Meet our office hour mentors
Thryn Shapira
Design Manager, Google Photos.
Thryn is a Design Manager on Google Photos. She is passionate about building products that work well for everyone and leads the Product Inclusion effort on Photos, was a contributor to the People + AI Guidebook, and has spoken publicly about the importance of inclusion in AI powered products. Prior to joining Google in 2014, she worked in startups, design studios, and served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon (2008-2010) as a computer literacy teacher.
Alex David Norton
Product Designer, Google Travel
Alex is a Product Designer on Google Travel where he crafts accessible AI-powered tools to help people organize and plan their trips. He is a contributor to Google’s People + AI Guidebook and has mentored startups on the intersection of business, AI, and design. His visualizations have been featured at TED, Tribeca Film Festival, and in Times Square NYC. His work has appeared in Wired magazine, the New York Times, and in Nature and Cell scientific journals.
Obinna Anya
UX Researcher
Obinna Anya is a UX Researcher and research lead for Google Cloud AI Data Science Platform. He was previously a Researcher at IBM, and prior to that, a Research Scientist at Liverpool Hope University, UK. He holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Liverpool and a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Nigeria. His research has shaped solutions and product design in e-health, future work design, enterprise data science, ethical social robotics, education in under-resourced communities, cloud services compliance monitoring, and usable machine learning.
Melissa Smith
Sr. UX Researcher
Melissa Smith is a Sr. UX Researcher at Google, leading research on controllers, inputs, and peripherals for Stadia, Google's new cloud-based gaming platform. Prior to Stadia, Melissa worked on the YouTube monetization and video watching experiences, seeking to continue her lifelong interest in human-computer interaction and innovative product development. Melissa holds a PhD in human factors and applied cognitive psychology from George Mason University
Jennifer Otitigbe
User Experience Researcher
Jennifer Otitigbe (she/her), leads a UX Research team at Google that is working to accelerate the productivity of enterprise AI developers by providing Google-powered tools and technologies. Formally trained as an engineer and designer, Jennifer has worked in all aspects of new product development from concept development to product launch. In prior roles, Jennifer led UX and technology marketing engagements at the MathWorks, Texas Instruments and the Institute for Human Centered Design, a global NGO focused on the intersection of design and disability. There, her work centered around generating actionable design insights with diverse populations for public sector and private sector clients. Jennifer has experience in industries such as; manufacturing, telecom, automotive, cultural, educational, financial services, healthcare, and various consumer product areas. In her spare time, Jennifer volunteers with several non-profits and collects books about design and designers.
Sylvanus Bent
Product Manager
I've been a PM at Google for 4 years and I lead our creative product across our advertiser platform. Prior to Google, I was a PM at a startup (Medallia) which had about 70 people and no funding when I joined. I saw the company secure funding, grow to +1000 people and achieve Unicorn status which led to a successful recent IPO. Fun fact, I've been to all 50 states!
Cori Peele
Customer Engineer
Cori Dollette Peele is a Google Cloud Customer Engineer with 20+ years of industry experience. Prior to Google, she was a Consulting Solution Director at Oracle and a member of TIBCO Software's Quantum Leap team.
Bruno Rodrigues
ADR Manager
Bruno is a Certified Google Cloud Architect who has worked with countless early-stage Startups across North America since joining Google in 2018. He developed much of his AI/ML platform knowledge by working directly with GCP customers in Montreal, which is widely regarded as the AI capital of the world.
Quentin Capista
Customer Engineer, Google Cloud
Quentin Capista is a Cloud Engineer who has worked with some of the largest retailers in the world and some of the fastest growing startups designing robust and resilient cloud solutions. Since joining Google in 2018, he has worked on numerous projects involving data analytics and ML/AI. He currently resides in Chicago, IL with his pet Doberman named Otto.
Crispin Velez Villazon
Senior Hybrid/ML Engineer
Crispin has led our Google StartUp program in Latin America working side by side with VCs and StarUps alike to build and evolve their Ideas and Businesses into Digital powerhouses leveraged by Google Cloud´s Technology Stack. He leads Chapters on Tensorflow and has been an advocate of transforming how businesses operate with ML/AI & App Modernization Technologies across Latin America.
Mike Walker
Data Analytics Specialist, Cloud Customer Engineering
Since joining Google in 2017, Mike has helped dozens of midwest companies ranging from startups to global leaders like P&G and Mayo Clinic adopt Google Cloud Platform. Mike has 25+ years of IT & Software experience and his current role is helping clients build and use Google's AI and Analytics solutions to transform their business.
