Sandbox Past Event Highlights
Google Sandbox: Atlanta | Mobile & UX
The Google Sandbox: Atlanta program dove into Material Design for mobile and UX strategy on the heels of the Android Lollipop release, and participants designed their own Android Wear apps.
Attendee Quotes
“I really loved hearing about Google work environment and culture. It seems like a company made just for me. Very positive experience for me.”
“I appreciate the overall effort Google is putting into expanding its code outreach to various demographics. I admire them even more now.”
“My favorite part was having the chance to really talk to employees and realizing that work at Google is actually an attainable thing.”
“Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to be part of Google Sandbox. The event was outstanding! The crowd was super diverse, that I loved. Google Team rocked :)”
Google Sandbox: New York | Cloud, Ads, & Commerce
The Google Sandbox: New York program spotlighted our Cloud and Ads and Commerce product areas. Participants experienced a keynote from SVP and Google Fellow Urs Holzle as well as a panel moderated by engineering director Marcus Mitchell, and learned to use the Firebase platform to create web apps.
Attendee Quotes
“Thank you so much for opening the doors to us. Google’s way of life is fascinating and it’s always refreshing to see and hear about the innovation and diversity of thought taking place.”
“I got a chance to talk with intelligent people, share knowledge together. People are simply there to learn and I really ENJOYED the positive great vibe and atmosphere!”
“When is the next event? Is it possible to have this type of event more often?”
Google Sandbox: DC | Site Reliability Engineering, Platforms, and Hardware
The Google Sandbox: DC program shared more about Site Reliability Engineering, Platforms, and Hardware Operations at Google. Participants tried their hand at code labs and design sprints intended to simulate some of the technical problems Googlers solve every day.
Attendee Quotes
“I was unsure of what to expect from an event like this but I was incredibly happy with what resulted. I feel as though I have a better sense of what mentality Google is looking for in an employee and I was glad to have a chance to speak my fellow attendees and understand their broad array of backgrounds.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Google Sandbox DC and would love to attend other sessions in the future.”
“Great event, very informative, excellent networking opportunity.”
Google Sandbox: Chicago | Virtual Reality, Android, and Google Play
The Google Sandbox: Chicago program cast a spotlight on virtual reality, Android, and Google Play product areas. Participants experienced tech talks on designing for VR, coding “in the flow”, and customer growth hacking through experiments.
Attendee Quotes
“As a Latina that has aspired to join Google for the past two years, this event was very motivating and interesting. I really appreciate how you give back to the community, particularly to minorities and women. The event truly was special and it was obvious that a lot of work went into the prep and execution. The event only deepened my excitement for Google and my yearning to help Google become more diverse.”
“I loved hearing about projects, and seeing the more imaginative side of things. I spoke one-on-one to some very friendly and kind Googlers. There seemed to be this "be yourself" culture, that I personally appreciate. I was pleasantly [sic] to meet/see other people who actively promoted/embodied diversity. I know this is something that is going to be core value in the rest of my life.”
“I thought the event was time well spent. I loved hearing more about Google products that I wasn't previously aware of, Tilt Brush specifically. I had never been very interested in VR until hearing Elisabeth Morant speak about it. The talk awakened an excitement in me for a new technology that I didn't even think was possible.”
Google Sandbox: Los Angeles | YouTube & Virtual Reality
At the Google Sandbox: Los Angeles program, participants enjoyed content focused on all things YouTube, including YouTube Sharing, Comedy, Living Room, and Virtual Reality. The program’s highlights included a lifestyle panel and a CodeLab learning experience.
Attendee Quotes
“The networking was definitely the best part of the event. Being able to talk to other Googlers, YouTubers, and under-represented groups in tech was nice. I especially enjoyed talking to other women and sharing experience with them.”
“I am amazed by the diversity of people working in Youtube/Google.”
“It was great to meet with Googlers and YouTubers and to hear them talk about their experiences at Google and YouTube, as well as some of the projects they worked on and the working atmosphere there.”
“I like the mixer part of the event before panels. And also the panels with a diverse background of people in different departments. And I really enjoyed the passion brought by the employees.”
Google Sandbox: Boston | Machine Intelligence and Cloud Machine Learning
The Google Sandbox: Boston program highlighted the Machine Intelligence and Cloud Machine Learning product areas, with a spotlight on Visualization for Machine Learning and a TensorFlow workshop, where participants learned how to work with a collection of operations combined to perform a rich set of computations.
Attendee Quotes
“Thanks for inviting me to the event! It definitely was fun and exciting to be part of it, and was a great opportunity to know how the life of engineers at Google looks like.”
“The diverse background of the panelists as well as the attendees was a nice touch.”“The introductions into the different teams on the first day were a great way to learn about the actual application of ML at google. I particularly enjoyed the visualization presentation.”
“Great event, very informative, excellent networking opportunity.”
