Tag Archives: Life at Google

How Ben’s love for technology 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 their roles are like and even some tips on how to prepare for interviews.

Today’s post is all about Ben Miles, a Technical Solutions Engineer for Google Cloud who’s based in our London office.

What’s your current role at Google?

I’m a Technical Solutions Engineer for Google Cloud. I work specifically on Apigee, Google Cloud’s API management platform. In my role, I help Google Cloud’s customers fix technical issues through a mix of troubleshooting, debugging, software development and system administration. I enjoy the entire process, from reporting an issue to finding a resolution. It always feels great to help our customers and learn something new along the way.

When did you first get interested in technology?

I always had a passion for technology when I was growing up — I would play endless amounts of video games and take apart my parents’ desktop computer for fun. Flash forward to today, I still spend a lot of time teaching myself new programming languages and researching areas like space exploration (watching a live SpaceX rocket launch is on my bucket list).

But I didn’t study anything even remotely technical in school. In fact, I’ve never been very academic — I didn’t attend university or get a degree, and my grades in high school were never that strong. So I thought my chances of working in the tech industry were over before I had even started. That’s why Google’s apprenticeship program was a great stepping stone into tech for me. I was able to learn on the job and even get certified through formal training connected to the program.

What made you decide to apply to Google?

Like many Googlers, I never thought I would get a job here. I was terrified to apply, because I didn’t think I’d stand a chance. Once I realized I had nothing to lose, I ultimately took the leap and applied. You can’t achieve anything if you don’t try.

I got accepted into Google’s digital marketing apprenticeship program when I was 18. I spent one year there before applying to another apprenticeship focused on IT engineering. In that IT role, I helped other Googlers solve technical problems, like fixing their laptops and debugging software issues. Taking on two apprenticeships back to back is rare — I’m actually the only Google apprentice who’s ever done it! — and I learned a lot from both experiences.

Ben’s desk at the London office includes two monitors, a Noogler hat and an Android sticker, as well as a collection of figurines and other decorations.

Ben’s desk at the Google London office.

How did the recruitment process go for you?
I’ve been through many recruiting processes at Google, both as an internal and external applicant, and every experience has been rewarding. Applying to the Technical Solutions Engineer role was especially challenging, but I felt supported every step of the way. My recruiter talked me through each part of the process and what to expect, and the interviewers were all extremely kind.

What resources did you use to prepare for your interview?
Since I didn’t have specialized education or training, I prepared entirely using the internet and free resources. I watched YouTube videos to learn more about specific topics, and used forums like Reddit to research and ask questions. Reading books was another good way to absorb a lot of information at once. If you can’t find a specific book for free online, it’s probably available in your local library!

A group of new Googlers (“Nooglers”) wearing colorful propeller caps pose around a “Welcome to Google” banner. In the background are large glass windows looking out to a blue sky.

Ben at “Noogler” (new Googler) orientation. He’s wearing a white sweatshirt and holding the “Welcome to Google" sign on the right.

Any tips for aspiring Googlers?
There is no one “type” of person Google hires. I have an unconventional background and still managed to reach my goal of working here. I still can’t believe that I’m writing this now. Thinking back to a few years ago when I was in high school, a job at Google seemed completely unrealistic. Now, I get to do what I love every day and work with some of the largest companies in the world on services that millions of people use. I am so grateful that Google saw potential in me, and I can't wait to see where the future takes me.

Meet 3 women who test Google products for fairness

One of the most interesting parts of working at Google is learning what other people do here — it’s not uncommon to come across a job title you’ve never heard of. For example: ProFair Program Manager, or ProFair Analyst.

These roles are part of our Responsible Innovation team, which focuses on making sure our tech supports Google’s AI Principles. One way the team does this is by conducting proactive algorithmic product fairness — or ProFair — testing. This means bringing social and cultural perspectives to the testing process, to assess how an AI or ML application, dataset or technique might avoid reinforcing unfair bias. Three women who work on ProFair testing are Anne Peckham, N’Mah Y. and Cherish M. and today we’re asking them: What’s your job?

The job: ProFair Responsible Innovation

Anne is a program manager, N’Mah is an analyst and Cherish is also an analyst.

So…what do you do?

