“If these walls could talk…”- Walthamstow to Google.

This summer of 2016, I was fortunate to be recruited as one of 36 candidates from Europe, Middle East and Africa to partake in the Google Bold Immersion Program.

As a BOLDer I was based and active within Google’s EMEA Headquarters in Dublin — and I must say, it was an amazing experience…

As an exercise in reflection (which is overdue) and for the sake of those who have asked me how it went, I will briefly discuss some of the highlights of my time in Dublin. However, as a disclaimer; (and due to the non-disclosure form signed by BOLD participants), I will not be sharing specific details of the itinerary or the occupation role that I was chosen for.

Welcome to Dublin…

The journey began at 16:00 GMT- in Dublin, Ireland.

At this moment it was still surreal to me, that I would be part of a Google program at their second headquarters- but time would show, reality would soon hit me square in the face… An hour later, myself and three other BOLDers (one from Barcelona, another from Nigeria and the last from the UK) were greeted outside by an oncoming cascade of people, who were later identified as other Google BOLDers, who then invited us out to eat with them. The exchange of introductions was kept brief (well… by me it was, as I was hungry and tired, but also on a secondary untold mission).

Welcome to Google…

On one hand, it was unfortunate I wasn’t able to bond with my fellow BOLDers from around the world, over dinner on the first night, however, the sentiment was bittersweet, as I was fortunate to get a pre-mature viewing of the four Google buildings at the heart of Ireland’s Silicon Docks.

How does one get so lucky?- Prior to the trip, and credit to Victor Azubuike — I was able to get into contact with someone, who coincidently would be starting as a “Noogler” on the week of my arrival. This was a great experience for me, as I was able to maneuver from building to building to building, floors one to eleven at a snail pace- with two (now) friends who were “Nooglers” at the company.

*Note to reader: Ireland’s ‘Silicon Valley’ — where the likes of Facebook, Linkedin, IBM, PWC and Google are all situated. “Noogler” and “BOLDers”- terms to describe new interns at Google and those on the BOLD program.

“If these walls could talk…”

“If these walls could talk”- only then could I paint you a representative picture of Google’s Dublin headquarters in less than a thousand words, that would suffice.

The design of Google headquarters is the epitome of intentional: each floor is named and accompanied by a thematic design, which is in someway related — the “Alice in Wonderland” area is a great example (which my Noogler guides insisted on showing me, on a 90-minute quest).

These features were great, but I was a captive of Google when I discovered the abundance of food which was accessible to Google employees: the international canteens, with a myriad of food choices (including a basement pizza restaurant) and fitted micro-kitchens by the offices, lounge areas and meeting rooms ON EVERY FLOOR; lest I forget to mention the state of the art gym.

From this point, it was clear how Google view the wellbeing of their “Googlers”: Google place a true point of emphasis on co-mutual benefit toward employee’s- and this was a BIG deal for me. Consequently, it fueled my ‘hunger’, so to speak, even more- and my zeal to soak all information being imparted began to manifest.

‘It’s not hard to understand why they are branded as the number one company in the world to work for’ (Fortune 100).

“To organise the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful…”

“To organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful…”. This is the mission which Google was founded upon, cultivated around and continues to be rooted in today.

At first hearing, being the pensive skeptic I can be; I exhausted every single Google product I was aware of (less than I thought): YouTube, AdWords, Google Search engines ect… and to my surprise, all of which I found still embody this mission in one form or the other…

For the clarity of this point, let’s take Google AdWords. AdWords is a niche marketing tool which has the purpose of advertising through making consumers aware of information from companies relevant to their interests. AdWords then makes this information accessible through the platform’s user friendly navigability (which Google employees diligently help their clients with).

Everything branches, but remains connected to the ‘original Vine’- which is the mission they originally founded the company from.

It seems that the most prominent companies of our generation are diligently rooted in a common mission which all future products, services and investments are built around; everything branches, but remains connected to the ‘original Vine’. This is the mission Google was originally founded from and this is true for Apple also (no pun intended). Michael Tchao (VP of Product Marketing at Apple) made a similar statement of making complex technology: usable, simple and aesthetically pleasing- the epitome of Apple products.

In closing, for now, there are three key points I would like to draw upon, which sketch clearly (though perhaps not entirely) why Google is Google:

One:

‘We don’t merely use the Internet; we live on the Internet…”

I am convicted strongly, that this train of thought is a factor which separates Google from others, drawing an imaginary line of superiority and continues to drive them into the future. In the age of consumerism- consumers don’t just use products, they depend and make adaptions to their lifestyle based on the product.

For this reason, a company which uses consumers must adopt a consumer’s mindset- i.e. think of what the consumer is ‘living with’. Therefore, our capacity to learn at all levels of a company must be at a shared rate with technology’s exponential rise- from the CEO to the newest intern.

Two:

“Always

be ready

to give your

elevator speech…”

“Always be ready to give your elevator speech” — as I write I can hear the “Googler’s” voice echoing from wall to wall to wall to wall in my head. There was an anecdote that followed the statement, where the opportunist was prepared to take heed when the opportunity arose. The take away point: Always be ready to say why you’re good enough, deserving and show tangible evidence of the value you can add.

Who knows if one day Tyrique would find himself in the same elevator as Laszlo Bock (VP of Google’s people operations): “Out of all the talented interns, what value does Tyrique add that is unique”

I, myself was able, vicariously, to learn a lesson in diligence through one of my fellow BOLDers: He walked me through, step by step, how he practiced his interview questions for his dream company everyday a month prior to his interview, in which he was successful.

Would you and I do the same? Remember, every single day, a month prior-without fail? I suppose the adage is true: luck is where good preparation and opportunity meet. For certain, this was a lesson in diligence for me: the act of intentionally being careful and precise (meticulous almost) in your efforts to achieve a specific feat.

Finally:

“If you give people freedom, they’ll amaze you…”

Whilst at Google I was introduced to the term “ Googleyness”- the fun thing about this term, is it is ambiguous. There is no set definition, but it is one thing that all Google employees posses. I’ve concluded that this term can ultimately be defined as uniqueness, which is inherent to all Google employees and Google as a company itself- but, manifests itself through employees’ feats, contributions and added value. Googleyness is ultimately the foresight into what value an individual’s uniqueness can add to Google’s mission.

To be unique, you must be free- free to be yourself- and in embracing this freedom I’m sure you’ll amaze yourself also.

Coming to an end, I must mention how life changing it was to meet others from around the world- at Google, in Dublin alone there are 69 different languages spoken- and on the BOLD program I met some amazing individuals from Norway to Ibadan, Nigeria.

On that note, a big thank you to the other fellow BOLDers — ” The Jelly Bean Fellowship”- for the amazing experience, photography and perspective changing conversations, I hope to intern with you all in the near future.

Photo credit: Jean-Baptist

Tyrique King.