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2015 Black History Month Google Student Tribute: Michael Tubbs
February 26, 2015
Over the past month, we've been showcasing the amazing work of some of Google’s Student Programs Alumni in their communities. In the final installment of the Black History Month Student Tribute series we are catching up with
Michael
who participated in the 2010 BOLD Internship Program and went on to be elected as a Councilman for the city of
Stockton, California
.
What’s one thing about you that many people do not know?
My email address in high school was “lovetobball247@aol.com”! This is a tough question. I feel like J. Cole when he said, “Share my life with strangers who know me better than I know myself.” I tell my story so many times, I’m not even sure what people don’t know!
Since you’ve graduated from the BOLD internship program, what have you been up to?
As a BOLD intern, I learned about project management, how to interact with others and the importance of transparency and communication. I immediately put these skills to work as an intern in the White House and during my time studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. The summer after, I co-founded the Summer Success and Leadership Academy at the University of the Pacific and designed a week long residential experience for 50 Stockton students. During my senior year at Stanford, I received my bachelor’s degree with honors, my master’s degree in Policy, Organizational and Leadership studies, and decided to run for city council in my hometown of Stockton.
Since graduation, I’ve been featured in a documentary, True Son, that was screened at Google and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. As a Councilman, I have been able to to equip our officers with body cameras and establish an Office of Violence Prevention in partnership with the Police Chief. I have also been able to start literacy programs with the Housing Authority, pass “Ban the Box” legislation to give ex-offenders the chance to apply for jobs for which they qualify, open the first bank in my district in 50 years and I have increased philanthropic support for my district.
You’re a Stockton City Councilman. Was that always something you wanted to do?
Absolutely not. I view it more as a calling, as I was motivated by the murder of my cousin to go back and do my best to use the considerable blessings I had been given to improve my community.
You inspire a lot of your peers but who inspires you?
Mostly local people and luminaries from my past. My mom, aunt and grandmother inspire me and continue to inspire me. They are three single women who are not well educated, yet have done a phenomenal job. Historically, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth have inspired me because they drove change despite facing so many more obstacles than we face today. Marian Wright Edelman inspires me, too, as do the original Freedom Riders. Finally, people in Stockton who are doing amazing things despite extraordinary challenges inspire me.
Why do you think it’s important to give back to others?
“The greatest of you shall be the servant of all,” said Jesus and I agree. Giving back is not a choice but a necessity because we all exist in this ecosystem together and the principle of Ubuntu is so true - “I only am when we all are.”
Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team
2015 Black History Month Google Student Tribute: Maurita Ament
February 19, 2015
We’re continuing our student tribute in honor of Black History Month and showcasing Maurita, a Sophomore at Spelman College and Google Student Ambassador.
Tell us one really interesting fact about you?
I used to live in Italy for 2 & ½ years!
How were you introduced to Computer Science and what prompted you to study it in College?
I was introduced to Computer Science when I was twelve years old living in Rome, Italy. I spent a lot of time on the computer playing games like Neopets when I lived there. On Neopets, users connected with each other through “Guilds”. After joining a few of them I realized I wanted to make my own. However, once I made them, no one would join. I started browsing through multiple guilds to see what theirs had that mine didn’t. This was how I discovered HTML/CSS, Adobe Photoshop, and Computer Science. After teaching myself how to code and do some graphic design I was able to get over 100+ members to join my Guild.
How are you helping others who are interested in Computer Science?
As a Google Student Ambassador (GSA) for Spelman one of the first events I held was a social for the Spelman College Computer Science major’s where our freshman Spelman Sisters each received between 1-2 upperclassmen Spelman Sisters. The point of the event was to connect freshman with upperclassmen and for the upperclassmen to act as their mentor. If the freshman needed help understanding complex computer science concepts or just a new friend who could help guide them through the transition into college, the upperclassmen would assist them. I believe that Computer Science is a very challenging major/field, and as a freshman it can be an overwhelming experience, especially since it’s not a topic learned in great detail before college.
If you were given $1,000,000 to help others, how would you use the money?
I would establish as many computer labs for K-12 graders as possible. I would create these labs in poorer areas that don’t have the resources to fund a fully functioning computer lab. I would also give money to the American public education to change/improve what is taught in the Computer Science classes. I believe that if you know how to code, do graphic design, or effectively use a computer to gain knowledge, you can do anything your heart desires. They could use their creative and critical thinking skills to build android/ios apps or even websites. According to
Time Magazine
, “Even if students wanted to dive into programming [Java], the course is only offered in 10% of American high schools”. Without being given the education to dream bigger, students are also not given the opportunity to think outside of the box.
