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In honor of Black History Month celebrations in the U.K. this October, we’re finding out more about the young generation of black tech talent here in London. For today’s post, meet Tolu Olulode, a consultant on the Platform Solutions team.

So Tolu, tell us a bit about yourself…
Hi, I’m Tolu and I’m a Platforms Solutions Consultant. My work involves working directly with clients such as big FTSE companies as well as independent companies who use Google products. My role is a combination of training and consulting clients to ensure they know how to use our products effectively. Ultimately, our clients want to see a return on investment and that’s why they use our technology. My job is to help them achieve this. I’ve been consulting for six years now and I love being the go-to person for my clients. Some other things about me? I sing in a gospel choir and I don’t have a degree. I’m actually pursuing a part time computer science degree right now.

Tell us a little about your typical week?
Typically, I juggle two to three projects at a time. At the moment, I’m upgrading clients from an existing product to a brand new one; I’ve had a year to make sure this happens seamlessly.

On average, I spend six hours a week visiting clients. The rest of the time, I’m on the phone or on hangouts handling troubleshooting and escalations. Because the products are constantly changing, I also spend time training myself and learning about all the new features so that I’m up to date on everything. Additionally, I always make time to follow up with clients and try to action everything I’d planned for the week.

In what way(s) has Google impacted you, and how have you left an impact at Google? What would your clients say about you?
I constantly find I can incorporate best practices at work into my personal life, especially in terms of organization. With regards to my impact on Google and clients — I really enjoy speaking and listening to my clients. I like the fact that we have constant contact with our clients, putting that human element into the delivery of our products. Technology is brilliant but clients find me approachable and see me as the human face to Google.

What is your favorite part about working at Google?
Besides the food?! Hmmm. I really value autonomy. I have a great manager who allows me and the team to do our own work. There is absolutely no micromanagement here and everyone respects one another.

What are the next steps for you?
I am currently pursuing a part time computer science degree at Birkbeck University. Once I complete my degree, I’d like to look into teaching qualifications to be able to teach part time to adults in the future.

Do you have any advice for someone considering applying to the Google?
Just do it! Think about your CV, think about the impact you’ve had; what have you brought to your clients in your previous roles? Google will always be interested in great people.
Also, do some voluntary work. I used to teach kids who left primary school and couldn’t read. Share the love, give back to your community.

Posted by Farrah Djohan, Student Engagement Specialist

For a third year running, Google is excited to announce that applications for the 2014 STEP internship program in Europe are now open. Designed to bridge the gap between academic study and a professional internship, STEP is open to students studying co…

In honor of Black History Month celebrations in the U.K. this October, we’re finding out more about the young generation of black tech talent here in London. For today’s post, meet Ashleigh, an intern on the Enterprise team.

So Ashleigh, tell us a bit about yourself…
Hi, I’m Ashleigh, I’m a born and bred Londoner and I’m studying a 3-year geography degree at Oxford University. Interesting fact about me: I’m a qualified football (soccer for our American readers) referee and I often referee at county cup finals. The biggest field I’ve refereed at is Charlton Athletic (20,000 people) for its Youth Team. I worked very hard to get into Oxford, and I’m a bit of a geek!

How did you find out about the Business Associate Internship?
I found out about the internship through Google’s Top Black Talent Program where I had a fantastic mentor who recommended I apply. Initially I didn’t know Google offered opportunities in the U.K., so I was very pleased when I read about the opportunity on the Google Students site.

Why did you apply?
Who wouldn’t apply? Google is a brand everyone knows. I also love Google products—the first time I used Google Earth, it changed my life! It influenced my decisions at university and helped with my work.

What did you do during your time at Google?
My internship was with the Enterprise Team, who sell products to businesses and partners. My main role was conducting market research and data analysis to make sure our clients were happy and target areas to improve. The project was global so I had the chance to work with Googlers all over the world.

What is the most exciting thing that you have been able to do as a Google intern? Your “magic moment”?
Meeting all the fantastic interns in London. We had a great social scene this summer including some fantastic house parties and barbecues. It was a very vibrant intern community and I made some great friends. In my first week, the movie The Internship was released and we were all invited to a private screening in Leicester Square to watch it together, which was a special experience.

The Google office was also a super groovy and quirky place to work. Every day there was something new and exciting to see, learn and do.

Aside from working for Google, what kinds of organizations are you involved with in your community or around your school’s campus?
At university I’m the vice president of my Junior Common Room which involves event management such as Fresher’s Week. It’s always very hectic and exciting. I also go to schools as an Oxford University Ambassador—Target Schools Oxford (run through my student union) and Oxford Young Ambassadors, and produced an alternative college prospectus for brand awareness which has been sent to 3,000 students across the country. I also work with an external organization to identify young black and ethnic minority students and mentor them for their exams.

What types of lessons or skills have you learned at Google that you will take back to school after this summer ends?
I learned a lot in terms of personal development. I learned how to conduct myself in a business environment as well as managing my work life balance. I also learned to be better at data analysis, to be more succinct and direct, not to mention time management and prioritization skills. I’ve also enjoyed getting to better understand Google products such as Map Engine.