Anne Peckham, a program manager working on ProFair for Responsible Innovation, says she primarily helps others get things done. “I organize projects, figure out strategies, identify what needs to get done, provide documentation, keep track of learnings…and do it again for each project.” N’Mah is a ProFair analyst. "I lead Profair training across Google, coordinate an ethics fellowship program for Googlers and design and conduct fairness tests for products before launch.” Cherish, also an analyst, does this as well. “I help product teams understand how to improve products ahead of launch. I drive our company-wide program in teaching Googlers how to test products, too.” Cherish says a big part of her role is making sure when product teams are building something they think of everyone who will use it — referencing the Google AI Principle of “avoid[ing] creating or reinforcing unfair bias.” “Far ahead of launch time, I look for ways a proposed AI application, ML model or dataset might not function optimally for a user due to unfair bias, so we can help fix it proactively. ”

All three enjoy the variety that comes with this work. “I love how collaborative my role is,” Anne says. “I get to work on many types of projects and with lots of different teams — including the Responsible AI research group.” N’Mah also enjoys seeing the products she’s supported make a difference in the world once they’ve actually launched.

“This role forces me to think outside the box, which I enjoy, and I’m able to advocate for users who may not be in the room,” Cherish says. “This job is very cerebral in nature. And I love collaborating with others to build these products for good.”

  • Anne is wearing winter clothes and standing on a snowy road next to a sign that says "Glacier National Park."

    Anne

  • A black and white photography of N'Mah. She is looking into the camera and smiling. She is wearing a striped blouse.

    N'Mah

  • A photograph of Cherish looking into the camera and smiling. She is swearing a khaki colored sweater.

    Cherish

How did you choose this job?

All three Googlers didn't know ProFair was an option when they were first considering their careers. “For a while, I wanted to be a librarian, but coming out of college, I’d been interested in doing political science research or program operations,” Anne says. “I had an entry level job as a program assistant where I was making lists and helping others move goals forward, and that skill transferred to different sectors.”

“I wanted to be a lawyer, but ended up studying Middle East Studies and Spanish,” says N’Mah. “I focused on cross-cultural experiences, and that’s ultimately what drew me to this work.” That ended up aiding her, she says — it helps her understand how products impact people from different cultural backgrounds. Cherish also wanted to be a lawyer, and was interested in technology and ethics. “I was always interested in serving others,” she says. “But I had no idea this sort of career even existed! The teams and roles we work in were developed within the past few years.”

What would you tell someone who wants your job?

Today, there are more straightforward paths toward this work. “Thankfully people who are currently in school have networks to leverage to learn more about this work,” Cherish says. Still, she says, “there is no linear path.” Someone who wants to do this kind of work should be interested in technological innovation but also focused on doing so with social benefit top of mind.

Anne agrees with Cherish: “There is no single path to this kind of work, but I’ve noticed people who choose this career are curious and passionate about wherever it is they are working on. I love program management, but others are passionate about building testing infrastructure, or achieving the most social benefit. You see them bring that enthusiasm to their teams.” Anne mentions that she didn’t think there was “room” for her in this field, which is something to consider for those interested in similar careers: The point of Product Fairness work is that all perspectives and backgrounds are included, not just people with MBAs and computer science degrees. “Ultimately, technology shouldnt be built for homogenous audiences,” Cherish says — and who works in this field should be just as diverse, too.

N’Mah says you shouldn’t feel pigeon-holed by your academic or career background; different experiences, personal and professional, are needed here. “There are a variety of backgrounds you can come from to work in this space — that’s what makes the team great,” she says. “If you're interested in cross-cultural connections, or socially beneficial technical solutions, this could be an area of interest.” And if you’re someone who’s aware of their own unconscious biases, you might be naturally inclined toward a career in product fairness.

Bonus question: For Women’s History Month, who are some of your women role models?

“I have a strong group of female friends from high school who I’ve kept in touch with over the years,” Anne says. “We’ve all pursued different paths and have various strengths in our careers, but when we meet up, I love hearing what they’re passionate about and what they’re working on.” N’Mah says Harriet Tubman has always been a symbol to her of what’s possible in this country. “She persevered during a challenging moment in history and has done so much to push America forward socially.” For Cherish, she looks up to Maya Angelou. “She had such an incredibly poignant impact on society through her activism and her literature.”