Why do you think it’s important to give back to others?
Life is a difficult and beautiful journey with obstacles that may seem insurmountable at the time. I believe that giving back causes a positive chain reaction, inspiring people to overcome the hardships that they are faced with, and enjoy the moments that take their breaths away. By giving back, you’re not only spreading positive energy that can turn an individuals day or life around, but you’re also giving someone the ability to do the same for another.
Posted by Melanie Lazare, Student Outreach team
2015 Black History Month Google Student Tribute: Robin McKinnie
February 12, 2015
Last week, we kicked off the Black History Month Student Tribute series by showcasing the amazing work Elizabeth Davis has done both on and off her college campus. This week we’re catching up with Robin, a member of our inaugural
BOLD Discovery class
and co-founder of
The Village Micro Fund
.
What’s one really awesome fact about you?
I’m one of those Southern kids who can trace their whole family’s history back to a few small towns. In fact, a good number of my older relatives live in the same towns and neighborhoods where my family has lived for generations. It seems small, but I’m grateful for being able to acknowledge my roots.
What are you most passionate about?
Community development as it pertains to building up neighborhoods and the people who live there. I was a community organizer my senior year of high school. The experience exposed me to the way neighborhoods and communities work and instilled in me the desire to serve and significantly impact others. In college, that drive extended to helping make structural change in communities and finding ways to build with struggling communities instead of giving back from a distance. Over time this has become something that drives me, not just a responsibility or something I derive happiness from.
You helped start a non-profit along with a few of your peers. Tell us about it and what motivated you guys to create it?
We’re creating platforms for people to invest in small business throughout Atlanta. We provide financial and consulting services to small business, primarily in distressed communities like the ones surrounding our school. Each of us has a strong conviction about using our interests in business and entrepreneurship to serve the community. Over time we realized the need to help communities (especially underserved black communities) become self-sustainable. Money has to circulate within a community for people who live there to feel its effect. So if every business in a neighborhood is a franchise, most of the money spent there won’t be reinvested in employment, infrastructure, and education for the people spending it. The Village Micro Fund became a way for us to give people the intellectual and financial resources to grow with their community.
Why do you think it’s important to give back to others?
I grew up with plenty of privileges and opportunities. At the same time, I have family members who were never able to enjoy some of the life experiences and opportunities that I have. I’ve learned to cherish what I have and make the most of every opportunity, and in the same vain, create as many opportunities for other people as I can.
Robin (far left) and his peers at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia
Posted by Chastity Wells, Student Outreach team
2015 Black History Month Google Student Tribute: Elizabeth Davis
February 5, 2015
At Google, we value diversity and inclusion and support individuals who do the same. In this series, the Google University Programs team is celebrating diversity and honoring Black History Month by showcasing four of our student programs alumni who have done incredible things in their community. This week we're catching up with
Elizabeth Davis
, who participated in our 2014 Summer Trainee Engineering Program (STEP) in Zurich.
It’s great to catch up with you again. What’s one of the most exciting things that has happened to you since we last featured you on the blog?
This past fall, I had the amazing opportunity to travel with Google to the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference was an incredible experience for me as it was the first real chance I’ve had to connect with so many women of color in Computer Science. I was inspired by the thousands of women present who are not only techmakers themselves, but also passionate about supporting other women techmakers from all over the world. I left the conference with some phenomenal new mentors and friends.
Elizabeth at Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, October 2014
Can you give us a quick recap of the Google Women in Engineering Mentorship Program you launched and how it has developed since your internship ended?
During my internship this past summer, I, along with another intern, saw the need to cultivate a stronger community for women at Google. We realized that female Nooglers (new Googlers) needed to feel supported as they began their careers. With that in mind, we worked with the president of Google Women in Engineering (GWE) in Google Zurich, and the Google Head of Diversity for EMEA and decided that our best approach to addressing this need would be to start a mentorship program that connected female Nooglers to experienced employees. We completed an incredibly successful cycle of the program at the Zurich office over the summer, and have actually expanded the program to two other offices: Munich and Krakow. At the end of the summer we also had the chance to talk to the Google Global Diversity and Inclusion Director Yolanda Mangolini who has helped us plan out how we can continue to expand the Google Women in Engineering Mentorship Program (GWE-MP) globally.
What other initiatives have you been working on since being back in school?