Google Sandbox: Austin | Cloud Technical Sales
The Google Sandbox: Austin program highlighted Google’s growing Cloud business. The program featured a fireside chat with leaders within the Cloud organization, a deeper dive into what it’s like to work in Google Cloud with a Googler panel, and workshops focused on architecture design and sales skills.
Attendee Quotes
“The Sandbox event was wonderful! Ya'll did a FANTASTIC job! I really love that Google is genuinely interested in diversifying tech and starting in their own house by putting their money where their mouth is. Thank you for that! As a black woman in tech, I do not get to see many faces that look like my own. Over the last 2 evenings, I saw more black women in tech in 1 place in Austin than I have any other time in my 5+ years in tech. I took several things away from this event and one of them being that I need to do more to change that dynamic. Thank you also for everything you shared regarding Google culture - that it is truly great and it's designed so everyone is focused and driving hard to overachieve on their goals when working. It sounds like Google is even better than its reputation.”
“I truly appreciated the invitation from Google and thoroughly enjoyed my time at the event, both days, I appreciated the insight into life at Google and hope to continue the conversations started at this event.”
“This is one of the few tech events I've been to that had actual diversity. I felt energized and happy about this. Googlers felt open and honest with answers and content. The people in attendance were high quality and matched the purpose of the event."
Google Sandbox: Bucharest | Site Reliability Engineering, Security, and YouTube
The Google Sandbox: Bucharest program highlighted exciting work in the space of YouTube Content ID using neural networks as well as a deep dive into how Google protects its corporate security. Participants heard from engineers from across six European offices as part of the Engineering at Google panel and experienced product demos, including daydream.
Attendee Quotes
“To be able to innovate from any Google location... that is great. Everything that you do is visible for anyone in the company.”
“It was a pleasure for me to attend this event, the organisation was quite good, and the Googlers are really open people.”
“I had the opportunity to talk to the speakers and see that we have more things in common than I actually thought!"
Google Sandbox: Dallas | Testing & Infrastructure
The Google Sandbox: Dallas program highlighted the testing and infrastructure areas of Google. Participants explored topics such as the complexities and challenges of automated testing, cluster management, and testing hardware at scale, including a behind-the-scenes look at Google’s disaster recovery best practices.
Attendee Quotes
“For me, the event demystified Google and made the company and its employees seem extraordinarily accessible. Most of all, it was evident that the speakers had a passion for their jobs, and it’s rare to find a company that works to foster and maintain that enthusiasm.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I truly appreciated all of the insight, information, friendliness & goodies, and I would absolutely recommend anyone going to a Google Sandbox.”
“I hope that I get the chance to do this again. This experience really gave me a glimpse of where I would like to be. I really did enjoy the openness displayed by all of the speakers and I can’t help but wonder did Google have something to do with that. I think that Google did influence each one of those "Googlers" in some form or fashion. Thanks for having me.”
Google Sandbox: Seattle | Mobile, Ads, Maps, Cloud and Virtual Reality
The Google Sandbox: Seattle program focused on some of the exciting work being led by Google’s Seattle and Kirkland teams, with tech talks on topics as varied as automated testing, virtual machine migration, DIY artificial intelligence for makers, and fairness in machine learning.
Attendee Quotes
“I'm a CS student and for me, it was important to see such friendly and safe environment for everybody at Google Sandbox Seattle. This event inspired me and motivated to study even harder to achieve my ambitious goals. And of course, one of them is one day to be a part of such amazing community like you, Googlers :)”
“Yes, please have more of these type of events in Seattle (and elsewhere), that encourage diverse folks in tech that they too have a shot at getting into Google or just have the potential to be really great software engineers."
Google Sandbox: Raleigh-Durham | Site Reliability Engineering, Network Operations, Hardware Operations and Data Center Operations
The Google Sandbox: Raleigh-Durham program highlighted some of the exciting work being done by the Site Reliability Engineering, Network Operations, Hardware Operations, and Data Center Operations teams. These are the teams that keep Google up and running 24 hours a day. Participants were able to hear from various positions that make up our core infrastructure in order to maintain it in the most efficient, reliable, secure, and scalable way possible.
Attendee Quotes
"This was a great event, and you could tell all of the employees were happy to be there and answer any questions we had!"
"Overall it was a great experience, and I look forward to researching opportunities at Google."
"I enjoyed hearing about the lives of the Googlers. The mingle afterwards with Googlers was very helpful!"
Google Sandbox: Sofia | Search & Maps
The Google Sandbox: Sofia program gave participants a behind the scenes glimpse into Search Engine and the latest innovations in Google Maps for iOS. The program split into two tracks allowing participants to immerse themselves in the Google Innovation Lab focused on teamwork and design sprints, or the hands on technical TensorFlow workshop.
Attendee Quotes
"The networking and the Q&A with actual google engineers were the most valuable parts for me. Hearing things directly from them made me feel like I was getting inside info from the most credible sources :)”
"Amazing experience, I definitely learned a lot while also having fun! Thank you for the wonderful event!”