Meet 3 women who test Google products for fairness

One of the most interesting parts of working at Google is learning what other people do here — it’s not uncommon to come across a job title you’ve never heard of. For example: ProFair Program Manager, or ProFair Analyst.

These roles are part of our Responsible Innovation team, which focuses on making sure our tech supports Google’s AI Principles. One way the team does this is by conducting proactive algorithmic product fairness — or ProFair — testing. This means bringing social and cultural perspectives to the testing process, to assess how an AI or ML application, dataset or technique might avoid reinforcing unfair bias. Three women who work on ProFair testing are Anne Peckham, N’Mah Y. and Cherish M. and today we’re asking them: What’s your job?

The job: ProFair Responsible Innovation

Anne is a program manager, N’Mah is an analyst and Cherish is also an analyst.

So…what do you do?

Anne Peckham, a program manager working on ProFair for Responsible Innovation, says she primarily helps others get things done. “I organize projects, figure out strategies, identify what needs to get done, provide documentation, keep track of learnings…and do it again for each project.” N’Mah is a ProFair analyst. "I lead Profair training across Google, coordinate an ethics fellowship program for Googlers and design and conduct fairness tests for products before launch.” Cherish, also an analyst, does this as well. “I help product teams understand how to improve products ahead of launch. I drive our company-wide program in teaching Googlers how to test products, too.” Cherish says a big part of her role is making sure when product teams are building something they think of everyone who will use it — referencing the Google AI Principle of “avoid[ing] creating or reinforcing unfair bias.” “Far ahead of launch time, I look for ways a proposed AI application, ML model or dataset might not function optimally for a user due to unfair bias, so we can help fix it proactively. ”

All three enjoy the variety that comes with this work. “I love how collaborative my role is,” Anne says. “I get to work on many types of projects and with lots of different teams — including the Responsible AI research group.” N’Mah also enjoys seeing the products she’s supported make a difference in the world once they’ve actually launched.

“This role forces me to think outside the box, which I enjoy, and I’m able to advocate for users who may not be in the room,” Cherish says. “This job is very cerebral in nature. And I love collaborating with others to build these products for good.”

  • Anne is wearing winter clothes and standing on a snowy road next to a sign that says "Glacier National Park."

    Anne

  • A black and white photography of N'Mah. She is looking into the camera and smiling. She is wearing a striped blouse.

    N'Mah

  • A photograph of Cherish looking into the camera and smiling. She is swearing a khaki colored sweater.

    Cherish

How did you choose this job?

All three Googlers didn't know ProFair was an option when they were first considering their careers. “For a while, I wanted to be a librarian, but coming out of college, I’d been interested in doing political science research or program operations,” Anne says. “I had an entry level job as a program assistant where I was making lists and helping others move goals forward, and that skill transferred to different sectors.”

“I wanted to be a lawyer, but ended up studying Middle East Studies and Spanish,” says N’Mah. “I focused on cross-cultural experiences, and that’s ultimately what drew me to this work.” That ended up aiding her, she says — it helps her understand how products impact people from different cultural backgrounds. Cherish also wanted to be a lawyer, and was interested in technology and ethics. “I was always interested in serving others,” she says. “But I had no idea this sort of career even existed! The teams and roles we work in were developed within the past few years.”

What would you tell someone who wants your job?

Today, there are more straightforward paths toward this work. “Thankfully people who are currently in school have networks to leverage to learn more about this work,” Cherish says. Still, she says, “there is no linear path.” Someone who wants to do this kind of work should be interested in technological innovation but also focused on doing so with social benefit top of mind.

Anne agrees with Cherish: “There is no single path to this kind of work, but I’ve noticed people who choose this career are curious and passionate about wherever it is they are working on. I love program management, but others are passionate about building testing infrastructure, or achieving the most social benefit. You see them bring that enthusiasm to their teams.” Anne mentions that she didn’t think there was “room” for her in this field, which is something to consider for those interested in similar careers: The point of Product Fairness work is that all perspectives and backgrounds are included, not just people with MBAs and computer science degrees. “Ultimately, technology shouldnt be built for homogenous audiences,” Cherish says — and who works in this field should be just as diverse, too.