As a section leader for our introductory programming course, I have the opportunity to teach undergraduate and graduate students who are trying out programming for the first time. This is a unique opportunity for me to not only help my students build a strong foundation in programming methodology and concepts, but also dispel any misconceptions they may have about the field and hopefully keep them involved in Computer Science.
I’m also involved in
she++
which is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in the technology industry. We are currently organizing our national #include Fellowship Program, which provides resources and support to high school students who want to start grassroots initiatives to increase Computer Science education in their local communities. Diversity is really important to me so I have also recently begun working with professors in the Stanford Computer Science Department to figure out how to increase the representation of Black and Hispanic students in the CS major.
Why do you think it’s important to give back to others?
Giving back and helping others in need is a huge part of my core values and beliefs. I want everyone to experience the opportunities I’ve had as well as the confidence to pursue their dreams without feeling like an outsider in a largely homogenous community, or feeling like an imposter due to stereotype threats or other factors. I believe everyone has their unique talents and is capable of so much, and I want people of every gender and race within the technology industry to feel confident and empowered.
For information on additional Google student programs, visit
google.com/students/programs
.
Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs team
Paying it Forward Contest: And the winner is....
February 28, 2014
The results are in from our “Pay it Forward” contest honoring Black History Month. We invited student organizations from colleges around the country to make a 2-minute video with fellow students and tell us how they’ve paid it forward to the Black community.
After tallying up the scores, we’re excited to announce that the winners are:
Daughters of the Collective
Michigan State University
Watch the
full YouTube video submission here
Daughters of the Collective supports young African American females by providing mentorship and exposure to an array of educational, cultural and artistic opportunities. Congratulations to Daughters of the Collective. We’re proud to showcase the work that you’re doing in the community - it’s truly inspiring and exemplary of the values we celebrate during Black History Month.
We’d like to thank all of the student organizations that participated. The judges found it difficult to select just one submission and were very impressed with the amazing work that was showcased in the videos. We hope you all will continue to work hard to impact the world and pay it forward through acts of service even after Black History Month.
Posted by Chastity Wells, University Programs Team
Contest Spotlight: ‘Paying it forward’ in honor of Black History Month
February 4, 2014
Black History Month is a time for celebrating and honoring important events and people in the Black community. We know there are so many college students out there impacting the Black community and we'd like to capture your experience. To honor Black History Month, make a 2-minute video with some of your fellow students and tell us how you're paying it forward to the Black community. We'll post your stories, and you could win $500 for your campus organization.
Contest overview
We’re inviting student organizations recognized and approved by their college or university (US based) to produce a two-minute YouTube video that showcases how they have positively impacted the Black community. We’re seeking organizations that have offered some sort of service or philanthropic support such as volunteering at an after school program, fundraising for an initiative, etc. The video should include what the student organization is, the school the organization is from, what business/group/individual effort or initiative it has supported and how.
How to enter
Record a two-minute video showcasing how your organization has positively impacted the Black community.
Upload the video to YouTube and ensure it is public so that the judges may view it.
Complete this entry form
and include the link to your YouTube video.
Post the YouTube video to Google+ using the hashtag
#BHMgooglechallenge
Guidelines
The deadline to submit completed applications is
February 21st, 2014 at 11:59pm PST
.
Applications should include a
completed entry form
, YouTube video and post on Google+ using the hashtag
#BHMgooglechallenge
.
Videos should be no longer than two minutes.
Ensure your video is public so that the judges may review it.
For additional information on what qualifies as “impacting the Black community” see the
FAQ
below.
Judging criteria
Compliance with guidelines: 20%
Creativity: 30%
Impact of the work done: 50%
Submissions will be judged on creativity, ability to demonstrate impact and compliance with the contest rules. Contest judges are Charles Pratt (Software Engineer and “Googler in Residence” at Howard University), Lacy Caruthers (Principal of the Google.Org team) and Malik Ducard (Content Partnerships Director for YouTube). The deadline to submit a video entry is
February 21st, 2014 at 11:59pm PST
.
Prize
The winning organization will be announced
February 28th, 2014
. The winning organization will have its video showcased on our Google Student Blog and win $500 .
Key Dates:
Submissions due
February 21st, 2014 at 11:59pm PST
Winner announced
Feb 28th, 2014 on Google Students blog
Students participating in the Black Googler Network (BGN) Chicago Event in 2013
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Google hosting this contest?
We're proud of the contributions that students are making to the Black community and beyond. We figured we'd put our YouTube and G+ products to good use by capturing some amazing stories as we celebrate Black History Month.