“I really appreciated hearing more about the speaker’s life and work at Google...meeting the people was the most valuable aspect of the event!”
Google Sandbox: Machine Learning Lab | New York
The Google Sandbox: Machine Learning Lab program allowed participants to dive into machine learning concepts and go through Google’s Machine Learning Crash Course with hands-on instructors. Participants applied machine learning concepts to data sets and worked in groups to demonstrate their learnings.
Attendee Quotes
"The networking and the Q&A with actual google engineers were the most valuable parts for me. Hearing things directly from them made me feel like I was getting inside info from the most credible sources :)”
"Amazing experience, I definitely learned a lot while also having fun! Thank you for the wonderful event!”
“I really appreciated hearing more about the speaker’s life and work at Google...meeting the people was the most valuable aspect of the event!”
Google Sandbox: Detroit | Hardware
The Google Sandbox: Detroit program shone a spotlight on Google’s work within the consumer hardware space. Participants watched tech talks focused on how Google’s hardware team researches, designs, and develops their products. During the networking reception, participants had the chance to chat with members of the hardware team and get hands-on with demos of the latest products.
Attendee Quotes
“Thank you for the opportunity to attend Google Sandbox Detroit! I have always loved Google; after attending the event, I am even more enthusiastic about the company. I really appreciated learning about Google's work environment and culture; it seems like the perfect company for me. The event gave me confidence that working for Google is actually an attainable goal.”
“The event was well organized from top to bottom. Having worked in the automotive industry for over 20 years, it was nice to be immersed into the google culture at least for one night. Thanks for the opportunity!”
“Thank you for coming to Detroit. I appreciate the resources and time Google spent to come to our city. All the Googlers were gracious with their time and sharing their experiences.”
“I enjoyed the friendliness and inclusion that all of the Google employees showed toward myself and others. It was a great atmosphere to be in.”
Google Sandbox: Denver | Google Cloud G Suite
The Google Sandbox: Denver program highlighted the teams that support G Suite — Google’s Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Calendar products for businesses. Through tech talks, panels, fireside chats, and workshops, participants got an inside look into the impact these products are having on the world’s businesses, as well as Google’s culture in the Boulder office.
Attendee Quotes
“I liked the gender, racial, cultural, etc diversity of the event. I'm a white guy, and I was outnumbered at the event, which is a rarity -- and a positive -- at tech events."
"I am truly excited to gain more exposure to the Google lifestyle and learn how I can be a critical asset to your team."
"It was a real pleasure to attend to the Google Sandbox event in Denver and an amazing opportunity to meet the recruiters in person. Thank you for putting this event together as it gave me the chance to get in direct contact with the recruitment team and understand what Google is looking for."
"I went in from interested to *extremely* interested: from the 20% projects, to learning what it takes to become useful and start contributing and making impact, this was a terrific event. And the Googlers were fun!"
"I met one person through the breakout sessions who I am hoping will become a mentor for me, and another person who I might potentially be able to mentor--so it was really wonderful!"
Google Sandbox: Baltimore | Google Cloud
The Google Sandbox Baltimore event brought together 21 Googlers and 107 attendees at The Assembly Room in downtown Baltimore for two evenings of tech talks, breakout sessions, mini fireside chats, and networking. Attendees were able to learn more about life at Google and take a deeper dive into teams across Tech Infrastructure including Security & Privacy, SRE, CorpEng, Data Centers and NetOps. The event took place in an old converted warehouse filled with lifesize games, Maryland inspired hors d'oeuvres and plenty of fun snaps at the Google photobooth.
Attendee Quotes
“The event gave a glimpse into the Google community and it is such a progressive, creative atmosphere that I can definitely understand why Google as a company is so successful.”
“I have always admired Google for being one of the Best/Top 1 - 8 places to work every year. However, interacting with actual Googlers encouraged me to put Google at the top of my bucket list for my next career transition. I have extensive technical skills in systems engineering and security, and I believe Google is a great environment for me to bring my passion. “
“I would do this again in a heartbeat, and recommend to anyone with even an inkling of interest in Google and what it's like for its engineers.”
“The Events team crafted a remarkable experience and all Googlers were engaging and full of radiant energy and good vibes. I really appreciate having that energy focused in Baltimore, if only for two days. ;-) I felt fully supported by a diverse and inclusive environment. And at the same time, I felt at ease to engage in dynamic conversations that are shaping the Infrastructure that we all love. So again, thank you! +1UP!”
“It was great to hear from the speakers on the projects they were working on and hearing from their mouths; their fulfilling experiences in working at Google and the autonomy in working in a dynamic environment that enables collaboration and innovation.”
Google Sandbox: Los Angeles | Global Marketing
The Google Sandbox Los Angeles | Global Marketing Event showcased life at Google and potential pathways in the Global Marketing Organization. The Los Angeles event featured interactive dicussions with makreting leaders, networking and breakout sessions, all while embracing both the Google and Los Angeles cultures.