Do you have any advice for anyone considering applying for a Business Associate Internship at Google?
Be prepared to work hard, try to find something you enjoy doing and run with it. Finally, find a way to be unique and make your mark!

Applications for 2014 Business Associate internships will reopen towards the end of October. For updates and to submit your interest, please follow this link.

To find out more about internship opportunities at Google, please visit the Google Students Site.

Interested in taking part in our Top Black Talent program? Apply here by November 11, 2013.

Posted by Farrah Djohan, Student Engagement Specialist

Google interns are located at offices all across the globe, and represent a broad diversity of backgrounds, concentrations and interests. So inspired by Steven Colbert’s Better Know a District, we’re bringing to you “Better Know an Intern!” The series introduces you to our interns across the globe, and will get you the scoop on the impactful projects they work on, their interests and passions, and what it’s really like to intern at Google straight from the source.

For today’s post, meet Liam Morris, an intern on the Ads Backend team. Liam is a 4th year computer science student at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

1. Of all the companies to apply for, why did you want to work at Google?
The culture and the projects are definitely what attracted me. I’m a huge fan of the “work hard/play hard” mentality, and that’s definitely represented here. The kinds of problems that are solved by Google aren’t really solved anywhere else, so it’s great to have the opportunity to be exposed to those things. The thing that made me want to come back a second time, though, was definitely the people. Google has a disproportionately large number of brilliant people, but at the same time everyone is modest and super friendly.

2. In what way(s) has Google impacted you, and how have you left an impact at Google?
Google has made me significantly more confident both inside and outside of class. I can approach projects at school with no hesitation and everything is just so much easier to manage with the skills I acquired at Google. Preparing for Google interviews made me think outside the box — this carried over into my schoolwork and I thought up solutions to problems that I never would have previously (and still do!).

The team that I’m working on actually has quite an impact on Google, which is great. As part of the Ads backend team, almost all of Google’s traffic will somehow touch my code in some way. Given that I’m working on improving the reliability of the Ads infrastructure, if I do things right, people won’t be sure I’ve done anything at all. However, what really happens is that if something goes wrong but my code saves the day, I just saved Google a ton of money (and to me that’s pretty cool).

3. What is the most interesting/exciting thing that you have been able to do as a Google intern? Your “Magic Moment”?
The most exciting thing for me so far was being one of the first residential advisors for Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) program! It was really great to see such young students getting so excited about computer science. The amount that they learned in the three weeks they were here was amazing, and I was really proud to be a part of it!

4. Aside from working for Google, what kinds of organizations/clubs/activities are you involved with in your community / around your school’s campus?
I’m a member of my school’s Computer Science Community as well as SPARSA (Security Practices and Research Student Association). Additionally, even though I have an on-campus job as a TA, I frequently tutor students in my free time.

5. What types of lessons/skills have you learned at Google that you will take back to school after this summer ends?
Both summers that I’ve been here, my ability to handle large projects has significantly improved. Going back to school projects after working on projects at Google is almost underwhelming.

My code is also significantly cleaner the more I write at Google. It kind of has to be, or it would never make it into production. You learn that after the first few times your code gets reviewed, though.

6. Any advice for students interested in being a Google intern?
I always tell people to not be afraid to apply. A lot of people think to themselves “There’s no way I’d get hired at Google!” The fact of the matter is, if you don’t apply then that’s certainly true! If you don’t apply, the best that will happen is you don’t get hired. If you do apply and (worst case scenario) you don’t get hired, just consider it a learning experience! Even just going through the hiring process for Google is immensely educational.

7. Favorite micro-kitchen snack?
Metromint water. I think I drink the equivalent of my salary in these waters every day. One of the saddest parts about leaving Google last summer was the lack of delicious waters in my fridge.

Interested in learning more about our internship opportunities? Please visit our student jobs site and apply today!

Posted by Sarah Henderson, Student Development team

For our today’s post, meet Molly Long, an intern on the Maps Streetview team. She’s a junior at Brown university studying computer Science and is passionate about food, tech and fashion.

1. Of all the companies to apply for, why did you want to work at Google?
Two summers ago, I participated in the Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) in Mountain View, CA. During those 3 weeks of learning, coding, and bonding with the other students and Googlers, I fell in love! I loved the relaxed environment that encouraged innovation in products that I am so passionate about, and use in my day-to-day life.

After that summer, I vowed to return and here I am, back as an intern in the Seattle office working on the coolest project ever — Maps Streetview!

2. In what way(s) has Google impacted you, and how have you left an impact at Google?
Google has taught me about the complexity and sheer size of software engineering which is hard to imagine while in school. For my project, I built out a feature that enables 3D photo interaction inside Google Maps Streetview. I felt like a real engineer while I was here at Google and what I did mattered; I know that millions of users will explore and interact with the feature I built, making it my unique mark on Google.

