A reflection on leading, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning at Google

Just a few weeks ago, I celebrated my 9th Googleversary (or Google anniversary). I've experienced several different roles, lived in multiple cities and collected stories from learning from & helping many amazing startups and enterprises across industries build new products and transform using technology. And there are a few things that have stuck with me over the years:

You are responsible for your learning journey

Most of my career has been a story of ending up in places I wouldn't 'normally' be and that, I've now come to learn sparks my little piece of magic. This started first when studying business in university, here, I was selected for a four day introduction to Google's Advertising and Sales techniques, and joined the Google Student Ambassador program. After graduating in 2013 with a “non-engineering degree', I was invited to completed a six-month engineering internship as the first technical Chrome solution specialist across Australia and New Zealand launching Google's Enterprise devices for the first time. Now, on reflection, this was the start of a 9 year engineering and leadership degree at Google that money couldn't buy, and where my leadership philosophy would be born from Google's well known culture of innovation, diversity & inclusive design. I realized very early on what an incredible opportunity I had to learn from amazingly talented people from the founders of the internet itself, to the founders of Google's Go-Language & Product leads who are responsible to scaling Google to Billions of People. This, in combination with my innate curiosity, sparked a real sense of responsibility for the role I could play in consciously shaping technology for millions of people and for taking ownership of my learning journey that defined what would be possible next.?

My innate curiosity sparked a real sense of responsibility for the role I could play in consciously shaping technology for millions of people and for taking ownership of my learning journey that defined what would be possible next.

After working my way to being Senior Solution Architect in Google Cloud, I continued my learning journey with two opportunities for a global rotation in 2017 and 2019 in London. At the same time, I pursued studies with Oxford and Stanford on Customer Experience and New Product Development. On my first overseas stint, I helped Google launch our inaugural Made By Google hardware across Europe, Middle East and Africa, in addition to building Artificial Intelligence (AI) partnerships including educating European policy makers on safe AI practice and AI Ethics. Two years later, I went back to build a Google Cloud consulting and training team across Europe. We helped leaders in startups to large financial institutions identify opportunities to drive Data and AI innovation and plan their people, process and technology journey to the Cloud. Everything about these experiences were new – my role, my team, the work we were doing. I soon learnt the combination of these diverse learning experiences revealed that my super power was an enterprisal mindset, leading through ambiguity, and building teams, and products in white space that had never existed before.?

Focus on creating impact at scale

I grew up in a small town in New South Wales, Australia, where I just about knew most families and never dreamed about having a front row seat the incredible projects and people I’ve worked on to date. Joining Google Cloud in 2014 in Customer Engineering felt like getting a seat on a rocketship. I immediately fell in love with the scale of the problems we were solving for - and the entrepreneurial spirit made me feel at home.?

I immediately fell in love with the scale of the problems we were solving for - and the entrepreneurial spirit made me feel at home.

Today, scalability remains top of mind. I work with both business and technology leaders to accelerate organisations digital transformations through the power of Cloud and help engineers use Google’s cutting-edge technologies to build new solutions across Asia Pacific. I’ve supported building & scaling the Cloud Digital Leader program which upskills both technology and business leaders on the opportunity to leverage Cloud technology. Now, this program is a globally recognized Google Certification used to educate teams on what’s possible with Cloud. I’ve also been lucky to have a front row seat into how Google as a business invests into scalable emerging technology. I was invited as one of 35 Executive across Alphabet to join the GTM Board of Capital G this year 2022 , Alphabet’s independent growth fund, where I support identifying Google next investments and help hyper growth portfolio companies scale across cyber security, web3 and data solutions and into the APAC region.?Its my firm belief that there is not better place to be a part of where the world is going then supporting our thriving startup community be it locally in Australia or Globally.

Focus on building a better world

We’re deeply focused on building diverse teams and inclusive technology that helps millions of people connect and build what’s next all over the world with data and AI at the center.

There has been no more exciting time in history to be part of defining the intersection of technology, humanity and where the world is going than right now. When I think back to the height of the pandemic in 2020, many businesses survived (and thrived) because Cloud technology helped them to stay connected to their customers, pivot and build new products quickly, and keep information flowing while working remotely. We’re deeply focused on building diverse teams and inclusive technology that helps millions of people connect and build what’s next all over the world with data and AI at the center. ?Now more than ever we are called to build smarter, more sustainable solutions that are good for humanity. As an Australian, I’m incredibly proud of the work we are doing on Google’s Digital Futures Initiative (DFI), a five-year, $1-billion-dollar investment to address problems unique to Australia – from using AI to predict floods and fires, to identifying the crown-of-thorn starfishes bleaching the coral reef. The culture at Google is such that it gives you the license and platform to identify wicked problems that you're both deeply connected to, and that Google has a unique opportunity to solve that contributes meaningfully to the world.?

Hosting Google Cloud Sustainability Summit September 2022

Be someone who learns, not just knows

When I think about leadership at Google, three things come to mind: authenticity, emotional intelligence and humility. ?Leaders here are learners just as much as they are knowers, they are guides not guru's. Many of them, now my leadership mentors, have shown me that leading with “this is a tough problem and we don’t have all the answers yet”’ takes courageous leadership. This type of authenticity can change the particles in a room.? It also becomes an invitation for the team to step into leadership roles and together steer the ship. This humble approach reminds me that when building teams, technology and products where they don't yet exist, mastering the art of leading through ambiguity, being a learner not a knower, and asking good questions that start with user empathy becomes your compass. Having a mission the team believes in is key to bringing teams and partners on your journey, especially when the road is not always clear, requires change or challenges the status quo. Creating a space of psychological safety is also important so the team can safely express their opinions and pivot as we have new data. As my career has progressed at Google, I am certainly not immune to the occasional imposter syndrome, but what has remained is my beginner's mind set. I’ve come to learn that being ‘Born in the Cloud’ a digital leader, we have a unique opportunity to bring businesses and leaders into the future without being bound by the way things have ‘always been’ and start first with people at the center of technology decisions.?

When building teams, technology and products where they don't yet exist, mastering the art of leading through ambiguity, practicing being a learner not a knower, and asking good questions that starts with user empathy becomes your compass.

Pay it forward

I am forever grateful for my ‘first believers’ and those who continue to support my leadership journey. I firmly believe that true joy comes from helping others find their way and the most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed. The same goes for building inclusive teams - I focus on Google's three Rs: respect the user, respect the opportunity and respect each other. My goal as a leader is to help others find their voices, especially for women pursuing a career in STEM from what's considered a non-traditional background. I’ve been lucky to have that support and want to equip others with the tools to excel. As a facilitator of I am Remarkable , an initiative that empowers women by helping them to find their voice in the work environment, I enjoy sharing tools to overcome self-doubt and help women celebrate their achievements. I also love connecting with students at university and reminding them that Google needs people from all walks of life. You don’t have to come from a major city or study engineering to solve engineering problems to work with Google Cloud. My learning journey is proof of that.

Ready to kickstart your own journey at Google? Explore opportunities within our Google Cloud teams