Attendee Quotes
"As a woman of color who works in technology, I am often the only minority in the room. At Sandbox, this was different. It was so inspiring for me to be in a room of people who look like me and share the same experiences. I met a lot of cool people and had great conversations about marketing at Google and marketing at large. I think this program will have long-term impact, if not immediate, to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply to and bring diverse goodness to Google."
“The event was seamless – every detail was carried out to perfection, from the well-timed sessions to the beautiful spread of food. For an event that catered to Marketers (who often create and manage events), this knocked it out of the park. Well done! “
“This event was truly one-of-a-kind and best in class. It was so unique to have such a wide array of marketing professionals in a room from all different backgrounds all of which were eager to learn about the Google ecosystem. The insight and intel about the company, the current campaigns, and what it takes to be a part of the team was invaluable. I wish more companies would do things like this and I think if possible Google should do them more! I would love to attend again and highly recommend to anyone in the industry whether they're looking for a new career or not as it truly reignited my passion for marketing again.”
Google Sandbox: Nashville | Search, Ads, YouTube & Infrastructure
Over the course of two evenings, attendees enjoyed an inspiring Googler panel, a tech talk on fighting abuse online, competed in Google Games, experienced a live musical performance from a local Nashville artist, and had a chance to network with Google and YouTube recruiters.
Attendee Quotes
“The one on one discussions with the Googlers provided insights into the company; that aided in my decision to pursue a career at Google.”“The panel discussion, and more so from the standpoint of understanding the caliber and mindset of Googlers..was very inspiring, and gave myself and several others I spoke with a strong sense that Google is the team to be a part of.”“The networking and google game workshop were both admirable and neat ways to talk further with folks in the Nashville tech communities that may not touch base often. Having that time together with Google was well worth it.”“Overall I thought the sandbox was a valuable event and I would definitely enjoy going to more Google events if they happen in Nashville.”“Thanks so much for coming to Nashville!! That was awesome!!”“Google Sandbox is unique and a great idea.”“Please do more of these.”
Google Sandbox: Phoenix | Site Reliability Engineering
The event featured two evenings of tech talks, mini fireside chats, a SRE technical workshop, and networking. Attendees were able to learn more about life at Google and take a deeper dive into technical teams across Google Cloud, Chrome or Google Search. On the last day, we offered a social hour, during which participants had the opportunity to network, engage with demo stations, take professional headshots and enjoy specialities from the local cuisine.
Attendee Quotes
“I'm looking for a company to call home, I believe Google should be that company. I want to join the Google Team.” “Thank you for taking the time to visit Phoenix! I would love to take part in future events if Google decides to send a team back to Arizona.”
Google Sandbox: San Diego | Geo, Ads, and Apps
On night one, participants heard from our LAX-based Customer Engineering Director on customer engagement strategy and process, along Google’s Ads Integrity initiatives to fight against malicious ads. Listeners also learned about Engineering Productivity and the important SETI (Software Engineering, Tools & Infrastructure) role at Google, particularly within Geo. Attendees were also to get technical with an in-depth Apps demo on gSuite collaboration tools.
Part two of the event, Google’s local San Diego office shared insight on its culture and achievements over a panel discussion, and later participants branched off into breakout sessions, including fireside chat roundtables, or the Geo Earth Engine workshop. Receptions throughout the event featured a local brewery offering educational pours, West Elm-sponsored lounges, and the opportunity for professional headshots and chats with Google recruiters.
Attendee Quotes
"It was very well organized and very smooth to follow the directions and talks. The timing for each section was perfect, not too long or not too short. Speakers were all excited and energetic and welcoming. Gifts were appreciated and exciting to have. Googlers were diverse and some of them.""I extremely enjoyed talking to and learned a lot from Googlers. The team put in a lot of thoughts to plan out the space and the event so well and I am glad I had a chance to participate. I would be extremely happy to keep coming back to more such events in the future and would appreciate any chance to come over and socialize with the Googlers.""It was an awesome well put together event and I will tell everyone about it!"
Google Sandbox: Toronto | Cloud, Sales, and Software Engineering
The evening started out with an opening from the Head of Corporate Sales, Google Cloud, to give insight into their journey to Google Cloud and the developments happening in the industry. We then heard from our Life @ Google panelists that discussed their experiences working in LCS and Google Cloud before finishing with a presentation on the 9 Principles of Innovation. After the content, the guests enjoyed a networking reception where they were able to mingle with Googlers, speakers, and recruiters.