Bringing Google maps to RattleSnake Ledge in Seattle

3. What is the most interesting/exciting thing that you have been able to do as a Google intern? Your “Magic Moment”?
Marching in the Pride parade in Seattle with Google. People came up to take pictures with me and told me how much they love Google

4. Aside from working for Google, what kinds of organizations/clubs/activities are you involved with in your community / around your school’s campus?
I’m super involved with the computer science department at Brown U. Not only have I TA’ed for 3 computer science classes, I’m also one of the coordinators for Women in Computer Science at Brown, where I help plan small-group to department-wide events.

In my spare time, I’ve also volunteered with Bootstrap, an organization that teaches middle school students math concepts through computer science. Additionally, I’ve also worked with the Swearer Center at my school teaching elementary school students math. Volunteering has definitely been one of the most rewarding experiences so far at Brown– it has challenged me to explain concepts in an easy-to-understand manner while still making math enjoyable.

And when I’m not busy, you’ll see me munching– I’m an avid foodie! You’ll see me often at the microkitchens at Google deciding which snack I want to devour next.

5. What types of lessons/skills have you learned at Google that you will take back to school after this summer ends?
First – Don’t be afraid to ask! Ask questions, ask for feedback, and share with the people around you your goals and ambitions so that they can help you achieve them.

Second – Network! Capitalize on the fact that everyone, literally everyone, around you is super smart so take a break, and grab lunch with the people around you!

6. Any advice for students interested in being a Google intern?
Show Google why you stand out– whether it’s a cool project you’ve hacked together or something awesome you’ve done, try to make an impression on the interviewers. Don’t be afraid to even list something quirky on your resume

7. Favorite micro-kitchen snack?
Theo’s dark chocolate (a specialty in Seattle) is my guilty pleasure.

Interested in learning more about our internship opportunities? Please visit our student jobs site and apply today!

Posted by Sarah Henderson, Student Development Programs

Our ‘Diary of an MBA Intern’ series is designed to give you an inside look into the life of Google interns based all over Europe. Today, the spotlight is on Angela Ramirez from Peru who is an MBA Intern with GAGA (Google Advertising Growth Agents) in Google London.

And the countdown begins!!

I feel nostalgic just writing those words. I think about my last six weeks as an intern in Google and I can’t believe how great it has been.

Once I read that “life isn’t about finding yourself…life is about creating yourself” and I decided that my life will be full of adventures that will help me see life from different perspectives. I must say that my experience working at Google is one that has created a huge impact. It’s a unique experience that has taught me a new work philosophy and how, when you’re in the right place and with the right people, the universe conspires to make you smile.

There are different ingredients that made this experience incredible. One is my team, I work in the Global Accounts for the travel industry in the London office and we are from different parts of the world: Germany, USA, Italy, France and Peru.

It’s great to work with such brilliant people who are always sharing information and collaborating with each other. I always hear the words “how can I help you?” and I feel it’s contagious. I want to be involved in more projects and help my team as much as possible, not only because it’s my job, but because I know that it’s part of being in this team and that they will help me when I need it.

Since I started working at Google I have been more connected to the world, reading about technology trends and finding out what’s happening around the world. Being in such an innovative company makes you realize that ideas evolve so fast and there is so much to learn.

My time here has been unforgettable, London welcomed me with a great summer – one of the hottest in seven years. In my spare time I would go to the park for a picnic, or ride one of the bikes that you can easily rent, or grab a beer in a typical British bar in town and just relax and have a wonderful day. I have been to great festivals, visited the most famous artworks and I’ve seen amazing West End musical shows.

I couldn’t have asked for a more complete experience full of professional and personal learning. Google is definitely a place where you can work hard and play hard.

Interested in becoming a Google intern? Fill out this form for further info on the 2014 Google Summer internship programme in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Please note: This is a speculative application. You will be contacted once the application process for next year’s programme goes live.

EEA work authorization is required for roles supporting EEA markets.

For resume and interview tips before you apply, check out this Hangout on Air. Additionally, please find up to date information on all job and internship postings in EMEA on our job site, and learn more about how the hiring process works.

Posted by Corrina Kavanaugh, University Programs EMEA Team

Hours of revision, finding the right “action words”, reducing margins by another millimeter, and trying just one more font style…so goes those resume woes. If this sounds like you – we’re here to help!

Google Goes Back2School: Review that Resume! to the rescue with expert advice on how to make yourself look as awesome on paper as you are in real-life. Since resumes provide most initial impressions, it is essential to ensure the paper (or pdf file) version of yourself is clearly organized, well-written and error-free.

Such an important matter requires professional assistance, so remember to listen to tips from our Google recruiting team via our G+ Hangout on Air on resume tips and tricks!

Now let’s tackle those pesky myths and set the record straight with Mythbusters!

Myth #1: You must write a cover letter.
Reality: Most companies require a cover letter; Google does not! You only need a cover letter if you are applying to Google’s Information Technology Residency Program.