N’Mah says you shouldn’t feel pigeon-holed by your academic or career background; different experiences, personal and professional, are needed here. “There are a variety of backgrounds you can come from to work in this space — that’s what makes the team great,” she says. “If you're interested in cross-cultural connections, or socially beneficial technical solutions, this could be an area of interest.” And if you’re someone who’s aware of their own unconscious biases, you might be naturally inclined toward a career in product fairness.

Bonus question: For Women’s History Month, who are some of your women role models?

“I have a strong group of female friends from high school who I’ve kept in touch with over the years,” Anne says. “We’ve all pursued different paths and have various strengths in our careers, but when we meet up, I love hearing what they’re passionate about and what they’re working on.” N’Mah says Harriet Tubman has always been a symbol to her of what’s possible in this country. “She persevered during a challenging moment in history and has done so much to push America forward socially.” For Cherish, she looks up to Maya Angelou. “She had such an incredibly poignant impact on society through her activism and her literature.”

A Google engineer shares her technical interview tips

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, Leann Johnson shares her interesting journey to Google and how she prepared for her technical interviews along the way.

What do you do at Google?

I’m a software engineer for the Google Compute Engine team in Google Cloud. My mission is simple: push software updates to our customers’ machines as often as possible without disrupting their day-to-day operations. My days are typically packed with a lot of meetings — from team syncs to one-on-one sessions with the talented engineers I have the privilege of leading. Outside of meetings, you can find me writing design documents, strategizing long-term projects, reviewing code changes and eating Google’s delicious food.

What were you up to before Google?

I grew up in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, and studied math and computer science in college. After graduating, I did general programming and web development for eight years at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. During that time, I also got my master’s degree in computer science. While it was hard to leave a job where I literally met astronauts on a regular basis, Google and the Pacific Northwest came calling, and I couldn’t resist.

Why did you apply to Google?

I didn’t seriously consider applying at first, because I was happy in the position I already had. Then one day, Google invited me to participate in the Foobar Challenge, which is a series of difficult programming exercises. I remember how excited I was to get the invitation, and it took me about a month and a half to complete all five levels of the challenge. At the end, the tool asked if I wanted to submit my information to a Google recruiter. I thought really hard about that — starting the process of interviewing, leaving my job at NASA and moving my children to a new city. Ultimately, I decided that the potential benefits to my career and children's future outweighed the anxiety, stress and fear that might accompany the process. So I took a leap and submitted my information.

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

I really enjoy the opportunity to work on Google-scale (very, very large) projects. That’s just not something you get to do at most companies. Plus, seemingly every single person I work with — from fresh graduates to tenured leadership — is pretty brilliant. The food is also highly motivating!

How did you prepare for your interview?

I mainly read technical interview prep books. Though I’d been coding professionally for eight years, I hadn’t experienced the typical programming interviews that I was going to face at Google, so I needed to brush up on those skills. I also created flash cards, which is a very effective memorization technique, and watched a lot of Google’s YouTube videos about what to expect during technical interviews.

Any tips for aspiring Googlers?

Yes, particularly for engineers! First, practice speaking out loud when you’re solving problems, especially if you typically work them out in your head. Second, don’t skimp on the preparation — know your algorithms and the interview structure. The more you’re used to the format, the less stressful the actual interviews will feel. And finally, remember the interviewers want you to do well. They are not there to criticize every tiny mistake. Getting a few hints is OK. Your main goal is to show the interviewer how you think and that you are capable of solving challenging problems, even if you don’t come up with the perfect answer — I certainly didn’t!

Any advice for your past self?

I wish I could go back and tell my past self that I was intelligent and capable enough to get a job at Google. I think a lot of the anxiety and stress I felt throughout the interview process came from not feeling adequate, which wasn’t the case!

A Google engineer shares her technical interview tips

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, Leann Johnson shares her interesting journey to Google and how she prepared for her technical interviews along the way.

What do you do at Google?