Attendee Quotes
“I have always wondered what life at Google was like and now I know. I enjoy the culture of innovation and cooperation, and it's a good guide for other companies (and frankly, people in general).”“The manager in the panel had extremely well-thought answers and his drive to fulfill his team's career goals makes me envious of Googlers.”“All parts of the event were useful together. I especially liked the networking part at the end. I enjoyed meeting Googlers and others invited and listening to their questions.”“Strongest value has to go to being able to connect with both recruiters and people on the team I'm interested in. They were both able to give relevant advice that will be advantageous during an interview process.”
Google Sandbox: Kiev | Machine Learning, Cloud, and Kubernetes
On March 24th, Sandbox program series expanded to Ukraine. Sandbox Ukraine connected 75 attendees and 15 Googlers over a full day event about Cloud and Machine Learning. It was the third iteration of the Sandbox program series in EMEA after Romania and Bulgaria.
Attendee Quotes
“That's the greatest tech event that I've been attending. Schedule was organized the way it was NOT boring. In workshop I had good opportunity to try the tools I've been listening about before, that's awesome. Also I'm grateful for hospitality.”
“It was a great opportunity to meet googlers here, in Kyiv. It is good that event was more tech than marketing. I am really inspired and can't wait for your next events! Good job!”
“The event was really interesting and useful for me, I am proud that I visited it and had the opportunity to have a conversation with interesting people from Google and from another companies. Thanks for a good time:)”
Google Sandbox: London | Tensor Flow, Next Billion Users Tech Talk, Enineering at Scale, and Innovation
On 23rd March, the Industry Programs team partnered with the EMEA Staffing and Channels team to host Google Sandbox London. The event was open for everyone, but had a focus on ethnic minorities in tech. Goal of the program was to create an immersive experience where BAME community members can experience first-hand what it’s like to be a Google engineer from both a cultural and technical perspective. Attendees learned about Growth mindset vs. Fixed mindset from Phil Beevers, about “Engineering at scale” in a Googler panel, the Next Billion Users from Adama Diallo and Asif Baki, and had the opportunity to participate in a Tensorflow workshop or Innovation Lab. Elita Walker closed off the day with an inspiring talk about authentic leadership before attendees joined us for a reception with photobooth, demos and amazing networking.
Attendee Quotes
"We were made to feel like respected professionals, and it was obvious that a lot of time and effort was put into the production and execution of the event."
"The Innovation workshop was absolutely great in teaching us how teams at Google take advantage of Design Thinking to define problems and brainstorm solutions. (...) Connecting with Googlers who work on the everyday products and services we use was also spectacular, it's definitely not something you can do very often."
"Please keep these Sandbox events going! and bring them to other cities across the globe. It's a great experience many more people should experience."
Google Sandbox: Miami i18n Tech Talk and Containers @ Google Tech Talk
This two day event brought Google Sandbox to south beach. During the event attendees got to meet with Googlers from all over, view product demos, and participate in panels.
Attendee Quotes
"Great event organization and really friendly people. I think google's highest asset is the engineers and the culture. Also very nice, helpful and honest recruiters."
"Great event organization and really friendly people. I think google's highest asset is the engineers and the culture. Also very nice, helpful and honest recruiters."
"It was very valuable to be able to speak with recruiters to understand the full scope of the interview process and expectations."
Google Sandbox: Washington DC | Hardwar and Coding Trek
Despite tornado and flash flood warnings, 109 attendees joined us at Google Sandbox to learn about our SRE, Platforms, and Hardware product areas. Attendees got to check out our brand new DC office space and were engrossed in lightning talks, a Life@Google panel, a design sprint, SRE code lab, and networking on our breathtaking rooftop deck. Attendees were floored by the honesty of the Googlers and the diversity of perspectives presented and backgrounds represented by the speakers.
Attendee Quotes
“I really enjoyed the event and wish there was something like this more to get people in the industry to come out and talk/chill/network. Before this event I thought I was one of the few who was really into the tech scene but that's obviously not true. Would definitely come out once a month or so to talk/chill/code with fellow people in the area. Feel free to hold a hackathon!”
“I was unsure of what to expect from an event like this but I was incredibly happy with what resulted. I feel as though I have a better sense of what mentality Google is looking for in an employee and I was glad to have a chance to speak my fellow attendees and understand their broad array of backgrounds.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Google Sandbox DC and would love to attend other sessions in the future.”
Google Sandbox: Haifa | Tech Talks and Life@Google Panel
On March 25th, Google hoseted the first ever Sandbox event in Israel. The Google Sandbox program series brought first-hand experiences of Google to industry professionals in communities around the world. Attedees got to participate in a mini round of the Google competition: Kick Start. Following that, we hosted a Life @ Google panel with Adi, Loui, Owais and Safaa. Attendees heard about the panelists journey to Google, current projects they are working on and asked questions regarding the Google culture. The event ended with a delicious Italian dinner with mingling time with Googlers from the community.
Attendee Quotes
“I hope to see this event in next year”
When asking which aspects of the event did you find to be the most valuable?
“The whole event :)”, “Challenge, Google culture ,meeting experienced people…”, “All are valuable !!”
