For the first time in my career, I want to stay with my company. I’ve been at Google Cloud about 15 months and I want to stay.
In the past, I’ve worked in industries that make it hard to grow within an organization. Often you have to be willing to move to a new team or school in order to be promoted or grow. At Google, I have the opportunity to create my own path in a sense. And that’s terrifying.
My entire career has been carefully crafted. I’ve worked really hard to set myself up for success and I’ve moved all over the country to make that happen.
Google was an out of the blue thing for me. It came to me. Which still blows my mind. But it did. And it wasn’t on my plan. It wasn’t a role I wanted, it wasn’t in a city I considered living in, nor an industry I ever thought of diving into.
And it was the best thing that ever happened to my career.
Because my plan is essentially out the window and I’m in an industry, role, and city I never thought I’d be in, I’m spending a lot of time figuring out what my next steps are. I’ve got to create a whole new plan for what’s next. I am essentially existing in an “I have no idea what my 5 year career plan is” for the first time since I hopped out of the womb.
It’s exciting and terrifying. I’m a driven woman. I am always thinking of the next promotion and the next challenge. And yet never before have I been at a company that I see myself growing in long term. I certainly don’t know what that growth looks like yet, but I am spending a whole lot of time figuring it out.
When you’re looking to grow with a company, I’ve got some advice:
Transparency: I work at a company that values transparency, so this is a lot easier for me. But I have been up front with my manager, her manager - to other leaders within my team - I’ve been open with everyone about my intentions to grow. I think that can often feel counterproductive and scary because you’re risking people thinking they shouldn’t invest in you because you’re looking to leave; but it is also ensuring I don’t have any shady discussions that position me in a negative light. In my current position, I find it critical to have those open discussions in order to see what is possible on the team I’m on.
Networking: I’m very into networking in my company, but I also prioritize authentic relationships. I’ve been spending time meeting with various colleagues to ask about their journey at Google and what their teams look like. They don’t even have to be roles or teams I’m interested in, it's about building valuable connections with people I work with on a daily basis and learning as much as possible about the organization I plan to build a future in. Again be authentic. Don’t go into those conversations expecting someone to do something for you. Build a real connection and ensure that you’re making it valuable or at least convenient for the other person.
Do good work: The best networking you can do is be good at what you do. I have a reputation for being hardworking, and relentlessly committed to excellence. It’s who I am and it’s how I operate in business. Nothing will serve me better than being able to show that I’m a great person to work with. You can know the CEO but if you aren’t a hard worker or good at what you do, it doesn’t matter. Your work is your brand, what do you want it to say?
I’m not sure what’s next, and that is terrifying. I’m not 22 anymore. I’m established in my experience with a strong resume - but I am proof that with a lot of hard work, good relationships and a willingness to take a risk - you can make a drastic change and it can all workout. I don’t know what’s next but I do know I can do anything, and that’s all that matters!