to collaborating with others internally to create different ways to deliver essential news through the app. I believe this helps us build more inclusive experiences for people with a wide range of circumstances and needs.

Making sure everyone has equal access to this essential information empowers everyone, including women, and fuels a well-functioning society.

Why is it important for women to access quality news and information?

Everyone needs to be able to access reliable and authoritative news to make informed decisions, engage in their local community, have conversations with friends and family, and stay safe. Making sure everyone has equal access to this essential information empowers everyone, including women, and fuels a well-functioning society.