Google Sandbox: Raleigh | AR, Lens, and Corporate Engineering
On April 10–11, Google Sandbox returned to the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area with the goal to deepen our engagement with the local tech talent; showcase the unique innovations across different Google PAs; increase both the understanding and positive perception of Google among attendees; as well as create a more representative long-term pipeline of future Googlers. This two-night program was held at Junction West in Raleigh’s Warehouse District, and featured Opening Remarks, “Eng Life at Google” Panel, Technical Talks, Recruiter Lounge, ARCore Demo, Headshots, and Fireside Chat Roundtables.
Attendee Quotes
“I am so thankful to have been a part of this amazing event! Not only was I able to connect with fellow women of color in the community, but I gained so much insight into life at Google.”
“It got me to see Google in a different light, and [I] can clearly see how events like these will help the company grow their goals, as well as perspective, influencing their products in a positive way.“
“I was impressed by the access to one-on-one conversations with Googlers. That was extremely helpful and valuable.”
Google Sandbox: Manila | Tech Talks and Life@ Google Panel
On Saturday May 25th, Google went to Manila in the Philippines as part of the Sandbox program series. It was the first Sandbox program in APAC and the event was held at the Google Manila vendor site office with strong support from local teams. This event brought together Googlers and attendees for a day of engaging talks, a panel, roundtable conversations, and networking. Three engineers from the Payments team in Singapore and one local Cloud Engineer gave talks sharing how they tackle technical challenges through examples from the projects they work on, and provided insights into their work as Google software engineers. Before diving into the tech, each person shared their unique personal stories and career journeys to Google, which resonated well with the audience. After a fun round of Kahoot, where the audience could win Google swag by engaging in an interactive learning game and a nice lunch, the attendees enjoyed a Life @ Google Panel discussion featuring a range of topics and perspectives. The interactive roundtable sessions with Google Engineers and inspirational closing remarks by rounded off the day, before guests enjoyed a networking reception with the opportunity to mingle with Googlers and our attending recruiter, take pictures at the photo booth, and share career advice via an interactive installation that will live in the Google lobby for others to contribute to.
Attendee Quotes
“It is my first time to attend this kind of event given my 8 years professional work experience and I personally enjoy it a lot. Hopefully, this could be a regular event.”
“I really found value from the life at Google stories shared by Googlers. This inspires me to achieve greatness and build a company where employees are very proud and happy and fulfilled and feel their purpose in their work for every day.“
Google Sandbox: Brimingham | Corporate Engineering, Net Ops, Datacenters
On Wednesday May 22, Google brought its Sandbox program to Alabama for the first time in Birmingham. The event spotlighted Technical Infrastructure teams including Global Data Centers, Corp Engineering and Networking Operations with a focus on engaging underrepresented groups. The evening included several tech talks, a Life at Google Panel and plenty of time for informal networking, providing a unique opportunity for the local community to interact with Googlers and fellow professionals in the area. We also supported local businesses by featuring companies such as, Who Doesn’t Like Cake, and Good People Brewing throughout the event.
Attendee Quotes:
“The Googlers were very informative and encouraging! Their love and passion for working at Google was infectious!”
“Honestly it was all very valuable, maybe have Googlers share their path to Google/application process in more detail since I think that process seems daunting to many prospective applicants.”
“How very diverse Google is, it takes courage to pull together such a world-class team. I am even more impressed with Google.”
Google Sandbox: Louisville: P&E, Comms, GPI
The event kicked off with an exciting game of rock, paper, scissors designed to energize and bring attendees together before diving into the content. Kevin Bleicher delivered the opening remarks, speaking about his unconventional path to Google from Louisville and the work he is doing as a Technical Program Manager on Chrome OS. Following Kevin, Anthony Mays, Rachel Blum, and Alexander Ventura each gave short talks about a day in the life on their respective teams and roles, followed by audience Q&A. The content wrapped with mini fireside chat discussions, giving attendees an open forum to ask questions of the Engineering and staffing Googlers. The event concluded with a celebratory networking reception, featuring several local businesses, headshots, an Android pool photo opp, postcards for a local STEM camp, and a recruiting lounge.
Attendee Quotes
“Thanks for bringing it to Louisville. Kentucky has a big and growing tech field”
“The personal chats with googlers and fellow attendees during the closing reception were most valuable to me.”
“Thank you all so much for coming to Louisville. We all had a blast.”
Google Sandbox: Kansas City | Infrastructure, Engineering, and Life@ Google
The event spotlighted Cloud Technical teams including Site Reliability, Strategic Cloud and Technical Support engineering, with a focus on engaging underrepresented groups. The evening included several tech talks, a Life at Google Panel, two technical breakout sessions and plenty of time for informal networking, providing a unique opportunity for the local community to interact with Googlers and fellow professionals in the area. With cameos from the SRE traveling Unicorn and a Googler’s own Google bike, we brought the fun magic of Google to this great city.
