Tag Archives: Googlers

This engineer creates community for Indigenous Googlers

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 Tamina Pitt, a Google Maps Software Engineer from our Sydney office and a founding member of the Google Aboriginal and Indigenous Network chapter in Australia.

What do you work on at Google?

As a Software Engineer for the Directions Platform team, I build the directions experience on Google Maps. I code for anyone who needs help finding their way. I love working on a feature that benefits so many people every day.

I'm a Wuthathi and Meriam woman, meaning that my ancestors are Aboriginal from Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands in Australia. I was born and grew up on the ancestral lands of the Gadigal and Bidjigal people in Sydney, where I still live today. When I came to Google, I wanted to create a community for Indigenous Googlers like me to come together and build a sense of belonging at work. So I co-founded the Australian chapter of the Google Aboriginal and Indigenous Network (GAIN), an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for Googlers from, or passionate about, Indigenous and Aboriginal people. I also contribute to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), Google's commitment to empower and create equitable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As part of this work, I run events featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speakers to help Googlers learn more about Indigenous culture.

Why did you apply to Google?

I first applied to Google when I was a student at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. I was in my second year and still unsure about my future in engineering. I hadn't been applying for internships because I didn't think I was good enough, but my parents pushed me to apply for one at Google — and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.

Tamina stands outdoors in front of a wall of greenery, tossing a graduation cap. She is wearing a red outfit with a shrimp pattern, a black graduation robe, a red, yellow and black sash (the colors of the Aboriginal flag) and a blue and green sash (the colors of the Torres Strait Islander flag).

Tamina at her University of New South Wales graduation, wearing sashes representing the colors of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Describe your path to your current role.

I studied electrical engineering for a year or so, where I took a computing course that I really enjoyed. I eventually transferred to study computer engineering and discovered that I was interested in the software side.

Interning at Google helped me officially try software engineering out for size. My confidence grew once I got some hands-on experience — and now, I’ve been working at Google for two years as a full-time software engineer.

What inspires you to come in (or log in) every day?

I'm inspired by my community of Indigenous people in and outside of work, including the Indigenous activists and Elders who fought and continue to fight for our rights to be recognized. I'm also inspired by the growing interest I see in young Indigenous people and women to work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It makes me really excited for the future.

I really enjoy working on Google Maps, too. Every time I meet a new person, they share their love of Google Maps or send me feature requests. I like knowing that the product I work on is useful for so many people and that I’m part of the team that can make it even better.

Tamina stands in front of a wall of leaves. She is wearing a red shirt with a black-and-white floral skirt. She holds cardboard signs of the Google Maps red logo and the Google “I’m Feeling Lucky” search button. She also wears a Noogler hat — a green, blue, red and yellow hat with a propeller.

Tamina at her Google orientation in Singapore.

What was your interview experience like?

I was very nervous for each interview, because I felt like I didn’t have enough coding experience. I was surprised by how friendly the interviewers were and even found myself having fun. As a new graduate, I was relieved that they didn’t expect me to perform at the same level as someone who's been working for many years.

What advice would you share with your past self?

When I was a student, I didn’t feel like I belonged — I was one of few women and the only Indigenous person in my class. Today, I know that so many people feel the same way. I would tell my past self to stay strong in my identity and feel proud of my achievements. I feel so supported by my community and I want to help other women, Indigenous people and anyone historically underrepresented in tech see their potential in this field.

Highlights from Women’s Online Safety Week 2021

In 2020, Google community manager Merve Isler, who lives in Turkey and leads Women Techmakers efforts in Turkey, Central Asia and the Caucasus region, organized the first-ever Women’s Online Safety Hackathon.

“It was the first online safety digital hackathon in the world and was a pilot for everyone,” she says. “We tried it, and it worked well, so we planned a second one, a new version that would be even more inclusive.”

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Women aren’t safe online. Merve Isler wants to change that

Googler Merve Isler brings online safety hackathon to Turkey.

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Isler and Women Techmakers ambassadors in Turkey met online almost every day for two months to plan the event.

“I met with UN Turkish activist Zeynep Dilruba Tasdemir right before starting the program planning, and she inspired me to connect the WTM ambassadors with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA),” says Isler.