Myth #2: My resume needs to be one page. I should spend hours playing with the margins, shrinking the font size and making the bullet points smaller so it can all fit.
Reality: We encourage you to keep your resume to one page, but understand the need to expand, especially if you’re pursuing a graduate degree, have published papers or have a significant amount of work experience to highlight.

Myth #3: I’m not applying to Google; I go to [XYZ small school] and Google does not hire from there.
Reality: False! Google looks at every application that we receive, and each one is screened by a human (not a robot). There is not a hard and fast GPA cut-off, and we screen, interview and hire students from universities large and small, far and wide. If you are passionate about computer science, software engineering, and doing cool things that matter please submit your application for an internship or full-time role today!

Myth #4: My GPA isn’t perfect. Why bother applying when I know Google won’t hire me?
Reality: We understand that you are more than your GPA. When reviewing job applications Google looks at the entire package. Of course we value academic achievement, but you won’t be instantly disregarded if your GPA is not stellar. We understand that every student has a different situation, and that different courses vary in their level of difficulty. We also value demonstrated passion for CS, so make sure your side projects are on your resume! This will help us look at the whole picture of everything you have accomplished, and help us evaluate your fit at Google to the best of our ability.

Now, time to get started!

Posted by Kieu-Thu Bui, Recruiting Team

Cross-posted from the Google Open Source Blog

At Google we are passionate about introducing students from around the world to open source software development. Since 2005, Google has worked with over 10,000 students and over 440 open source projects in a variety of fields to create more code for the masses.

A call out to all students: if you have ever thought it would be cool to write code and see it make a difference in the world then please keep reading. We are excited to announce the next editions of  two programs designed to introduce students to open source software development, Google Summer of Code (for university students) and Google Code-in (for 13-17 year old students).

Google Summer of Code 

Back in 2005, Google made a commitment to support open source software contributors. In addition to our other programs (link) to build and support the contributor base, we thought a great way to increase awareness was to introduce the wide world of open source to college students. Google Summer of Code was born: match student developers from around the world with open source software organizations to work on a project while on break from their universities. 

With over 8,300 mentors in 100 countries around the world, the 8,500 student developers have produced a stunning 50 million lines of code. The program will now be reaching its 10th instance in 2014. 

We told you on the Official Google Blog just a few highlights of what we’ll be up to this year, and now we want to tell you all the details:  

1. 10 visits to countries with high participation throughout the year.
2. 10 developer events in promotion of the program. 
3. 10 mentors who have participated in Google Summer of Code will be featured on our open source blog.
4. 10% additional student stipend (a total of $5500 for students who successfully complete the whole program).
5. 10% more students than we’ve ever had participate in the program before.
6. 10 more mentoring organizations than we’ve ever had in the program will be participating in Google Summer of Code 2014
7. 10 year student reunion event will be held on Google’s Mountain View campus next year for all the students who have participated in the program. 
8. 10 year reunion mentor summit will be held on Google’s Mountain View campus for all our Google Summer of Code organization alumni.
9. 10 students/organizations will be chosen to highlight their work at the Google booths at open source events throughout the year.
10. 10 student projects from the past nine years will be highlighted on the open source blog and YouTube.

We’re pleased to be running a program that touches a lot of lives around the world, and we hope this will be a celebration of all the accomplishments we’ve seen from so many of our participants. Watch this blog for announcements about our travel and our efforts over the next year. Here’s to 10 Things! 

Google Code-in – Program starts for students November 18th

For the fourth consecutive year we are thrilled to announce Google Code-in, an international contest designed to introduce 13-17 year old pre-university students to the world of open source development. Open source projects are about more than just coding, and this contest highlights a variety of ways to contribute to open source projects. Every year, open source software is becoming more important around the globe; from government, healthcare, relief efforts, gaming, to large tech companies and everything in between. 

When you read the term open source do you think:

• What is open source?
• What types of work do open source projects do?
• I’ve only taken one computer science class, can I contribute to an open source project?
• I’m not really into coding, what else can I do to contribute to open source?
• I’ve never participated in open source or an online contest before, can someone help guide me?
• Open source sounds cool, how can I get started?

If you’ve wondered about any of these questions and are a pre-university student (age 13-17) then we hope you will join in the fun and excitement of the Google Code-in contest starting Monday, November 18th. 

Posted by Stephanie Taylor, Open Source Programs Team

This summer, 30 students were selected from local universities in Singapore to attend the inaugural AdCamp at the Google Singapore office. Insights and trends in digital marketing were shared by some of the very best in this area. The 3 days were packed full of exciting sessions about important trends in consumer behavior such as the use of multi screens, the rise of mobile marketing, and workshops on Google products.

Meet Astha Kalbag, a 2nd year student at the Singapore Management University studying Marketing and Psychology who recently attended the inaugural AdCamp Singapore. She enjoys budget travel in Asia and hopes to be able to fly to the moon one day.