Dr. Divya Dhar
Product Manager, Google Maps
Dr. Divya Dhar is a Product Manager for Google Maps where she leads Hyperlocal, the last 100 meters experience. Prior to Google, Divya founded and sold a health tech company, Seratis. She's a physician from New Zealand with dual degrees in MBA/MPA from Harvard and Wharton. She's on the board of Kiwi Leaders USA Network.
Aanand Mohapatra
Vertical Search Lead, Google
Aanand has helped some of the world's most iconic brands survive and thrive in the digital era. His current role focuses on improving digital marketing programs of branded retail manufacturers like Adidas, Whirlpool, Goodyear, Levis, etc. His expertise on Google Search Ads is unparalleled and he is excited about bringing that expertise to help businesses of all sizes grow their customers.
Jonathan Nwosu
Agency Account Strategist, Google
Tech enthusiast focused on digital strategy, product and angel investing.
Ram Motipally
Head of GTM & BD - Glass Enterprise
Sales and BD experience of over 20 years. Enterprise Software, Mobile devices are my speciality. I have worked on launching many new products and laying the GTM foundation for scale to Billion $ businesses
Kevin Wang
Strategic Partnership Manager, Google
Kevin is responsible for Google strategic partnerships with the world's top travel companies and airlines. Before moving to business side, Kevin was engineering manager/TLM and built an airline reservation system. Before Google, Kevin worked for startups at various stages.
Besse Gardner
Global Head of Brand Strategy, Devices + Services Marketing, Google
Beese is an insights-to-implications strategist who has uncovered creative possibilities and storytelling for some of the best brands in the world within agencies and corporations. She loves to craft narratives that begin with human truths and the product at their core to drive marketing excellence. She's been a creative planner, brand marketer, and product marketer and now combine her experience to lead the Creative Strategy team for all of Google's Devices and Services Marketing.
Keith Bardsley
Sales Enablement Trainer, Riskified
Keith Bardsley is responsible for developing innovative go-to-market trainings that address the mindsets and skillsets of global salespeople at Riskified. Riskified is a unicorn tech-startup, and a Fortune.com Top 25 Place to Work, that protects companies such as Macy’s and Wayfair from eCommerce fraud. Previously, Keith led an incubator program for youth entrepreneurs; he was a Teach for America business facilitator, and an entrepreneurship major at Virginia Tech. He resides in Manhattan and is currently training for the NYC Marathon.
Efia Moore
People Partner, Google
I'm an experienced strategic people operations and talent management professional with a focus on shaping equitable and inclusive organizations. I provide executive coaching and consulting to enable leaders and organizations to achieve their vision for their business and people.
Jeremy Beasley
Senior Interaction Designer, Google Cloud
Engineer turned PM turned Designer. Previously Apple (hardware engineering, Airport Express), Microsoft (PM and UX for Bing Mobile). Currently, Interaction Design for Google Cloud.
Jasmyn Samaroo
Digitization Operations Manager, Google
I'm passionate about innovating and scaling complex operations to maximize stakeholder value and create equitable and engaging environments, especially for women and Black+ identities. I received my BA in English and International Relations from Brown University, my MS in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins, and recently completed my MBA and Lean Six Sigma training. I have experience planning customer service, distribution and shipping, product sourcing and support, and finance, and production operations, as well as leading multi-site teams ranging from 4 direct reports to large-scale roll-outs across teams of 120+ people.
Rahsan Boykin
Senior Counsel
Rahsan is an experienced corporate attorney who has worked as a corporate associate and in-house counsel representing new media companies, technology companies, investment funds, and public/private corporations. At Google, he's worked for the technical infrastructure, cloud, hardware and youtube teams as both a product and commercial counsel. Prior to joining Google, Rahsan volunteered as as a lawyer for the Small Business Association where he provided general counseling for startups and small businesses.
Brigham Wilson
Program Manager, Google Growth and Analytics
Program Manager with 4 years of experience at Google. Experienced in end-to-end project management, navigating complex cross-functional workstreams, relationship building, and strategic planning and operations. My current role focuses on Privacy within Google Growth and Analytics requiring complex project work, cross-Google coordination, and expertise in Privacy compliance and strategy.
Andrew Delveaux
Platforms Account Executive
I've been at Google for 5 years working in the programmatic advertising sales department. I've worked in the advertising industry for my entire 10 year career for broadcasting companies large and small (NBC, Telemundo, Google, Clear Channel Radio, and Evanston Online). I did work multiple jobs in sales and broadcasting at a hyperlocal journalism startup, Evanston Online, so I am familiar with the daily grind that is a start up! I'd love to be connected to any new company that is looking to grow sales, figure out their marketing strategy, hire talent, incentivize their teams and grow their business.