That led to partnerships with three major nonprofit organizations: the Habitat Association, TurkishWIN and UNFPA Turkey, which provided speakers for the event, mentors for the ideathon and social media marketing support. UNFPA’s youngest ambassador, 19-year-old Selin Özünaldım, spoke at the event.

Twenty-three teams competed in the ideathon, including the jury special award winners, two 12-year-old students. “They were so passionate about solving this important issue,” says Isler.

One project to emerge from the ideathon was BlueX, which uses a text blocker integrated into browsers and social media to read incoming messages, detect harassing or violent language, and block the message.

The event also expanded to an entire week: Women’s Online Safety Week 2021 spanned 10 sessions, held online in Turkish. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in four webinars, two keynotes, four trainings and one ideathon, a hackathon in which teams of women created technical solutions to the problem of violence against women online. More than 2,000 people viewed the online webinars, taught by online security experts from organizations that conduct research on digital security. Facilitators from #IamRemarkable, a Google initiative that empowers women and other underrepresented groups to celebrate their success at work and beyond, also facilitated virtual workshops.

Amid the keynotes and tech talk, Isler says the event also served as a supportive place to share experiences of online harassment and abuse.

“We feel empowered to support each other, and if we see online violence, doxxing, stalking, we should speak up,” she says.

As a champion of developer communities in her professional role, Isler encourages others to find a community that feels like the right place for them.

“At the end of the event, I was doing a final speech, and I said that joining communities to share your experiences is critical, to highlight the issue and get support from each other,” she says. “Joining a community is for career development — and also to feel safe and thrive in technology.”

A new podcast season about people powering the internet

Professional football player. Organizational psychologist. Mechanical engineer. Ice cream factory worker.

This list of careers may seem random, but they have something in common. They’re all part of the personal and professional histories of people who now work at Google data centers. These individuals, and their stories, take center stage in Season 2 of Where the Internet Lives, a podcast about the hidden world of data centers.

In Season 1, we pulled back the curtain to share how data centers work, what they mean to the communities that host them and our goal to run them on 24/7 carbon-free energy. In Season 2, we’re focusing on the lives and career journeys of ten people who help keep the internet running.

You’ll hear from folks like Mamoudou “D” Diallo, who grew up in Guinea-Conakry in West Africa. After scoring exceptionally well on a standardized test in high school, he traveled to Ukraine for college to study computer engineering — a subject that, up until that point, he had only read about in books. He later moved to Ohio for graduate school and spent 20 years working on technology in the financial sector. He has since shifted to the tech industry, and is now the site manager for Google’s data center in New Albany, Ohio.

Illustration of Mamoudou smiling and wearing a dark-colored suit and orange tie against a blue and orange background. Behind him are illustrated images, including two children playing with a soccer ball, a computer, a city skyline and components of a circuit board.

You’ll also hear from innovators like Juliana Conroy-Hoey, who designs mechanical systems, including ventilation and cooling for data centers in Europe. While she’s always been interested in the mechanics behind how things work, she never imagined the scale of what she’s working on today — a scale that has grown as data centers have, too. “The demand for data centers has increased significantly from the first data center that I worked on,” she says.

Illustration of Juliana smiling against a green background. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a white shirt and pearl earrings. Images in the background include a hand reaching for a computer chip, a data center, the skyline of Dublin, Ireland and industrial-sized fans.

These are just a few of the folks you’ll hear from in this season of Where the Internet Lives, and how their unique life experiences and backgrounds help them power the internet.

Listen to the first five episodes today, and subscribe to get notified when new episodes launch — including the next five in January 2022.

How a Google recruiter prepared for her own interview

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 Jennifer Jones, a recruiter from our Atlanta office, who originally wanted to be an elementary school teacher and shares her journey from studying education to recruiting engineering talent.

What’s your role at Google?

I am an Early Careers Software Engineer Recruiter at Google. I work specifically with candidates looking to start their software engineering careers with us.

