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My Summer @ Google: Encouraging diversity and inclusion in the workplace
October 19, 2012
Time flies! It seems like just yesterday I attended the Intern Orientation on the first day of my internship, but now I feel as if I have been on my team for years. As my last day is approaching, I am starting to feel a pang of sadness to leave my team, but I am confident and grateful that I have gained in-depth knowledge and experience in just nine weeks of my internship. I also feel lucky to have my mentor who has been very supportive and I worked very closely with another intern and her mentor. It has been a great learning experience to work together as a team.
As an intern, I joined the Talent and Outreach Programs team that designs and delivers initiatives to attract a talented and diverse workforce and raise awareness of the Google employment brand. My intern project was to do research on and design initiatives for students with disabilities. I started by identifying and building relationships with organizations that support students with disabilities. Through these relationships, I then mapped out the talent market by school and major. Based on this research, I was able to plan and execute our first-ever ‘Google Diversity Workshop’ inviting 20+ students with disabilities to the Tokyo office! The students came from all over Japan.
As one of the main organizers of the event, I moderated the panel discussion where we featured two of our disabled Googlers. I also facilitated the group discussions where the participants built on their discussion and presentation skills. It was exciting to see the students enjoy and tackle the project, however, the highlight for me was the dedication of the Googlers who volunteered. This event was a success thanks to the 13 Googlers who came from various functions including HR, Sales, and Engineering. They trusted me and gave me helpful advice throughout the event. I saw firsthand how supportive and encouraging Googlers are.
During the last week of my internship, I gave a tech talk about my intern project. It was a great way for me to share what I had worked on over the summer. I hope Google will continue to hold events for students with disabilities, not only in Japan, but in other countries to raise awareness of the diverse Google culture. Also we would provide opportunities like group work and mingling with other disabled students and Googlers.
My experience at Google has made a big impact on me and has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to become a Googler. Now I am sad to leave, but I am ready for the next stage in my career and make a big impact to the world!
Posted by Ryosuke Nakajima, Intern, Google Japan
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