I’m a software engineer for the Google Compute Engine team in Google Cloud. My mission is simple: push software updates to our customers’ machines as often as possible without disrupting their day-to-day operations. My days are typically packed with a lot of meetings — from team syncs to one-on-one sessions with the talented engineers I have the privilege of leading. Outside of meetings, you can find me writing design documents, strategizing long-term projects, reviewing code changes and eating Google’s delicious food.

What were you up to before Google?

I grew up in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, and studied math and computer science in college. After graduating, I did general programming and web development for eight years at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. During that time, I also got my master’s degree in computer science. While it was hard to leave a job where I literally met astronauts on a regular basis, Google and the Pacific Northwest came calling, and I couldn’t resist.

Why did you apply to Google?

I didn’t seriously consider applying at first, because I was happy in the position I already had. Then one day, Google invited me to participate in the Foobar Challenge, which is a series of difficult programming exercises. I remember how excited I was to get the invitation, and it took me about a month and a half to complete all five levels of the challenge. At the end, the tool asked if I wanted to submit my information to a Google recruiter. I thought really hard about that — starting the process of interviewing, leaving my job at NASA and moving my children to a new city. Ultimately, I decided that the potential benefits to my career and children's future outweighed the anxiety, stress and fear that might accompany the process. So I took a leap and submitted my information.

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

I really enjoy the opportunity to work on Google-scale (very, very large) projects. That’s just not something you get to do at most companies. Plus, seemingly every single person I work with — from fresh graduates to tenured leadership — is pretty brilliant. The food is also highly motivating!

How did you prepare for your interview?

I mainly read technical interview prep books. Though I’d been coding professionally for eight years, I hadn’t experienced the typical programming interviews that I was going to face at Google, so I needed to brush up on those skills. I also created flash cards, which is a very effective memorization technique, and watched a lot of Google’s YouTube videos about what to expect during technical interviews.

Any tips for aspiring Googlers?

Yes, particularly for engineers! First, practice speaking out loud when you’re solving problems, especially if you typically work them out in your head. Second, don’t skimp on the preparation — know your algorithms and the interview structure. The more you’re used to the format, the less stressful the actual interviews will feel. And finally, remember the interviewers want you to do well. They are not there to criticize every tiny mistake. Getting a few hints is OK. Your main goal is to show the interviewer how you think and that you are capable of solving challenging problems, even if you don’t come up with the perfect answer — I certainly didn’t!

Any advice for your past self?

I wish I could go back and tell my past self that I was intelligent and capable enough to get a job at Google. I think a lot of the anxiety and stress I felt throughout the interview process came from not feeling adequate, which wasn’t the case!

Taking the Living Building Challenge to the next level

When we design and build Google offices around the world, we strive to deliver on our commitment to sustainability. This means thinking about everything from reducing and diverting waste to cultivating healthy spaces and places to accelerating carbon-free energy strategies. It also means working with industry leaders to pave a path for others and push the boundary of what’s possible. The Living Building Challenge (LBC) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is one of the most ambitious green building certifications in the world. Of the largest projects ever to pursue certification through ILFI, five are Google’s workplaces — including our newest office in Sunnyvale, California.

Our collaboration with ILFI started nearly 20 years ago when we set out to combat the “new office” smell from fresh carpet and paint. As a sustainability partner for Google, this was one of my first projects: to use better materials to create the healthiest possible indoor environment. We used LBC’s Red List as a guide for what chemicals to avoid in our building products. Beyond improving the health of our indoor spaces, we also paved the way for others to purchase healthier materials. Through our purchasing power we encouraged more manufacturers to create third-party healthy material labels for their products.

Since that first project, we’ve hit more milestones with buildings across the U.S.

In 2015, we took our focus on materials to the next level with our Chicago office renovation. The 1000 West Fulton Market office renovation included 237,000 square feet of office space to build out. We expanded the reach of our Red List scope and pursued the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification. To do so, our project team reviewed every building product that was installed, procured responsibly sourced lumber, and prioritized local trade partners.

Next up was our first ground-up developments: Charleston East and Bay View in Silicon Valley. At 1.1 million square feet, Bay View is set to open this year while Charleston East, at 600,000 square feet, is nearing completion. These two buildings allowed us to work with the LBC on a scale never done before.