I tell all of my candidates to think of me as their coach, and that my job is to help them get to the finish line. I love how I can incorporate so much of my personality into my position, while tailoring each experience to what my candidates need. It's an honor to be part of such an important decision in their lives.

How did you get into recruiting?

My path to recruiting (and Google) has been a unique one for sure. I had no intention of becoming a recruiter — I stumbled into this career. But ever since I found this role, where I can be myself and help others at the same time, I have been obsessed with what I do.

After graduating high school, I went to Temple University in Philadelphia for a year and a half with the hopes of becoming an elementary teacher. But the more I attended classes, the more I knew it wasn't for me, and I decided not to pursue a college degree. I went back home to New Jersey and started working in retail, which led to account management and eventually recruiting.

I first applied to Google in 2015 and made it to the onsite interview, but I didn’t get to the offer stage. In 2017, I took a contract recruiting job working out of Google’s Austin, Texas office. From the moment I walked through the doors, I knew I belonged there. When my contract ended, I went another direction — but Google always stayed top of mind. There was no other place like it for me.

This past year, I applied again for a full time role at Google. Imposter syndrome and negative thoughts were definitely creeping in. "I don't have a degree, can I really do this?" "What if I have to move, do I really want to do it?" But I applied anyway and got the job!

Jennifer stands next to and gestures towards a neon red cursive Google sign

Jennifer at Google’s Austin, Texas office

What inspires you to come in (or log in) every day?

I love how liberated I feel in my position. My manager trusts me to execute my work, but she is always there if I need her.

Google also has some of the most incredible people, and it's amazing to work with change makers and innovators. It's such a collaborative environment and a place where I’m comfortable bringing my whole self to work each day.

What was the interview process like for you?

My recruiter prepared me for my onsite interviews in a way that I had never experienced before. Each step of the way, he shared updates — even on weekends. I'll never forget, I was walking out of my local grocery store when I saw his email that I had passed my onsite interviews. I cried right there in the parking lot! It was such an incredible feeling.

Can you share some of the resources you used to prepare for your interviews?

I treated my interview prep like a part-time job. I spent time writing down everything I had accomplished and scenarios that I wanted to mention in my responses. I searched for "hypothetical interview questions" and "behavioral interview questions," and practiced answering using the S.T.A.R. method. All of this helped me feel comfortable when it came time to interview.

Do you have any tips for aspiring Googlers?

Don't give up. I interviewed three times over the course of six years before I became a Googler. There were so many times that I almost talked myself out of applying. If I listened, I wouldn’t be here! Learning to quiet the negative voices and think positive thoughts helped tremendously.

Google Korea’s volunteering spirit runs deep

I grew up in a challenging environment, but I always felt fortunate to be surrounded by people who would always lend a helping hand when I needed it. Even at the young age of 10, their actions motivated me to extend help to people I interact with and that brought me joy. Thanks to the generosity of the people around me, I was able to complete my studies and build a career. Someone once told me that the best way to repay kindness was to pay it forward, and I made it a part of who I am today.

Since joining Google seven years ago, I’ve seen how Google has built a vibrant volunteering culture. Every year, we see Googlers around the world come together to participate in community service projects through GoogleServe — our annual volunteering event. I've led GoogleServe in Korea several times, encouraging Googlers to dedicate their time to volunteering. It’s incredibly motivating to hear positive comments from Googlers who have volunteered for the first time — and to see them return the following year to do more for their community.

I also became the local ambassador for Google.org, our philanthropic arm, helping Googlers understand how we can make a bigger impact by connecting our corporate grants with donations and volunteering activities. I truly believe that when we’re able to get everyone involved in doing good, we’re able to keep volunteering an integral part of our culture.

A photo of Googler Eunjin and Jacquelline Fuller, President of Google.org

As a Google.org ambassador, I had the opportunity to meet Jacquelline Fuller, President of Google.org while she was visiting the Seoul office

As we commemorate International Volunteer Day, I’d like to highlight other Googlers from our Korea office who share the same passion for giving back.

Narae Jeon

Site Administrative Business Partner

A photo of Googler Narae Jeon

What was your most memorable experience through GoogleServe?

