Today’s post is all about Annie Jean-Baptiste. Read on!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a Boston native, and went to school at the University of Pennsylvania, studying International Relations and Political Science. I love New England sports teams, my dog (who comes to work most days), travel (I speak five languages and was a nanny before working at Google), music (I play the cello), and dance (I have danced many genres all my life and most recently danced half-time at college basketball games).
I'm passionate about healthy practices for underrepresented communities and use my platform as an American Heart Association Spokesperson and One Young World ambassador to ensure equal access to resources for communities of color. I think my degree was actually very helpful for my roles at Google—multidisciplinary, global in nature—it taught me to seek out, value, and elevate different perspectives.
What’s your role at Google?
I am the Global Product Inclusion Evangelist for Google. I help ensure we build products for everyone, with everyone. I most recently worked on several projects for Black History Month, including a Google Docs easter egg, where if you typed in #blackhistorymonth and clicked on the explorer box, you got awesome content about black history! What I like most about my role is that I can fuse my background (I started in our Global Business Organization as an Account Manager) with my passion (inclusive products and services).
Complete the following: "I [choose one: code/create/design/build] for..."
I build for communities that typically have not had their voices at the forefront, but are brilliant, innovative, and changing the world!
What inspires you to come in every day?
I am constantly inspired by Googlers and their commitment to dreaming big and creating a world where everyone—no matter their background—can see themselves in our products and use technology to create a better world.
Can you tell us about your decision to enter the process?
My brother was actually a BOLD intern and encouraged me to apply. I was a senior in college and didn't think Google was for me, given my non-tech background, but I deeply believed in making information universally accessible and useful. I was worried about not fitting in or getting the job, so I was so excited to get it AND be able to move back to the Cambridge office to be close to my family. I stayed in that office for four years, and it's still my favorite office to date!
How did the recruitment process go for you?
I applied directly and Google came to my university. I remember how friendly my recruiter was (fun fact: he had been a recruiter previously at my high school), and I also very much appreciated starting with a cohort of new grads—it made the process super fun.
What do you wish you’d known when you started the process?
That there are so many roles at Google—you don't have to be an engineer or a certain type of person to work here. In fact, my team's mission is to make sure that there are diverse perspectives, so we can build products for everyone.
Can you tell us about the resources you used to prepare for your interview or role?
For the interview, do your research—keep up with current events, what's going on in the tech industry, etc. Have a position on what excites and intrigues or challenges you in the tech landscape. Think of questions for your interviewer as well—it needs to be a fit for you, too!
Do you have any tips you’d like to share with aspiring Googlers?
Have a deep commitment to always learning. Ask questions. Be humble. Think about those voices you typically don't hear and how to ensure they have a seat at the table.