And finally, our newest addition to Google’s Sunnyvale campus — 237 Moffett Park Drive (237 MPD) — aspires toward a different kind of moonshot: to be the largest renovation project and the third-largest project ever certified by ILFI in the world. With this 250,000-square-foot project we are pursuing the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification, and we’ve designed the project to achieve four of the seven Petals and an LEED v4 Platinum Certification.

The entrance to a long, window-filled building. The entryway says ‘237 MPD’.

The exterior of Google new Sunnyvale office, 237 MPD.

The building was originally developed in the 1960’s as a research and development facility for one of the world’s first mainframe and supercomputer firms. We honored that legacy of innovation by transforming the existing building into a workplace that embodies regenerative design.

There are many subtle and intentional design features that make 237 MPD an exceptional space. The integrated design team created Oculus, a huge penetration cut through the roof and structure of the building that floods the interior with natural light and views. Materials are given a second chance throughout the building — from still-functioning components of the original mechanical systems to roughly 300 interior doors made with veneer from oak trees salvaged from the Mendocino complex fires of 2018. In total, 3,400 tons of waste (or 91 percent of total waste generated) was diverted from the landfill. Beyond the building, the grounds were designed with wet meadows in low-lying areas and native oak trees on higher ground to echo the region’s historical ecology, offer habitat for wildlife and reduce the demand for water.

237 MPD also looks to the future with innovative sustainability systems. A total of 5,000 on-site solar panels cover 91 percent of annual estimated energy demand. Helios, an interactive light sculpture, illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals by showing the building’s live energy data. Furthermore, captured and stored rainwater reduces potable demand for toilet flushing by 30 percent and 100 percent of irrigation demand is met by municipally-supplied recycled water. All of these design features create a workplace that is regenerative and promotes well-being, underpinned by the industry's most rigorous sustainability certification.

  • An aerial shot of a building shows an L-shaped office building with large glass windows. Outside the landscaping is made up of green shrubbery and bushes with yellow flowers spotted with coastal live oaks and divided by a paved walking path.

    Native landscaping — featuring coast live oaks — offers habitat for wildlife and reduces demand for water.

  • Inside the building there are multiple levels of seating, including amphitheater seating, a large sectional couch and small tables with chairs. The space is open and airy and punctuated with colored cushions and large potted plants. One of the walls is covered in white paneling made out of circuit boards.

    There are 31 salvaged materials scattered throughout the project. Showcased salvaged material installations include the circuit board art wall.

  • The office lobby has wood paneling on the ceiling and one wall that says 'Google Cloud' with a long reception desk made out of reclaimed redwood. In the corner a couch and two chairs are set against the backdrop of a large piece of abstract artwork.

    Salvaged materials are incorporated throughout the building, including in works by local artists as well as reclaimed redwood.

  • A wall inside a building features an installation that is made up of lines of lights that look like a sunburst. At the center is a digital screen that shows live energy data. The screen says, "Since we opened +120% energy harvested than used."

    Helios, an interactive light sculpture, quite literally illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals and shows the building’s live energy data.

  • An image of the courtyard is framed by an oval shape that looks down into the sun-filled courtyard that shows paved walkways, an outdoor staircase and landscaping.

    A new "oculus" courtyard is placed into the building's original structure, bringing daylight into previously dark areas of the building.

Our work here isn't just about pursuing certification on bigger and bigger projects, it’s also about showcasing what is possible in regenerative building today as an inspiration to drive progress. In 2020, our 6 Pancras Square office in London became the first building in the world to be awarded a Zero Carbon certification, paving the way for a partnership between Google and ILFI to plan a volume approach to certification. In alignment to our aim to run our data centers and campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, we're exploring how we can use the ILFI Zero Carbon certification efficiently and effectively across our real estate portfolio.

As we move forward, we’ll continue to approach our built environment as not simply a space for renovation, but also as an opportunity for regeneration.

Taking the Living Building Challenge to the next level

When we design and build Google offices around the world, we strive to deliver on our commitment to sustainability. This means thinking about everything from reducing and diverting waste to cultivating healthy spaces and places to accelerating carbon-free energy strategies. It also means working with industry leaders to pave a path for others and push the boundary of what’s possible. The Living Building Challenge (LBC) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is one of the most ambitious green building certifications in the world. Of the largest projects ever to pursue certification through ILFI, five are Google’s workplaces — including our newest office in Sunnyvale, California.