I decided to take care of abandoned dogs as part of my volunteering experience. A long time ago, a dog I’d been raising died in an accident, and I felt guilty for not responding in the right way. I started deepening my knowledge of topics like animal protection and breeding, and looked for opportunities to get involved in the community. I started volunteering with an animal protection center, where I helped rescue an abandoned dog that resembled the dog I had raised before — and made snacks for other abandoned dogs. I also created a Google group named ‘Doglers’ for Googlers looking to get involved with animal shelters, and ran a donation drive to raise awareness among Googlers.

Photo of an animal shelter in Korea

Abandoned animal shelter in the Gyeonggi province where our ‘Doglers’ go to on a regular basis

Dogs at the animal shelter

I rescued the dog on the right in this photo from the highway.

What is one takeaway you’d like to share with others from your volunteering experience?

Take the first step. You can always start by going to a volunteering site and observing how others are helping the community. You’ll be surprised how being on-site can inspire you to take action. Once you experience giving back, you’ll realize what a rewarding experience volunteering can be.

Jaey Park

Strategy and Insights Manager, Korea

A photo of Googler Jaey Park

What was your most memorable experience through GoogleServe?

This year, I had the opportunity to mentor college students preparing for employment. I was able to share my experiences and knowledge in data analytics. We often think that we don’t have much insightful knowledge to pass onto others, but I was surprised that what I shared with these students was valuable. From this experience, I decided to continue volunteering in this space.

Group mentoring session with other Googlers as part of GoogleServe 2021

Group mentoring session with other Googlers as part of GoogleServe 2021

What is one takeaway you’d like to share with others from your volunteering experience?

Once you start volunteering, you’ll realize how you’re impacting not only others but yourself too. It helps you feel more connected, and it creates a sense of belonging and purpose. I truly believe when we come together to do good, we’re able to make a bigger contribution to the community we live in.

These Googlers stepped it up for Walktober

Yousuf Fauzan’s mother knew she’d be on the phone a lot this October. Every day during the month, she’d talk to her son for hours as he paced around his home in California. “She would get irritated, she would disconnect the call, then I’d call again 15 minutes later.”

Calling his mom — and pretty much everyone he knows — was how Yousuf, a YouTube software engineer, passed the time while getting his steps in for “Walktober,” Google’s annual employee walking competition. “I don’t talk to people on the phone often, but during October, I call anyone and everyone I’ve ever known.” After spending his workday walking during meetings, Yousuf would lap around the inside of his condo from 7:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. to hold his top spot on the leaderboard. By the end of the month, he’d accumulated more than two million steps.

Planning lead Tiffany Bartish-Katz says this is the kind of “fierce but friendly” competition that Walktober attracts. Started in 2011 as a local effort in Google’s Cambridge, Massachusetts office, Walktober quickly went global: This year, more than 26,000 employees across 190 offices joined the competition, putting in over five billion steps. “I’m always a little awestruck by the number of people who engage in this very simple, friendly, fun, grassroots project,” Tiffany says. And the planning team works hard to make sure everyone gets in the spirit — from ultra walkers like Yousuf, to those who are adding just a few more thousand steps to their routines.

Some Walktober participants decided to put their step counts towards a good cause. Last year, Greg Kroleski, a Google Cloud Product Manager, walked for 24 hours straight. As he considered doing another 24-hour challenge this year, a coworker suggested tying it to a fundraiser. “A lot of people paid attention last year. I wanted to direct that attention to something good.” Greg dedicated this year’s challenge, and his team’s entire Walktober effort, to raise awareness for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CF), a chronic disease that causes overwhelming fatigue. He and his colleagues ended up raising $14,000. As for the 24-hour challenge? Greg logged over 204,000 steps that day, breaking a Google Walktober record…for a few hours, at least. “Unfortunately, the next day, someone else broke my record.” All the more reason to give it another go next year. “You might see me again,” he says.

  • A selfie of six people walking on a red, outdoor track. They are smiling at the camera, waving and holding up peace signs.

    Teammates, family and friends came out to support Greg Kroleski (right) during his 24-hour walking challenge.

  • Six people standing in front of a brick building, next to a variety of plants. They are all smiling at the camera, one person is holding up a peace sign.