Attendee Quotes
“ [Google] definitely is one of the most authentic and genuine companies I’ve had the pleasure of engaging. Thank you for the invite and adding KC to your tour. Until next time!”
“ I learned SO much this weekend at #googlesandbox - one thing in particular was...I had NO idea how many things and businesses @Google is involved in…”
“I truly appreciated that Google made the effort to have a wide variety of Googlers present -- diversity is more than gender and race, and it was really nice to see that representation on both the Googler and Attendee sides.”
Google Sandbox: San Francsico | Machine Learning
The event spotlighted Cloud, Geo, RMI, and YouTube, with a focus on Machine Learning & AI. The full day programming included several tech talks, application and domain workshops, demos, Q&A and plenty of time for informal networking, providing a unique opportunity for the local community to interact with Googlers and fellow professionals in the area.
Attendee Quotes
“This event was an incredible source of motivation and empowerment for someone changing careers like me.”
“Exposure to new technologies and the overview of ML was really valuable. They inspired me to dig deeper and think about current development challenges from a different perspective.”
“I liked that this event was technical. A lot of events that are meant for underrepresented minorities only focus on being a minority and not on technical stuff.”
Google Sandbox: Cambridge | Machine Lab
This one-day-event highlighted a series of tech & lighting talks from Googlers on our EngEDU, Google Brain, Google Flights & Travel, and Search’s WebAnswers teams. The day also featured a TensorFlow Tech Talk & Workshop from our Google Cloud DevRel team.
Attendee Quotes
“I was blown away by the true sense of inclusion and acceptance for all people, races, gender identity, etc. in the Google campus.”
“I really enjoyed learning about all the new products Google has to offer that include aspects of Machine Learning. I would say my favorite seminar was with the panel of different Software Engineers explaining their own contribution to their projects.”
“Google sounds like an awesome place, and I like the efforts towards equal representation and democratization of AI.”
Google Sandbox: Minneapolis | Ads, YouTube, CorpEng, GCP
This Sandbox event was held at the historic Machine Shop, formally known as the Pillsbury A-Mill, which was once the largest working mill in the world.This Sandbox event hosted 99 Minnesotans over the course of two days, featuring speakers from Channels, BLD Recruiting, Global Business- Americas Export, Shopping-EngProd, Payments Identity Verification, YouTube- Release Infrastructure, and the Drive Data Protection team. Event day 1, also hosted Google’s, Tech Challenge (formerly known as Google Games), which was highly rated by attendees. In addition, we had the opportunity to support and feature small local business, Green Garden Bakery, a business run by young entrepreneurs from Heritage Park, North Minneapolis, who are driven by a passion to change the world one healthy, delicious baked good at a time. Green Garden Bakery's goal is to support the leadership development, community engagement, and economic mobility of youth in Heritage Park.
Attendee Quotes
“The Tech Challenge on the first night was an excellent opportunity to inspire team collaboration amongst fellow attendees who were total strangers to one another only 15 minutes beforehand. The Life@Google panel and "speed dating" with Googlers was also highly valuable. I received more answers to my questions about Google from ACTUAL Googlers than I could have possibly imagined prior to Google Sandbox.”
“I enjoyed hearing about what life is like for current Googlers. It was great to network with current employees and others from the community.”
“...speed friending gave an opportunity to ask more questions. Loved the idea !”
Google Sandbox: St. Louis | Search, YouTube, GCP
Like the Gateway Arch, established around the concept of westward expansion, we expanded the reach of Sandbox by sending 21 Googlers to host 98 participants over the course of two nights in St. Louis. The goal of the event was to engage with the local talent, while showcasing various technical roles and teams across YouTube, Search and GCP. With the aim to increase both the understanding and positive perception of Google among attendees, the program included both technical and nontechnical content, featuring Opening Remarks, a “Hometown” Panel of Googlers native to St. Louis, Technical Talks, a Career Corner with Google staffing, Headshots, and Fireside Chat Roundtables.
Attendee Quotes
“This was the best organized event I have ever been to. Everyone was professional, there was minimal chaos, it was easy to maneuver between tables, everyone could hear each other, the layout was wonderful, the food was convenient, and every person, whether Googler or invitee, was amazing to talk to. It was an excellent charismatic group of people.”
“The ability to get an inside look at Google and how it operates and the opportunity to speak with employees about what it truly is like working at Google was priceless.”
“Fantastic event. It made me want to move to California to be a Googler!!!”
Google Sandbox: Orlando | Platform & Ecosystems, Core Systems, YouTube
This evening-event highlighted a series of lightning technical talks, panels, and mini fireside chats from Googlers on our Platform & Ecosystems, Core Systems, and YouTube teams. The event kicked off with opening remarks from Shan He who shared insights and advice from her long career at Google (and beyond). She talked about having a sense of mission and the importance of great managers. Alex Rushin, Asha Makur, and Fyodor Kyslov delivered lightning tech talks, touching on some of the key challenges they are facing. Attendees then had the opportunity to break out into small groups for ask-me-anything style fireside chats. The event concluded with an opportunity to network and build connections amongst Googlers and the Orlando tech community.