Who can participate in this contest?
This contest is designed for student-run organizations at colleges and universities in the United States. Entries must be submitted by a student-run organization. Submissions from individuals about personal service will not be accepted for this contest. Participating student organizations must be approved and recognized by their college or university.
Are international students/colleges allowed to participate in the contest?
International students attending a college in the United States and involved in a club or organization that is participating in the contest are welcome to participate. Students and student organizations at colleges and universities outside of the United States are not eligible for this contest.
Our organization includes students from another school, can we participate?
Yes, please just be sure to specify this on your entry form and note that you will be treated as one organization.
How will the $500 prize be awarded?
The prize will be awarded to a collective campus organization, not an individual. The money will be paid via check to the organization directly from Google.
Our organization is receiving funding/sponsorships from another company, can we participate?
Yes, student organizations receiving funding from other companies are eligible to participate.
What is considered “impacting the Black community”?
We’re seeking organizations that have offered some sort of service or philanthropic support such as volunteering at an after school program, fundraised for an initiative, etc. Hosting events such as parties, are not considered philanthropic and won’t be considered for this contest.
Organizations
do not
have to be limited to supporting the Black community exclusively. For example, volunteering at a local Boys and Girls club with a large number of Black students, or coding for a Black owned business, are examples of impacting the Black community.
What should be covered in the two minute video?
Each video should cover the following:
Name of student organization being represented.
Name of school the organization is a part of.
Name of company, club, organization, initiative, entity, etc. the organization supported and the impact that resulted from that support.
When are submissions due and when will we find out who won?
Submissions are due February 21st at 11:59pm PST. The winners will be announced February 28th on the Google Students blog.
Is there a limit to the number of entries we can submit?
Yes, please submit one entry per organization at your university.
If you have additional questions that have not been addressed in the FAQ, please email
students@google.com
.
Posted by Sarah Henderson, Student Development Team
Celebrating Black History Month: A Q&A with Yolanda Mangolini
February 24, 2012
As we celebrate
Black History Month
, we bring you a series profiling black Googlers in various roles. Today we’re finishing up our series with Yolanda Mangolini, Director of our Global Diversity Talent & Inclusion and Talent & Outreach Programs teams. -- Ed.
Can you tell us about your background and your road to Google?
Yolanda Mangolini:
Although I work in People Operations, my background is not in human resources. After graduating college with an economics degree, I worked on Wall Street in investment banking for a couple of years. While the experience gave me great analytical training, the hours were killer! I decided to head back to business school at Stanford to get my MBA.
Between my first and second year of B-school, I interned with the Boston Consulting Group where I fell in love with management consulting. I love to learn and get excited about solving tough problems. Consulting gave me an opportunity to do both.
After six years, I moved to California from the East Coast and joined Wells Fargo’s Consumer Operations division as the Head of Strategy where I did similar strategic and operational projects that I had done while at BCG, except now it was all in financial services. After three years there, I was ready for something new and that’s when Google came into the picture. That was almost six years ago. I had never considered HR before and in fact my perception of HR was that it was this big, lumbering, uninteresting administrative function. But Google was at an interesting inflection point in its evolution. It had ~6K people at that point and was getting to a size where it needed to have more robust people processes in place. I was excited about to be a part of building some of those processes and the opportunity to have a real impact.
How has your career developed at Google?
YM:
The last six years have been a fun, interesting and unexpected ride. I joined Google in an individual contributor role after having been a people manager for almost ten years, which was a bit of a shift for me. My very first job was actually working with Laszlo Bock [Senior Vice President, People Operations] on a project looking at how we could improve sourcing and recruiting effectiveness. One of the recommendations coming out of that work was the idea of a Central Staffing team. I was asked if I wanted to run it and the rest, as they say, is history. At that time, Central Staffing consisted of job boards, resume screeners, the contingent workforce team and non-exempt workforce processes. We would also do special staffing projects focused on process improvement. I knew absolutely nothing about Staffing and had a ton to learn. I found the challenge a ton of fun, plus I worked with an absolutely fabulous team. After spending a couple of years doing that, I moved out of Central Staffing and into the Talent & Outreach Programs Manager role, got Central Staffing back and then added Global Diversity and K12 Outreach.
What makes Google different from the other companies you’ve worked for?