    Ziad Reslan (third from right) organized a walk from Google's San Francisco office to its Mountain View headquarters on the last day of Walktober.

  • A dark photo of an outdoor track early in the morning, the sun rising in the background. We see an outline of Greg walking around the track.

    An early-morning snapshot of Greg during his 24-hour challenge.

  • Selfie of four people in the evening. They are all smiling at the camera, and one person is wearing a headlight.

    Ziad and his teammates on their way to Google's Mountain View headquarters.

Ziad Reslan, a Product Policy Advisor at Google, also channeled his team’s Walktober efforts towards something good. “I wanted to spend the entire last day of Walktober walking as an ode to the journeys of millions of refugees who have no choice but to walk to get to safety,” he says. To raise awareness for LGBTQ+ refugees in the Middle East in particular, Ziad organized a walk from Google’s San Francisco office to its Mountain View headquarters — a familiar 38.8-mile route for California commuters. He received over $25,000 in pledged donations from fellow Googlers, with a handful joining him throughout the day.

When Ziad and his colleagues reached the Mountain View campus that evening, he was overwhelmed: “I teared up remembering the first time I had ever been [to Mountain View] wishing to become a Googler,” he says. “And now here I was, walking to it surrounded by other Googlers for a good cause.”

Honrar Dia de los Veteranos como Googler y Reservista

En Google soy miembro del equipo de Seguridad de la Información y Cumplimiento de la Ley (LEIS), donde trabajo con una variedad de asuntos jurídicos que van desde seguridad física hasta ciberseguridad. Pero, cada cuatro meses, delego mis proyectos a mis colegas y atravieso el país para ir a mi otra oficina: la Marina de los Estados Unidos en Washington, D.C. Allí soy comandante en jefe de una unidad del Cuerpo de Abogacía General (JAG) para la Reserva de la Marina de los Estados Unidos, que representa a marinos e infantes de marina que presentan recursos contra condenas en el sistema de tribunales militares.

Durante los cuatro años que llevo trabajando para Google, mi equipo ha sido un apoyo increíble para mi carrera en la Reserva de la Marina. Ellos me cubren, sin hacer preguntas y sin inconvenientes, cuando debo ausentarme para participar en alguna misión. Cuando hablo de mis próximas misiones, mi director me dice que me tome todo el tiempo que necesite, y cuando me ascendieron a mi rango actual de Comandante, todo el equipo de LEIS asistió a la ceremonia. Es tan sencillo como que no podría seguir trabajando en la Reserva de la Marina de no contar con su generoso apoyo y su voluntad de ayudar.

Si visitas la página de inicio de Google hoy, verás el doodle de Google en homenaje al Día de los Veteranos ilustrado por el artista invitado y veterano del ejército Steven Tette. Pero, Google no les rinde homenaje únicamente el Día de los Veterano; nuestro compromiso con esta comunidad se extiende durante todo el año mediante el apoyo a los veteranos y a los empleados de la Reserva Nacional o de la Guardia Nacional y a través de la organización de programas y formación para los miembros del servicio en transición, los veteranos y los cónyuges de militares.

Google Doodle for Veteran’s Day, featuring six veterans standing in front of the Google logo wearing a variety of military uniforms.

De hecho, la semana pasada anunciamos que Google.org financiará USD 20 millones en subvenciones y donaciones de productos en especie para fomentar la autonomía económica de los veteranos y de la comunidad militar. Esto incluye una subvención de USD 10 millones en efectivo a Hiring Our Heroes para poner en marcha Career Forward, una iniciativa que formará a 8,000 miembros del servicio en transición, veteranos y cónyuges de militares en los trabajos de mayor demanda por medio de los Certificados profesionales de Google. Estos certificados son un recurso valioso para la comunidad militar ya que son credenciales reconocidas por la industria, que preparan a las personas en empleos con alto potencial de crecimiento más allá de las fronteras estatales e internacionales, y no requieren diplomas ni experiencia relevante previa. El programa Career Forward también dará a quienes reciban el certificado una beca de trabajo de 12 semanas en una de las más de 400 empresas que integran la red de Hiring Our Heroes y les proporcionará apoyo permanente para la integración laboral.