Google AdCamp was a well-balanced mix of work, learning, and fun, where we gained insights about digital marketing, Google products, and the foundation of pitching from the very best at Google. Given that Google has become a part of students’ daily lives, I was most excited to hear from the Googlers who made it possible.

Through interactive sessions over the 3 days about Google AdWords, YouTube, Chrome, mobile marketing, and trends in consumer behavior, I was able to widen my knowledge of digital advertising.The personal experiences shared by Googlers made it easy for us to learn as it was extremely interesting.

In addition to marketing knowledge, we were also able to experience the Google culture for ourselves as we interacted with Googlers, which is widely talked about across industries. Besides being more than willing to answer our questions, they also took us on an office tour where they shared the purpose and impact of their office design. From these interactions, I noted that there was an undeniable common wavelength that motivated people – the desire to make a positive difference in society. Google’s value system is surely aligned with that ideology that the people at Google belong to a larger community that they should serve. Personally, this realization truly inspired me to constantly strive to be a better person in order to make a real difference in society.

For more information on programs at Google, please visit Google Students.

Posted by Minty Cai, Tech Staffing Programs

Google Interns are located at offices all across the globe, and represent a broad diversity of backgrounds, concentrations and interests. Inspired by Steven Colbert’s Better Know a District, we’re bringing to you “Better Know an Intern!” The series will introduce you to our interns across the globe, and will get you the scoop on the impactful projects they work on, their interests and passions, and what it’s really like to intern at Google straight from the source.

For today’s post, Meet Gerald, an intern on the Resource Economy Management team.

Name: Gerald Cowen
Hometown: Newburgh, NY
University: University of Miami (FL)
Year: Senior (4th year)
Major: Pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering, with a concentration in Engineering Management
Role: Technical Program Manager (TPM) intern
Office: Mountain View, CA
Hobbies: Ultimate frisbee, cycling, event planning
What I most like about Google: Working with the brightest minds on the hardest problems in the world—and the food.

1. Of all the companies to apply for, why did you want to work at Google?

I knew I wanted to intern somewhere where I could improve the lives of millions of people. Google is the only company that combines industry-leading tools with global scale. Here, one small change to a process changes the way the world works, plays, and learns. When I found out I’d be working on the implementation of novel frameworks for infrastructure resource allocation, I knew this internship would be like no other. I still can’t appreciate the sheer breadth of Google resources and how they “keep the lights on” for all the various products and services.

2. In what way(s) has Google impacted you, and how have you left an impact at Google?

Google taught me to think big. Even a seemingly relatively easy problem—like calculating the price of a processor core–requires massive precision and ongoing automation, given the scale and complexity of the fleet. Thinking in terms of what scripts I could write to automate the work was a completely new experience. The effort pays off immediately. My project was to create new metrics to monitor resource consumption. This required combing through hundreds of data sources and transforming them into something meaningful. Once I figured out the equations and sources I needed, I wrote scripts to run the queries and present the information — hopefully this will be in use for long after I finish my internship.

3. What is the most interesting/exciting thing that you have been able to do as a Google intern–your “Magic Moment”?

I spent a few weeks planning and co-hosting a grassroots game of Intern Assassins. Almost 250 interns played in a five week game, with the final showdown between the top two kill leaders brought the game to a close in the middle of a micro-kitchen. The game results and some data were presented at the weekly TGIF meeting by Larry and Sergey in front of nearly 40000 Googlers. During the presentation, SVP of Knowledge, Alan Eustace, surprised the entire audience by sneaking on stage with a giant spoon and comically “assassinating” the co-founder live on stage.

4. Aside from working for Google, what kinds of organizations/clubs/activities are you involved with in your community / around your school’s campus?

I’m proud and excited to be a second-year Google Student Ambassador at my university. It is an amazing honor to represent Google products and share their magic with my classmates. One of my favorite moments is when I help someone save time, make the grade, or create memories by solving problems with amazing Google services like Hangouts or Docs. I also sit in Student Government and on the College of Engineering Advisory Board. Above all, I serve my university community by working in the University of Miami Office of Emergency Management. Incorporating the technical side of incident management into my job helps elevate the work we do as a department to keep students, faculty, and staff safe.

5. What types of lessons/skills have you learned at Google that you will take back to school after this summer ends?

This summer has been all about personal growth and development. Being at Google has pushed me to elevate my performance and do more than I ever thought I could. For my project, I learned how to program in Python and SQL and inspired me to keep learning! Google also taught me to extensively document and exhaustively validate all of my work. When you work with the operating expense of a company the size and scale of Google, dropping a negative or doubling a variable is cataclysmic. Learning to make my work clear, maintainable, and verifiable is a great takeaway for any work at school or the office.

6. Any advice for students interested in being a Google intern?

Embrace a healthy skepticism of what’s possible and how to do it. The best ideas at Google come from the bottom-up, including from interns! It’s important to challenge the status quo and let your quantifiable results do the talking. And when you do climb the mountain, make a change, and save the world, remember there is always more you can do.