Our collaboration with ILFI started nearly 20 years ago when we set out to combat the “new office” smell from fresh carpet and paint. As a sustainability partner for Google, this was one of my first projects: to use better materials to create the healthiest possible indoor environment. We used LBC’s Red List as a guide for what chemicals to avoid in our building products. Beyond improving the health of our indoor spaces, we also paved the way for others to purchase healthier materials. Through our purchasing power we encouraged more manufacturers to create third-party healthy material labels for their products.

Since that first project, we’ve hit more milestones with buildings across the U.S.

In 2015, we took our focus on materials to the next level with our Chicago office renovation. The 1000 West Fulton Market office renovation included 237,000 square feet of office space to build out. We expanded the reach of our Red List scope and pursued the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification. To do so, our project team reviewed every building product that was installed, procured responsibly sourced lumber, and prioritized local trade partners.

Next up was our first ground-up developments: Charleston East and Bay View in Silicon Valley. At 1.1 million square feet, Bay View is set to open this year while Charleston East, at 600,000 square feet, is nearing completion. These two buildings allowed us to work with the LBC on a scale never done before.

And finally, our newest addition to Google’s Sunnyvale campus — 237 Moffett Park Drive (237 MPD) — aspires toward a different kind of moonshot: to be the largest renovation project and the third-largest project ever certified by ILFI in the world. With this 250,000-square-foot project we are pursuing the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification, and we’ve designed the project to achieve four of the seven Petals and an LEED v4 Platinum Certification.

The entrance to a long, window-filled building. The entryway says ‘237 MPD’.

The exterior of Google new Sunnyvale office, 237 MPD.

The building was originally developed in the 1960’s as a research and development facility for one of the world’s first mainframe and supercomputer firms. We honored that legacy of innovation by transforming the existing building into a workplace that embodies regenerative design.

There are many subtle and intentional design features that make 237 MPD an exceptional space. The integrated design team created Oculus, a huge penetration cut through the roof and structure of the building that floods the interior with natural light and views. Materials are given a second chance throughout the building — from still-functioning components of the original mechanical systems to roughly 300 interior doors made with veneer from oak trees salvaged from the Mendocino complex fires of 2018. In total, 3,400 tons of waste (or 91 percent of total waste generated) was diverted from the landfill. Beyond the building, the grounds were designed with wet meadows in low-lying areas and native oak trees on higher ground to echo the region’s historical ecology, offer habitat for wildlife and reduce the demand for water.

237 MPD also looks to the future with innovative sustainability systems. A total of 5,000 on-site solar panels cover 91 percent of annual estimated energy demand. Helios, an interactive light sculpture, illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals by showing the building’s live energy data. Furthermore, captured and stored rainwater reduces potable demand for toilet flushing by 30 percent and 100 percent of irrigation demand is met by municipally-supplied recycled water. All of these design features create a workplace that is regenerative and promotes well-being, underpinned by the industry's most rigorous sustainability certification.

  • An aerial shot of a building shows an L-shaped office building with large glass windows. Outside the landscaping is made up of green shrubbery and bushes with yellow flowers spotted with coastal live oaks and divided by a paved walking path.

    Native landscaping — featuring coast live oaks — offers habitat for wildlife and reduces demand for water.

  • Inside the building there are multiple levels of seating, including amphitheater seating, a large sectional couch and small tables with chairs. The space is open and airy and punctuated with colored cushions and large potted plants. One of the walls is covered in white paneling made out of circuit boards.

    There are 31 salvaged materials scattered throughout the project. Showcased salvaged material installations include the circuit board art wall.

  • The office lobby has wood paneling on the ceiling and one wall that says 'Google Cloud' with a long reception desk made out of reclaimed redwood. In the corner a couch and two chairs are set against the backdrop of a large piece of abstract artwork.

    Salvaged materials are incorporated throughout the building, including in works by local artists as well as reclaimed redwood.

  • A wall inside a building features an installation that is made up of lines of lights that look like a sunburst. At the center is a digital screen that shows live energy data. The screen says, "Since we opened +120% energy harvested than used."