Durante el próximo año, nuestra propia Red de Veteranos de Google (una comunidad de veteranos, cónyuges de militares y Googlers civiles aliados que apoyan el desarrollo profesional y el bienestar mental de los veteranos) colaborará de manera voluntaria con Hiring Our Heroes para organizar sesiones gratuitas de desarrollo vocacional, apoyo para la redacción de currículos y talleres de búsqueda de empleo para miles de miembros del servicio militar. Yo mismo participaré como voluntario en uno de los talleres y ayudaré a los solicitantes de empleo a prepararse para sus entrevistas futuras.

El anuncio de la semana pasada es el resultado de años de apoyo a veteranos y familias de los militares. Muchos veteranos han creado y desarrollado su propio negocio con la ayuda de los recursos gratuitos de Crece con Google. El año pasado, Google también se convirtió en socio oficial de la Alianza de Empleos para los Cónyuges de los Militares (MSEP) del Departamento de Defensa y anunció que se concederían cinco días de licencia paga a cónyuges de militares cada vez que su miembro del servicio reciba órdenes. Google también trabaja estrechamente con Cybercrime Support Network, una organización que ayuda a los consumidores, incluidos los que forman parte de la comunidad militar, a reconocer y protegerse de delitos informáticos como las estafas de empleo.

Durante mi carrera, muchas personas me han ayudado a reconocer las ventajas únicas que aporto al equipo como miembro del servicio militar. La camaradería y el trabajo en equipo no terminan cuando nos quitamos el uniforme, y al igual que muchos miembros del servicio militar, actuales y antiguos, es un placer para mí devolver el favor. Ya sea ayudando a los miembros del servicio militar en transición o retirados a construir su carrera como civiles, aportando recursos a los veteranos dueños de empresas o ayudando a los cónyuges de militares a tener éxito en sus carreras a pesar de los numerosos traslados, estoy orgulloso de formar parte de una compañía que rinde homenaje de manera activa a la comunidad militar.

Honoring Veterans Day as a Googler and Reserve Officer

At Google, I’m on the Law Enforcement and Information Security (LEIS) team, where I work on a variety of legal issues, from physical security to cybersecurity. But every four months, I hand off projects to my teammates and fly across the country to my other office — the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. There, I’m the commanding officer of a unit in the United States Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps that represents sailors and marines appealing a conviction in the military court system.

Throughout my four years at Google, my team has been incredibly supportive of my Navy Reserve career. They cover for me while I’m away on assignments with no questions or fuss. Whenever I bring up an upcoming assignment, my director tells me to take as much time as I need. And when I got promoted to my current rank of Commander, the entire LEIS team attended the ceremony. I simply couldn’t continue my work in the Navy Reserve without their generous support and willingness to lend a hand.

If you head over to the Google homepage today, you’ll see Google’s annual Veterans Day Doodle, illustrated by Army veteran and guest artist Steven Tette. And Google doesn't honor veterans only on Veterans Day. We're committed to this community year-round through support for veteran and National Guard or Reserve employees, and through programs and training for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses.

Google Doodle for Veteran’s Day, featuring six veterans standing in front of the Google logo wearing a variety of military uniforms.

In fact, last week, we announced that Google.org is providing $20 million in grant funding and in-kind product donations to support economic empowerment for veterans and the military community. This includes a $10 million cash grant to Hiring Our Heroes to launch Career Forward — an initiative to train 8,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses for in-demand jobs through Google Career Certificates. These certificates are a great resource for the military community because they’re portable, industry-recognized credentials that prepare people for high-growth jobs across state and international boundaries — no degree or relevant experience required. The Career Forward program will also place certificate graduates in 12-week, on-the-job fellowships at one of over 400 employers in the Hiring Our Heroes network, and provide full-time job placement support.

Over the next year, our own Google Veterans Network — a community of veteran, military spouse, and civilian ally Googlers who support the career advancement and mental wellness of veterans — will volunteer with Hiring Our Heroes to host free career development, resume support, and job search workshops for thousands of service members. I’ll volunteer at one of the workshops myself, helping job applicants prepare for upcoming interviews.