YM:
I’m really lucky in that two of the four companies I’ve worked for in my life have consistently been within the ten best places to work on Fortune’s Great Places to Work survey. I’ve worked for some really great companies, but Google is a very different type of company. The first thing that struck me is how much the employee is at the center of our people processes. At some of the other larger companies I worked for, I felt like the company was there to support senior leadership and not so much the rank and file employee. The other thing I noticed was how strong a voice employees had in the company. When they spoke, leadership really listened. I saw this both in Googlegeist (our annual company survey), TGIF (our weekly company-wide meetings, hosted by the founders) as well as many other places. The e-mail discussion threads were also so fascinating. I had never seen an employee base engage each other in such open, spirited discussion like that before. Google truly has a one-of-a-kind culture.
Your official title at Google is Director, Global Diversity Talent & Inclusion and Talent & Outreach Programs. What does that mean?
YM:
It’s certainly a mouthful! The Diversity part of my job basically means I’m responsible for ensuring we build a diverse and inclusive workplace where Googlers can bring their whole selves to work. We want Google to be the best place to work for everybody. My teams help support the activities of 19 different Employee Resource Groups at Google, from the Black Googler Network to the Gayglers to the Greyglers to VetNet. We also strive to build an inclusive culture through events like Sum of Google which attempts to bring all Googlers into the diversity conversation and working with the Benefits team to make sure our benefit programs treat all of our Googlers equally. The Talent & Outreach Programs part of my job focuses on three primary things: identifying, developing and hiring talented university students around the world, building supplemental experienced hire candidate pipelines to funnel to our functional Staffing teams and helping to promote and maintain Google’s employment brand through sponsorships of various technical conferences and hosting events like CodeJam and I/O Extended. And although it’s not in my title, one of the teams I am responsible for is the K-12 Outreach team which build programs aimed at developing the next generation of computer scientists (particularly those traditionally underrepresented in CS).
When I’m not at Google...
YM:
I’m spending quality time with my family. I have a 4-year old daughter and 6-year old son who keep my husband and I very busy!
How do you manage your work life balance?
YM:
It’s definitely challenging, but I try to set boundaries. I always leave work by 5pm to get home in time to have dinner with my kids. From 5pm to 9pm is their time. We read, play board games or make-up pretend stories. I often have to get back online to close out emails from earlier in the day, but that doesn’t happen until after my kids have gone to bed. I also never work on weekends, unless I am in the middle of a fire drill. It’s important to disconnect. I make sure I take multiple vacations throughout the year where I can really get away from work.
What does being part of an employee resource group at Google mean to you? What makes BGN special?
YM:
To me, it’s being part of group where there are some shared experiences --- whether that be because of your gender or cultural background or military experience. BGN’s members are incredibly passionate. I had actually only been at Google a few months when BGN was started by a couple of passionate Googlers. I remember being struck then by how engaged the BGN members were with both the Google community and the external Black community. There was an intense desire to have an impact and make a difference. Six years later, I still that engagement and passion. I see it in the group that faithfully travels down to New Orleans to build homes and work with local business and I see it in the team that planned a whole month full of events for Black History Month.
In your opinion, why is Google committed to diversity? What does diversity mean to Google? Why is diversity important?
YM:
Focus on the user and all else will follow. As Googlers, that is something we hear a lot. We also live and breathe our mission: “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. There’s no way we can truly be user-centric and deliver on our mission unless we have a diverse workforce. Our users come from all walks of life and from all corners of the world. In order to meet the needs of our customers, our workforce needs to reflect our globally diverse set of users. At Google, we think of diversity in its broadest terms. It’s not just gender or ethnic background which comes to mind when most people think about the word diversity. It's a diversity of perspectives and educational background. There have been numerous studies which have proven how more diverse teams lead to better products and more innovative teams. Innovation is core to what Google does. If we want to remain at the forefront of innovation, we will need to make sure we have a diverse workforce.
What is your most memorable Black History Month event or moment at Google, or which event are you most looking forward to in 2012?
YM:
There have been so many great moments. Hearing from Dr. Clarence Jones, one of the co-authors of MLK’s I Have a Dream speech was enthralling. The art exhibit featuring a local Black artist was also amazing. But I have to say one of my favorite moments was watching “The Stepplers”, Google’s newly formed Step team perform was definitely a highlight! Their performance was fantastic!
Posted by Jessica Lulovics, University Programs Specialist
Celebrating Black History Month: A Q&A with Jana Landon
February 22, 2012
As we celebrate
Black History Month
, we bring you a series profiling black Googlers in various roles. Today we’re continuing our series with Jana Landon, a people operations rotation associate on the non-technical University Programs team. -- Ed.