Attendee Quotes
“I thought it was very helpful and informative to talk to real Googlers. Getting career guidance by the recruiters was very helpful at this point in my career. Talking to the designers and Engineers was a good insight as to what the jobs really are.”
“Before this event, I felt that Google was not a place for me. That has definitely changed now that I have spoken to Googlers from all over the country who were so excited to share their experiences with all of us in Orlando.”
“Top notch event organization. Very well done, loved the logistics, the valet. The location was an interesting choice for Orlando – I liked it.”
Google Sandbox: Philadelphia | Geo & Cloud
This two evening-event kicked off with an executive fireside chat with Jason Mills, Director of the Cloud Advanced Solutions Lab, and a Tech Challenge workshop. Day two featured a Life@Google Panel with Dave Carlsson, Anna Menaged, Helen Altshuler, Jay Lawrence, and Francine Marquis (moderator/MC) and breakout discussions led by Googlers representing different teams and offices. Both evenings wrapped up with a networking reception where attendees were able to mingle with Googlers and industry peers, send a postcard to someone who inspired them to pursue STEM, participate in a Daydream demo, and enjoy treats from local vendors. The venue featured floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the space, so to celebrate the local community and bring some Google magic, we developed decals for major landmarks with QR codes leading to the associated Google Arts and Culture virtual tours and galleries.
Attendee Quotes
“I didn't realize until Sandbox that Google was so friendly for women/minorities. My impression also changed about the *type* of intelligence at Google. I knew Google hires extremely intelligent technologists in computer science. I didn't realize how very well rounded the team is in so many other ways - other "intelligences". You demonstrated this for me.”
“Thank you for an unforgettable event! I not only made new connections with Google and my industry, but also brainstormed a few ideas for my non profit from your amazing workshop and can’t wait to get started. Please come back soon!”
“Google Sandbox and Grow With Google have been two of the most amazing experiences that I’ve had this year and I’m excited to attend more in the future.”
Google Sandbox: Detroit | Re-Engagement Dinner
On Wednesday, November 6, the Talent Programs & Events Team (TP&E), in partnership with the Channels Pipeline Program (CPP), brought Google Sandbox to Detroit, Michigan for the second time, featuring the first re-engagement dinner format for technical Sandbox talent. The goal of this intimate event was to further develop relationships with previous attendees and opted in leads of the initial Sandbox Detroit event held in 2017. The event featured Googlers from the Geo, Ads, and Cloud PAs. The evening began with opening remarks from Charlaé Washington and Anne Stern, who welcomed attendees back to Sandbox and shared a bit about their journey at Google. Attendees had the chance to connect with engineers and recruiters through a cocktail hour, sit down dinner, and strolling dessert.
Attendee Quotes
“Thank you for the invite! I enjoyed the 2019 event even more than the 2017 event (which was also fantastic). The smaller audience made the 2019 event better. It allowed for more personal interaction and quality time for networking.”
“I feel much more valued and I feel Google values Detroit much more.”
“Other than a huge THANK YOU, I am entirely grateful that I was even invited!”
Google Sandbox: Charlotte | Site Reliability, Network Operations and Corporate Engineering
On November 19, Talent Programs and Events partnered with staffing and CPP hosted a Sandbox event in Charlotte, North Carolina. With a highlight on Site Reliability, Network Operations and Corporate Engineering, the event provided attendees an insight into the personal journeys of our attending Googlers as well as an interactive workshop about visualizing our data. The event ended with a networking reception complete with a career lounge where attendees could go to get career advice, resume edits and information about employment at Google.
Attendee Quotes
"Very satisfied with the Google Sandbox, good experience"
"Hearing from Google employees. Getting to meet and speak with them about their jobs. It really humanizes Google."
Google Sandbox: Dallas | T/PgM, PM, UX and SWE
Over the course of two evenings, we hosted 79 participants from historically underrepresented tech talent groups across Big 5 profiles (SWE, EngProd, UX, T/PgM, PM). Featured PAs included: Devices & Services, Platforms & Ecosystems, CorpEng and GCP. With the aim to increase both the understanding and positive perception of Google among attendees, the program included both technical and nontechnical content, featuring a Life@Google panel of the Big 5 profiles, remarks from Google Dallas’ site lead (Bruce Bordelon) on our local presence on the first evening and talks from Barriet DeBose (TPM with D&S), Hannah Huynh (Product Design Engineer for Pixel) & Gabe Ahn (Engineer for Stadia) on the second evening.
Attendee Quotes
“I thought the entire event provided value and have nothing that I would take away.”
“I found the table talk discussions to be the most valuable as well as the conversations with recruiters.”