Last week’s announcement builds on years of support for veterans and military families. Countless veterans have started and grown their own businesses with help from free Grow with Google resources. Last year, Google also became an official partner of the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership and announced five days of paid leave for military spouses each time their service member receives orders. Google also works closely with the Cybercrime Support Network, an organization that helps consumers, including those in the military community, recognize and protect themselves against cybercrimes like employment scams.

Throughout my career, many people have helped me recognize the unique strengths I bring to a team because of my military service. Camaraderie and teamwork don’t end when we hang up our uniforms. And like many other current and former service members, I’m eager to pay it forward. Whether it’s by helping transitioning or retiring military members build a civilian career, providing resources for veteran business owners, or making it easier for military spouses to succeed in their careers despite countless moves, I’m proud to be a part of a company that puts its honor for the military community into action.

A Googler tells us how the world can show up for Afghans

In the early 1980s, Shahla Naimi’s mother arrived at a United States air force base in California as a refugee from Afghanistan. Weary from her journey, she was met by a group of volunteers who welcomed her to her new home. So began her new life in the United States.

40 years later, Shahla – a Senior Program Manager at Google – found herself at a government facility in New Jersey where she partnered with the International Rescue Committee to welcome 9,000 Afghans who’d fled the recent Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

“I didn’t realize how many times my heart could break,” says Shahla. “​​It was the most emotionally and physically exhausting experience I've ever had – and perhaps the most rewarding one as well. As an Afghan and as an American, it pushed me in unexpected ways to see my own people so newly displaced from their homes.”

We recently took some time to ask Shahla about her work with the IRC.

What are your ties with Afghanistan?

I am Afghan! I grew up in south L.A. in the wake of 9/11, fairly isolated from the broader Afghan-American community but surrounded by fellow immigrants from all over the world.

I traveled to Afghanistan for the first time in 2011, when my uncle encouraged me to visit him in Kabul. Walking around the city, I saw my parent’s faces everywhere I went. Similar features, same classic Afghan expressions. Afghans from the diaspora occupy a complicated space in Afghanistan, and I was grateful to feel so welcomed.

A picture of a woman playing with local children in the Bamiyan Valley of Afghanistan.

Shahla on one of her recent visits to Afghanistan, playing with children from the Bamiyan Valley.

Why did you decide to volunteer with the International Rescue Committee?

When the Taliban takeover began, people started to flee through the airport. I tried to do what I could from my computer and phone, staying up all night trying to help family and friends in Afghanistan. Knowing firsthand the benefit of Afghans showing up for Afghans, I wanted to welcome people as best I could. I saw on social media that the IRC was looking for volunteers for the thousands of Afghans who would soon be arriving. Within a week, I was on my way to welcome new arrivals.

What was volunteering like?

It was a full-on emergency situation. My job was to work with the U.S. Government staff to lead reception services at a location we informally called the "Welcome Center.” Afghans would arrive — at any hour of the day or night — and I would help get their immigration process started by taking down their basic info.

We had to be quick on our feet about how we tackle unforeseen circumstances, like developing new ways of incorporating COVID precautions, or trying to reunite a husband with his wife without any identifying documentation to work off of other than their names.

This was nothing in comparison to what Afghans newly arriving were feeling. They were exhausted. By the time people reached us, they had been traveling for 20+ days, some separated from their families, many without a hot meal or shower for weeks. Someone even asked, “Where am I?” before collapsing on the ground. To see my own people so exhausted was devastating.

A picture of drawings made by newly arrived Afghan children on a bulletin board.

A bulletin board of drawings made by newly arrived Afghan children in the U.S.

What should someone know about refugees coming from Afghanistan?

This is going to be a long, hard process for Afghans — from identifying a path to immigration to resettling into a new home, all while so many grieve separation from their families and communities in Afghanistan. Show up for them today, but also show up for them and all people searching for a safer, better life in the years and decades to come.

You’re co-lead of the Afghan Googler’s Network. Can you tell us more about how this group came to be?