Can you tell us about your background and your road to Google?
Jana Landon:
During my junior year of college at Dartmouth (where I studied psychology), I decided to get involved with the Dartmouth Black Business Association. Shortly after I got involved, Google held an info session about the
BOLD internship program
. I applied and was accepted as a member of the 2010 BOLD intern class and that’s how I got my first exposure to Google. During the 11-week internship I was a member of the Global Diversity and Inclusion team in People Operations. I really enjoyed the work I was doing and the Google culture. When I was extended a full-time offer from Google a few weeks after the internship it wasn’t a hard decision to make because I knew so much about the company and had a realistic idea of what it would be like to work there full-time.
What was the Google BOLD program like?
JL:
As an intern on the Global Diversity and Inclusion team, I supported internal employee resource groups (ERGs) like the Black Googlers Network, Hispanic Googlers Network, VetNet, Gayglers, Capability Council, Google Women Engineers and many more (there are about 17 ERGs). Working with these groups and also with teammates who sat in Asia and Europe really opened my eyes to the multi-faceted meaning of diversity. What I loved most about the internship were my projects. One of the most challenging but also rewarding projects I worked on was the
Diversity at Google video
. I went through a long process of proposal writing to get the adequate resources to produce a high quality video. I worked with Google’s internal production studio where I created, produced and edited the video which showcases all of the ways Google supports diversity for new employees. My “magic Google moment” was on my first day as a full-time Googler when I saw my diversity video played at Noogler (new Googler) orientation. It’s nice to know that even as an intern the work I did made a lasting impact.
The other great thing about BOLD was the people. That summer I lived with seven other interns in a big house in San Francisco (we called it the “Real World House”). I loved my intern class and a lot of us came back full-time. It’s nice moving across the country and already having a network of close friends.
As a very recent college graduate, how have you managed the transition from college to the workplace?
JL:
It really helps having been a BOLD intern, because I had a great sense of what the work was going to be like and how the company works. Still, no matter what, starting a new chapter of your life is going to be hectic. It’s kind of like being a freshman again. You learn as you go and you have to pace yourself. You can’t get involved with everything right away or you are going to burn out. The term work/life balance becomes very real because you aren’t just starting a new job, you’re starting a new life. My co-workers and managers have been very helpful since they have been at Google and in the Bay Area for a while. I like that Google helps with important things like relocation and also connects you with other “Nooglers.” I learned about a lot of things like apartment openings and furniture sales through the new grad email thread.
What do you know now that you wish you knew as a student? If you could give every college student one piece of advice, what would it be?
JL:
I’d say be open. I would never have guessed that I’d be working in HR or at a tech company at that. Be open to different types of experiences, internships, volunteer opportunities, etc. that can teach you about what you like and sometimes more importantly, what you don’t like. It would have been very easy to write Google off as a place I couldn’t work because I’m not a computer science or engineering person but after allowing myself to learn more about all aspects of Google I realized that I can make a valuable contribution to this company and this industry in other ways.
Your official title at Google is People Operations Rotation Associate. What does that mean?
JL:
I am fortunate to be in a rotational program in People Operations which seeks to expose participants to all aspects of human resources. There are about 15 participants in my cohort and we get the opportunity to have three different roles on three different teams for nine months each. Right now I am in a specialist role, but by the program’s end I will have completed an analytical role and a generalist role. We are actually in the process of interviewing with new teams now because we switch in April. It’s pretty exciting!
What team are you currently working on? What is your role?
JL:
My first rotation is with the University Programs team. I help recruit undergraduates for full-time and internship roles on the non-technical side of Google (i.e Sales, People Operations, and Marketing) by traveling to campus and putting on programs. This fall I covered outreach at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). I’ve also been able to work on aspects of the upcoming 2012 BOLD program which is very special to me as a former BOLDer.
When I’m not at Google...
JL:
I travel. Hanover, NH wasn’t the easiest place to fly in and out of while in school so it’s nice to be able to take weekend trips. I’m trying to get to know Northern California, especially Oakland, where I live. Lately I’ve been going to a lot of comedy shows and concerts in Oakland and Berkeley. There’s so much history here, especially with respect to activism and the Black Power movement, that I’d like to learn more about.
What does being part of an employee resource group at Google mean to you? What makes BGN special?