7. Favorite micro-kitchen snack?

Toasted coconut cashews and coconut water! (Can you tell I like coconuts?) Oh, and dark chocolate-covered almonds, cranberry-pistachio trail mix, and pom-blueberry juice. Wait, wait, lemon hummus, sweet potato chips, and peach-infused water, too. Okay, let’s be honest- I like everything in the micro-kitchens.

Post content Posted by Sarah Henderson, Student Development Programs

This year’s Google Student Ambassador (GSA) program in Europe brought together 57 students from 26 different countries and 54 different universities! In August they met for the first time at our annual European GSA Summit at Google’s EU Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. The two-day summit involved training sessions, networking with Googlers and getting a taste of Irish culture. Check out the summit video re-cap here.

Google Student Ambassadors have the unique opportunity to serve as a direct link between Google and the students on their campus for whom they can hold workshops, training sessions and exciting events exploring Google’s core products, programs and initiatives.

We asked one of our Student Ambassadors, André Freitas from Faculty of Engineering of Oporto University in Porto, Portugal, to tell us about his experience at the summit and to give us a glimpse of what he has planned for the students at his university.

Why did you apply to the Google Student Ambassador Program?
I received my first computer when I was about 8 years old and began using Google. It opened up a whole new world of information for me – I discovered things I wasn’t able to find elsewhere. I love Google products and tools and wanted to share with others how these tools can be life changing. I didn’t think twice about applying to the Google Student Ambassador Program and was ready for the challenge. I believe students at my university can benefit greatly by learning more about how to utilize Google’s products.

Tell me about the Google Student Ambassador Summit in Dublin. What was the highlight for you?
So many highlights – visiting the Google offices in Dublin, hanging out with Googlers and learning about the work culture. I found the work environment to be inspiring and motivating.

What do you hope to achieve as a Google Student Ambassador?
I want to increase the number of students that use Hangouts. I like Hangouts because it’s a better experience to talk with people face to face. Additionally, I would like to increase Google’s APIs usage at my university. When I used the Maps API to boost a Web Application, it saved so much time. Students on my campus should know about this. Finally, I hope to share my experience of visiting Google in Dublin and what it could be like to work there.

What kind of events are you organizing for your campus?
I’m currently organizing a workshop called “Get Organized!” which will introduce students to Google tools which will help them do just that. I handmade Android boards with all the information to create interest in the event and we already have 50 students registered! I’m thinking about organizing a treasure hunt using Maps or Search as well as an Android Development event. I have so many other ideas for fun events.

Anything else you’d like to share?
I just want to say thank you to Google for giving me this opportunity. I hope I can make you smile whenever you see my campus event photos as well as the results.

Posted by Cassiano Mecchi, University Programs Specialist

Dr. Anita Borg believed that technology affects all aspects of our economic, political, social and personal lives. A technology rebel with a cause, in her life she fought tirelessly to ensure that technology’s impact would be a positive one and passionately believed in working for greater representation of technical women.

As part of Google’s ongoing commitment to further Anita Borg’s vision to revolutionize the way we think about technology and dismantle barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields, we are excited to recognize and congratulate the 92 Google Anita Borg Memorial Asia-Pacific scholars for 2013. The full list of scholars can be found here.

This year, we were thrilled to have scholars and finalists across APAC join us at Google Sydney and Google Beijing for a retreat consisting of workshops, technical talks, panel discussions, a hackathon and lots of networking opportunities.

What was your motivation for applying for the Google Anita Borg Scholarship?
Hyesoo: After I read the summary of Dr. Anita Borg’s life, I felt for the first time in my life as if I had found someone who had the same enthusiasm in computer science as I do. I was nervous about applying for a global scholarship. However, I decided to do my best because I was sure that whatever the outcome I would learn and grow in the process.

Luyi: I was excited to see the Anita Borg scholarship acknowledge female students’ outstanding performance in technology development and I was very passionate in research and technology in computer science.

In your opinion, what is the highlight of being a Google Anita Borg Scholar?
Hyesoo: For me, it is the opportunity to go on a retreat where I met female students and Google Engineers from around the globe and share each other’s enthusiasm and interest in computer science.

Rijurekha: After listening to the speakers at Anita Borg retreat, the power of “applied algorithms” and “applied machine learning” overwhelmed me. Good theory, coupled with careful system implementation, can create a huge impact. The highlight of being a Google Anita Borg scholar is a new realization that systems are good, but to make it great I need to couple it with good theory.

Share with us your “magic moments” at the retreat.
Luyi: I like the technical talks given at the retreat as it covers various projects that Google was working on these years. I was also impressed with their catchphrase, “do cool things that matter”. Keeping this in mind, I believe that with upcoming and new technologies we will be able to contribute and make our world a smarter and better place.

Rijurekha: The maps and search talks did a nice job of outlining the core algorithmic and systems challenges in both the areas, defined the main sub-problems and gave fairly intuitive ideas about how Google goes about solving them. Complex dynamic graph algorithms or 3D point cloud vision algorithms working at that scale at that speed, simply blew my mind away by the sheer beauty and power of computer science theory and computer systems working together hand-in-hand.