I met my co-lead, Fereshta, in a group chat at a Google event for women of color in tech. I was inspired by the great work of other Google employee groups, like the Black Googlers Network. Many Afghans had been informally meeting up for years, but we felt it was time to organize officially. We were in the early stages of formally launching the group when the Taliban takeover sped up our plans.

What’s next for you?

I’m partnering with an Afghan foundation called Boum Books to launch a series of children’s books in the United States in Dari, English and Pashto. The first book, called “Boum-e Dana wa Dokhtare Ba-hosh” (which translated means “The Wise Owl and the Clever Girl”) is about an Afghan girl building her confidence and sense of self. It’s fully written and illustrated by Afghans. Seeing ourselves in the books that we read is important – more so when you've been forced to leave your home and resettle in an unfamiliar place. We hope this book, and others forthcoming, will bring a sense of belonging to Afghan children in the U.S.

An illustration from Shahla’s upcoming children’s book of an Afghan woman watering plants, with a little girl by her side.

An illustration from Shahla’s upcoming children’s book, "Boum-e Dana wa Dokhtare Ba-hosh" ("The Wise Owl and the Clever Girl").

What advice would you give to the average person on how to show support regarding the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan?

I’d suggest following and listening to Afghan experts – and supporting organizations run and led by Afghans. Additionally, consider reading and amplifying local, grassroots news organizations. It’s critical to amplify voices from Afghanistan, as international headlines subside.Continue to seek news about what's happening in Afghanistan. Afghanistan may fall from the international headlines, but it's critical to continue seeking out information and remaining informed. Many Afghans are suffering from a nationwide humanitarian crisis — one that is likely to get worse as the winter approaches. The precursor to helping is understanding what's happening.

How 15 years in IT brought Subhasish to Google Maps

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 story is all about Subhasish Roy from our Hyderabad office. Subhasish shares how he brings the lessons he’s learned from over 15 years in IT to his current role as a Program Manager on the Google Maps team.

What’s your current role at Google?

I am a Program Manager on the Google Maps data moderation team, where I lead multiple projects to review the helpful content our users submit to Google Maps — like whether a business is still open, and if their hours, business name and other information are still accurate. What I love most about my role is working with a diverse team that is passionate about giving users the best experience possible.

Describe your typical workday.

I’m working from home like many others around the world. I generally start by planning and prioritizing my day with to-do lists and action items. Then, I usually have several video meetings with teams based in six offices across four time zones, including India, Ireland and the United States. Googlers are always collaborating using Google Docs, so I spend a good amount of my days working with my colleagues on strategy documents or reviewing proposals.

What made you decide to apply to Google?

I dreamed of working at Google ever since I learned more about the internet and its potential to impact millions of lives. Google continuously innovates to make people's lives easier, which inspired me to think big and want to work here.

How did you get to your current role?

I’ve had many roles during my 15+ year IT career. I started out as a software engineer and, from there, took on different positions — including team lead, project manager, development manager, and technical program manager. Along the way, I developed many skills, like managing teams, communicating and negotiating with customers, and eventually leading a large-scale enterprise application development team across multiple time zones and languages.

Despite all of this experience, I was still anxious about applying to Google because I didn’t study at one of the top-tier universities in India. I also wasn’t sure if I would be a good match for the culture or how my experience would fit into Google, since I hadn’t coded for 10 years at that point. However, once I got to Google, I was able to channel all of my experience and the skills I’ve developed throughout my career into leading teams, experimenting, and building products. I have access to world-class technology and talent, and the impact of my work has reached new heights.

What inspires you to log on every day?

More than a billion users every month use Google Maps for their daily commutes. I am inspired knowing that the work I’m doing is helping people. It's also a great feeling to work with so many smart people. It provides incredible learning and growth opportunities, and drives my daily energy.

Can you share any of the resources you used to prepare for the interview?

I used sites like LinkedIn Learning, online videos and training classes, and sessions from the Life at Google YouTube channel.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with aspiring Googlers?

Show your willingness to think outside of the box. It sounds cliché, I know, but the way you think can take you far. That expertise that you might think doesn’t apply to the role you want at Google may be exactly what gets you the job!