JL:
Being a part of an affinity group means having a support system. I can get everything from career advice to “where’s the party at” advice from my fellow BGNers and I’m able to meet so many people outside of People Operations that I might not have met otherwise. Something that makes BGN special is that it’s one of the first (if not the first) employee resource groups. Because of this, there is a lot of collaboration with ERGs that are establishing themselves to help them get their programs off the ground. This also means that there are all ages represented so when we have events there’s something for everyone.
What is your most memorable Black History Month event or moment at Google, or which event are you most looking forward to in 2012?
JL:
I’m really disappointed that I missed the debut of the “Stepplers”--Google’s steppers. There was a “Step Show” last week that I couldn’t attend but I’ve seen the video and they were amazing! Other than that I’m looking forward to the Black History Month finale which will be an awards ceremony to honor those whose work has had large impact on BGN.
Posted by Jessica Lulovics, University Programs Specialist
Celebrating Black History Month: A Q&A with Brittney Fraser
February 16, 2012
As we celebrate
Black History Month
, we bring you a series profiling black Googlers from various functions. We’re kicking off our series with Brittney Fraser, a software engineer on our search team. -- Ed.
Can you tell us about your background and your road to Google?
Brittney Fraser:
I was born in LA, but my family moved to Maryland when I was seven. Given that I dislike cold weather and humidity, I jumped at the opportunity to go to Stanford. I received both my BS and MS degrees in Computer Science at Stanford and was a TA for the introductory CS course for the majority of my years there. As graduation approached, my next decision was where to start my career. I looked at a number of companies, all of which had challenging opportunities, but Google stood out. The culture of openness and having fun while you work really appealed to me, as did the thought of problem solving on the scale at which Google operates. I was excited to work on products that will be used by millions and millions of people from different cultures, generations, and countries.
How did you become interested in computer science?
BF:
I started college with this vague idea that I was going to be a doctor and started taking a lot of chemistry/pre-med courses, but I wasn't super passionate about this. During my sophomore year, my best friend convinced me to take an introductory computer science class and I instantly fell in love. There was just so much more freedom to solving the problems! Most of my chemistry problem sets were based on memorization, but this wasn't how things were in CS; instead of being told how to solve the problem, I was just told here is the problem, now go solve it however you see fit. So I immediately changed my major; I appreciate both the challenge and opportunity to bring my own creativity to solving diverse problems.
Why should students consider studying computer science?
BF:
Computer science as a field is continuously changing, which means there will always be opportunities to learn and create something new. Furthermore, as more and more things become digital or online, CS is increasingly instrumental in every aspect of our lives – from banking to health and medicine to online shopping to social networking, etc. Regardless of the industry, computer science will be key to how they operate.
What exactly does it mean to be a software engineer?
BF:
Fundamentally, a software engineer uses a computer to solve problems. We write code (these are instructions telling the computer what to do) to create a solution to a problem someone has asked us to solve, create, or enhance. Put another way, software engineering is providing the "brain" behind much of the items we use daily to make them operate correctly -- from computers, to cell phones, to word processing applications, to websites – and of course – Google! Most of software engineering is designing the best solution with your team – here is where diversity of views and approaches becomes most helpful because the more ideas you can bring to the table, the greater the opportunity to develop something together no one person would likely develop alone. In addition to problem solving and teamwork, you also need to be able to clearly explain your ideas and be willing to incorporate someone else's idea into a final solution.
What team/project do you work on at Google?
BF:
I'm a software engineer within a great group called search features. We are responsible for implementing all of the new features on Google's search results page. Some recent, well-known search features projects include
Google Instant
,
Search by Image
, and our
Flight Search
feature. More specifically, I work on a smaller team within this group focused on social search. Our focus is to help make your search results more relevant and personal to you, including results shared with you by people you care about. We recently launched
Search plus Your World
which surfaces photos, websites and Google+ posts that your friends have shared with you publicly and privately.
As a recent college graduate, how have you been able to make an impact at Google?
BF:
I've been at Google for a little over a year and a half and I've already been involved in two launches. The first was a feature called
Item Search
, which allowed the user to better explore items within a list/category. (My personal favorite example query is "Disney Princesses"; look for the Top References block.) And as I mentioned above, I was working on the Search plus Your World launch. I remember one day a few weeks before launch, the senior vice president of Search came into my office and asked for an update on the status of the product and when we expected to launch. Until then, I didn't know that he even knew my name and yet here he was looking to me for answers! It was really exciting, and slightly nerve-racking.