In what way has the scholarship had an impact on you and your future in technology?
Rijurekha: The interaction with the Googlers during the retreat has definitely boosted my positive energy manifold. When a senior Googler with a PhD, smiles mischievously and says “drinking from the firehose (a common phrase to describe information overload at Google) is great, because there is so much more opportunity to learn”, that really inspires me. It is so easy to get into our own comfort zone and stagnate, so contrary examples like this Googler inspires a lot.

Luyi: After meeting with so many talented female students and successful female engineers in Google, I’m confident that, as females, we can also do things that matter and lead the technology development of the world.

Any advice for students who are keen to become our next Anita Borg scholars?
Luyi: Be passionate in technology and put your mind to being a leader in technology development.

Hyesoo: Don’t lose faith in your enthusiasm but rather challenge yourself by applying for this scholarship.

What are your next steps?
Hyesoo: I’m planning to apply for a Google internship position after I develop a higher level of programming language and algorithm skills. I will also continue working on the brainwave research which I’m doing personally and will keep challenging myself by becoming involved in various interesting projects on my own before I become an actual engineer.

Rijurekha: I am open to both academic and industrial job positions in the future, the foremost preference being to be with excited people in energetic work environments. And changes, with no comfort zone and no stagnation are welcome.

Applications for APAC 2014 Anita Borg Scholarship will open in early 2014. For more updates please follow us on the Google Students Blog.

Cheryl Tang, APAC Tech Staffing Programs

When it comes to reaching women in technology, there is absolutely no better forum than the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. This conference has it all — breaking down stereotypes and celebrating the accomplishments of women in the field of computer science, providing an avenue for collaboration and information exchange, encouraging female role models and mentoring, and building great networking opportunities. Google has, and will continue to be, a proud supporter of the conference because of its firm belief in celebrating women in computing and empowering the next generation of female tech leaders.

Next week, the event will take place over four days from October 2nd-5th at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota. This year’s theme for the conference is “Think Big, Drive Forward”, and while Google is certainly no stranger to the notion of moon shots, we know that this year is bound to have even bigger ideas and surprises in store than we can imagine.

If you plan on attending, we would love for you to come visit our booth (#507) to chat with Googlers, grab some swag, and take pictures at our photo booth. Join our Google+ Event to see what we’re up to and share interesting moments with us – don’t forget to use the #ghc2013 hashtag!

We’ll also be hosting the following demos in our booth (#507):

Exploring ways to make CS fun with Google Research
Wednesday, 10/2 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Morphing the Turf: Computer Science Education
Thursday, 10/3 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Outside of the booth, Googlers are hosting a variety of different sessions at the conference on technical topics, professional development and everything in between! We encourage you to stop by and hear from our speakers.

Lightning Talks (Mobile Experiences Track)
Designing Accessible Mobile Applications
Thursday 10/3 2:15pm – 3:30pm @ MCC 200 A-C
Presenters: Sonia Sharma (Google)

Multiple Presentations (API’s and Software Process)
Writing Code for the Long Haul: Four industry skills you (probably) won’t learn in school
Thursday, 10/3 3:45pm – 4:45pm @ MCC Auditorium Room 3
Presenters: Becky Willrich (Google)

Velocity vs Quality
Thursday, 10/3 5:15pm – 6:15pm @ MCC Auditorium Room 3
Moderator: Fiona Condon (Etsy)
Panelists: Surabhi Gupta (Google), Neha Shevade (Trulia), Ketaki Deo (Pulse), Anupreet Walia (Adobe)

Is it possible to work for life rather than live for work?
Thursday, 10/3 5:15pm – 6:15pm @ MCC Auditorium Room 2
Moderator: Carol Muller (Stanford University)
Presenters: Umit Yalcinalp (MyAppellation.com), Beryl Nelson (Google), Brian Pawlowski (NetApp), Jody Greenstone MIller (Business Talent Group)

Lightning Talks (Career) – Nailing Your Technical Interview
Friday, 10/4 11:45am – 12:45pm @ MCC Auditorium Room 2
Presenters: Sabrina B. Williams (Google)

Multiple Presentations (Software Applications & Futures)
The Role of Internet Technology in Humanitarian Disaster Response
Friday, 10/4 5:15pm – 6:16pm @ MCC 101 H-J
Presenters: Raquel Romano (Google)

Please check out the Conference Program Visual for the full agenda. We hope to see many of you there!

Posted by My-Linh Le, Tech Student Engagement

Ever wondered what it’s like to provide IT support to one of the world’s largest tech companies? Read on for a look into a day in the lives of two of Google’s Information Technology Residents, Jesus Lugo and Lisa Mauck. These IT ninjas have been trotting the globe to provide Googlers with exceptional IT support.