    Helios, an interactive light sculpture, quite literally illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals and shows the building’s live energy data.

  • An image of the courtyard is framed by an oval shape that looks down into the sun-filled courtyard that shows paved walkways, an outdoor staircase and landscaping.

    A new "oculus" courtyard is placed into the building's original structure, bringing daylight into previously dark areas of the building.

Our work here isn't just about pursuing certification on bigger and bigger projects, it’s also about showcasing what is possible in regenerative building today as an inspiration to drive progress. In 2020, our 6 Pancras Square office in London became the first building in the world to be awarded a Zero Carbon certification, paving the way for a partnership between Google and ILFI to plan a volume approach to certification. In alignment to our aim to run our data centers and campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, we're exploring how we can use the ILFI Zero Carbon certification efficiently and effectively across our real estate portfolio.

As we move forward, we’ll continue to approach our built environment as not simply a space for renovation, but also as an opportunity for regeneration.

Ricardo built his career around putting users first

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.

Ricardo smiles on the rooftop of Google’s New York City office, with the lower Manhattan night skyline in the background.

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.

A closer look at one Googler’s flexible work week

In January, we announced expanded leave benefits to help Googlers support their families and loved ones, and encourage employees to take time for themselves. We recently spoke with Googler Patricia Torres, who’s using leave benefits to spend more time with her family.

What’s your role at Google?

I’m a Program Manager based in Sydney, leading talent development programs for university students. My team provides scholarship grants to help students pursuing computer science degrees build their technical skills and become leaders in the field.

Tell us about your Google career journey.

I joined Google in 2016 as an Operations Specialist for the Talent and Outreach Programs team. My daughter Natasha was one and a half years old at the time. As a new parent, I felt guilty about leaving her in daycare — she cried every day for seven months straight! During this time, I worked three days a week, which allowed me to take care of my daughter and still get my work done. Once Natasha turned three, I moved to a four-day work week. Since then, I’ve had five different roles at Google.

What’s your typical workday like?

My days center around my family. After checking emails and eating breakfast, my husband Chris and I take turns getting Natasha ready for school. I usually sign off around 5:30 p.m. and have dinner with my family. We have a nightly routine where we share challenges and what we’re grateful for — it’s been an eye-opening experience for all of us! Because of the time differences between Australia and the U.S. and Europe, where the rest of my team is based, I’ll sometimes jump on conference calls in the evening.

How has the pandemic affected the way you work?

COVID-19 has presented challenges for everybody. For me, the hardest part was balancing childcare with work. When my daughter’s school closed for in-person classes, my husband and I became teachers overnight. It was a huge relief when Google extended their Carer’s Leave policy, which provides time off for parents or caregivers to support children or other family members due to COVID. Over the next few months, Chris and I worked half days, taking turns to make sure Natasha finished her schoolwork. On top of that, my mum was sick and in the hospital. Having the flexibility to work from the hospital and spend time with her before she passed was so important to me. Chris and I are both lucky to work for organizations that prioritize our health, well-being and families.

What advice would you give to others about flexible work?

Prioritization is key. Every month, I put together a schedule for my work and home responsibilities. For my job, I schedule back-to-back meetings on set days and times and block out periods to execute my work — communicating these in advance to my manager, team and stakeholders. At home, we plan meals (and who is going to cook) a week in advance, and we figure out who will take Natasha to her many activities.

Thankfully, I’ve had supportive managers throughout the pandemic who have been understanding of the challenges we faced as a family. My managers told me to take the time I needed and offered an even more flexible work week when I returned from Carer’s Leave. Google has been there to support me and it’s made all the difference — helping our family stay happy and healthy in a time that’s been tough for so many people.

Learn more about Patricia's storyand Google’s benefits.

How Ada’s work empowers Black creators and artists

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.

Ada smiles and holds up the peace sign in front of a neon sign reading “Welcome to LA” and a surfboard that reads “Casey Neistat”

Ada at our Playa Vista office

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.

Ada, wearing a Noogler hat and sitting on a Google bike, poses in front of the Google logo at our Mountain View HQ

Ada at our Mountain View HQ during Noogler orientation

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!