As one of only a handful of African-American students in computer science at Stanford, and the only African-American woman, it is very important to me to increase the diversity of the field. It is only with a variety of different viewpoints and life experiences that we are able to create products that appeal universally. Towards that end, I’ve become involved with Google’s campus outreach and college recruiting efforts, and recently participated in a
video
that highlights women in technology.
What do you know now that you wish you knew as a student? If you could give every college student one piece of advice, what would it be?
BF:
The most important thing you can do is follow your passion, even if it differs from the expectations placed upon you. I arrived at Stanford with my parents telling me I should be a doctor. And for a while, I listened to them and took a bunch of classes I didn’t enjoy. When I first discovered computer science, I struggled for a little bit since changing my major would mean disappointing my parents. But I’ve learned that time goes very quickly, so my view is it’s better to spend it doing something you love than not. My parents did come around and were happy with my choice when they realized that I had found something I enjoy doing and that I had joined a field leading to numerous career opportunities across the world.
How did being a member of the Stanford Society of Black Scientists and Engineers help you personally or professionally?
BF:
As I mentioned earlier, I was one of only a handful of African-American students in the entire computer science department, which meant there were very few people “like me” in my classes. I’ll admit, there were times that I was discouraged by my choice of major, and often wondered if I had made the right choice. The Society of Black Scientists and Engineers (SBSE) was one of many places I sought encouragement during my first few years. Through SBSE, I was able to meet and befriend a lot of other engineers who were in similar situations, and felt free to talk with them about our feelings of not belonging. Over time, I felt more comfortable having this conversation with a variety of people and I realized that it’s not just African-Americans or women or transplanted East Coasters who feel this way; at some point in time, almost everyone feels like they don’t belong.
SBSE also gave me the opportunity to learn more about other engineering companies in the Bay Area. Every meeting a different company would come speak a little about life at that company and the available job opportunities. I took full advantage of these occasions to learn more about the culture and expectations at other companies, which I referenced when deciding to join Google.
When I’m not at Google...
BF:
I recently moved to San Francisco so I spend a lot of my free time exploring the city (and its restaurants) with friends. I also really enjoy baking while watching terrible straight-to-DVD/TV movies. I also enjoy reading; I just finished
The Hunger Games
trilogy and am now working on
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
.
Posted by Jessica Lulovics, University Programs Specialist
Celebrating our history, accomplishments and community during Black History Month
February 10, 2012
Cross-posted from the
Official Google Blog
If you walk down the halls of our New York office, you might learn something about the history of technology. This month, our walls showcase the contributions of Black inventors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in celebration of Black History Month.
Black History Month, which is every February in the U.S., provides us with an opportunity to recognize the history and diversity of the communities where we operate. Yesterday, our midwestern Googlers listened to the music of Michigan’s only Black and Latino Orchestra and next week,
Dr. Clarence Jones
will be speaking to our Bay-area Googlers about writing Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. This is just a small sampling of the dozens of celebrations Googlers are hosting all month long.
Black History Month also gives us a chance to celebrate the diversity of our Googlers and highlight some ways we work with underrepresented groups. One of my favorite examples is the story of the
Black Googlers Network
(BGN). In June 2006, a group of Googlers looking to connect and foster community among Black colleagues got together to create an internal networking group. The Black Googlers Network started as a mailing list, but quickly grew into much more. Passionate about growing the next generation of Black leaders in the technology industry, BGN partnered with our university programs team to strengthen our relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As a result, we’ve not only increased our recruiting presence at these schools, but are now also partnering with
HBCU faculty
to develop STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum, encouraging more students to pursue degrees in these areas and prepare them for careers in technology.
Members of our BGN are also shaping the way we do business. In May of 2009, two recent grads in our Ann Arbor office saw an opportunity, and what started as an idea bounced around between two twenty-somethings turned into an official Google program. The idea was to help minority-owned small businesses grow their online presence and, just a few months later, the idea became a reality when
Accelerate with Google
officially launched. The program has since grown into a team of several dozen Googlers, all working to get small, minority-owned businesses online and helping those business owners connect with one another.
Our passionate Googlers, like those behind BGN and Accelerate, allow us to better connect with the Black community and help to create an inclusive and diverse workplace. As we throw dozens of celebrations around the country in our Atlanta, Chicago, Ann Arbor, New York, Los Angeles and Mountain View offices to mark Black History Month, we invite you to join us by following our
Google for Students
and
Life at Google
pages on Google+, where we’ll be hosting photos, recaps and hangouts throughout the month.
Posted by Yolanda Mangolini, Director of Global Diversity Talent & Inclusion
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