Hi there! My name is Jesus Lugo and I was born in Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela, and moved to the US when I was 10 years old. I joined the Marine Corp after high school and received my associate’s degree from Miami Dade College and my bachelor’s degree from Florida International University after finishing my active duty service. Before joining the IT Residency Program, I worked as a remote services technician and as a customer engineer. At Google, I spend most days working at a Techstop in Mountain View, CA, where Googlers go for technical assistance. We’re committed to solving any issue that comes our way – troubleshooting laptops, phones, desktops – and getting Googlers back to work as quickly as possible. I recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, for my three-month IT rotation. Check out a day in my life while on assignment abroad:

Here I am, at the Techstop in Google’s Dublin office. I’m working on a project to customize a mini computer for Googlers to badge-in to Techstops, which reduces setup time and the cost of the hardware. These units are also slightly bigger than a deck of cards, have wifi, and can be run from a battery, so they can be mounted anywhere. It’s cool to work on a project that has an impact on my team’s workload and physical space.

Dublin has hosted a number of IT Residents over the past few years. They held a welcome event when I arrived, which included a walking tour of this historic city.

Each Techstop is different. This one in Dublin has a variety of “amenities” that make it unique – from its psychedelic decor to its impressive collection of Lego creations, including Pac Man, Zelda’s Link, and a set of Imperial Star Destroyers. The layout also allows for all the techs to face each other to further promote collaboration.

While on rotation in Dublin, I was afforded the opportunity to travel to other offices in Europe to provide remote support. I got to visit Prague, the Czech Republic, and Wroclaw, Poland. Touring the Prague Castle was a definite highlight!

Check out this rest and relaxation room in Google’s Prague office. These spots can be found at nearly all Google offices and are loaded with books, video game consoles, arcades, and musical instruments. Most of the Googlers in this office can play an instrument seen here. They even have their own band!

Engineering at Google takes many forms. Here, I’m engineering a stand for a hoola hoop in preparation for our challenge in the Engineering Crawl Event. The event consists of mini challenges created by the different engineering teams in Dublin, like: trace-routing your way across the world; achieving the highest score in Donkey Kong; making the best tinfoil hat; building the tallest tower out of toothpicks and blue tack; and our very own Helicopter Lego Obstacle Course!

This small cache of plastic weapons is often used as a team-building activity. We split all participants into color-coded teams and break into an all-out war. After the battle is over, we usually clean up the dart mess over pizza or barbecue and refreshments.

Hey students! My name is Lisa Mauck and I‘m from a small town in Michigan where there’s exactly one stop light. Relocating to Ann Arbor for the IT Residency Program was a big culture shock (in a good way!). Prior to Google, I received my bachelor’s degree from the ITT Technical Institute, and worked for a small software company as an IT technician/project coordinator. Working at Google has been an amazing experience! I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Sydney, Australia, for three weeks to work with Google’s IT team there. By far, the best perk at Google is the great people that I get to work with – from my colleagues in Sydney to those in Ann Arbor, Mountain View, and NYC. We all share a passion for working with the latest technologies and helping our end users. I hope that you enjoy some snapshots of my adventures – domestic and abroad!

That’s me! I’m at my desk in Ann Arbor, working with the team to support Googlers worldwide. I typically start my day by updating any open tickets and keeping an eye out for urgent requests. Then I check in on which role I’m assigned to that day: chats, tickets, phone, quality assurance, or projects. I love the variability of the role – it keeps things exciting!

We like to test our flying abilities when we aren’t busy having a nerf fight assisting users! You get kudos on our team if you can keep the helicopter from crash landing.

Meet some more members of the IT Residency team in Ann Arbor! We typically spend our lunches together, which makes us feel like a family. Once a week, we also attend a CCNA class together that my team in Ann Arbor started. We’re hoping to become CCNA certified.

The Google patio is pretty iconic. I tend to come out here a lot when I’m doing project-based work. Currently, I’m “dogfooding” Google’s different remote tools by comparing how they work across platforms. I then document my findings and communicate them to the appropriate teams.

Outside of providing exceptional service to Googlers, the team also arranges what we call “Jedi talks.” A few times a month, we schedule a talk led by an IT Resident about a subject that they’re knowledgeable in. Similarly, other teams deliver monthly tech talks to our team. I try to take advantage of a lot of these opportunities at Google for peer learning.

Check out this view from the office that I’m working at in Sydney, Australia, overlooking the harbour. Team members here take turns rotating weekly into the Techstop to handle in-person support issues. We also benefit from sitting close by the Google+ software engineers and the gTech team, who help us work through more escalated cases.

The view from inside isn’t so bad either! At the Google Sydney office, they bring the sea life to you! Okay, back to work – the tickets in my queue need some attention, too!

If you’re also a techie at heart, who loves to play, tinker, break and fix, then consider applying for Google’s Information Technology Residency Program! Check out this video to learn more about the role. Seniors with at least one year of IT support experience are encouraged to apply at: google.com/jobs/students/ITRP.

Posted by Natalie Van Kleef, Tech Student Engagement team