Leonardo Rossetti’s Post

Is it easy to get hired at Google?" I’ve often heard this question, and the simple answer is: No. Behind every "I got hired at Google" story lies: 💡 Countless hours of preparation. 🤔 Navigating tough rejections. 📚 Consistent learning and skill-building. 💪 Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome. It’s not about being the smartest in the room; it’s about: 🔥 Staying resilient. 🔥 Building the right mindset. 🔥 Growing with every challenge. I’m incredibly grateful for this milestone, but it wasn’t an “easy” road—it was one built with focus, hard work, and persistence. To anyone dreaming of working at a place like Google: Keep pushing. You’ll get there! #Google #DreamJob #Persistence #NooglerJourney #KeepGoing

Today is the first work day of my 21st consecutive year at Google. All through school and university it was drilled into me by teachers and the media that the era of the one-company career is over. No one would ever again have long-term job security. It would not be possible to work in a single company for decades, with career growth coupled to tenure and an eventual lucrative retirement package. Everyone gets a new job every few years. I know many people live that reality. In my experience, this has also turned out to be kind of true. Google over this time has really been a sequence of different companies to work for. In one case literally, but most often through changes to internal organization, development practices, management philosophy, business priorities, communication patterns, and of course the progress of technology. My own path through these years didn’t make things less variable. There have been many beginnings. I’ve been deep in internal infrastructure, in consumer facing apps, and in enterprise products. I’ve been a founding member of new initiatives that took a year or more from inception to launch, and I’ve taken over projects with many years of history of their own prior to my involvement. More than once I attached to teams from newly acquired companies to help them integrate, and I’d get a snapshot of how things are being done outside the Plex. After several trips on the Manager/IC pendulum, I have perspective on the business and on how to benefit from complementary job functions that no one position would allow. Relocations took me to offices with hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands of people, across multiple US states and countries. As a student I could never have imagined that I could get hired once and have such a rich and varied set of experiences, connections, and responsibilities. I like to think my work has added commensurate value. Thanks, Google. Thanks especially to you individual people who Google is, and has been, made of.

I've been laid off from Google. I truly never thought I would be posting this. I had consistently great performance ratings, had been promoted 4 times, was leading a team of nearly 40 people, and had a great track record of results, both with products and people. Google has been nearly my entire professional career (10 years), and frankly a huge part of my identity. Losing that it in an instant is extremely jarring. Still, conversations with folks since then have reminded me that Google simply isn't the company it was when I first joined in 2013. There are obviously still plenty of great people at Google, and awesome opportunities to be had. But there are also now pockets of people who are much more concerned with their own promotion trajectory than doing what makes sense. Who are much more concerned with perceptions than results. Who, despite having "UX" in their titles, don't seem to care much about users at all. And they're actively destroying the culture that made Google a special place to begin with, and making things worse for the talented, amazing, people around them. I got into UX and UI Engineering because I liked making useful things for people. I intend to keep doing that, though now I'm not sure where. Primarily looking externally now, at both large and small companies. I'd be open to exploring other roles at Google too (no company is a monolith) but will definitely be more selective about the environment I'm in. More than anything, I'm just sad. I liked my job. I was really good at it. I liked the people I worked with. Welp. Onward and upward.

I joined Google 8 years ago. Or 2,928 days ago to be exact. I remember day one- minutes after a dazed and confused younger version of myself had been successfully processed through the conveyor belt of fresh meat to secure the mugshot that would brand my ID card- the conversation with someone who I didn't know would become a lifelong friend; "not in it for the long haul"- "a couple years I'd say" - the mutual appeal of the Google line on our CVs before inevitably moving on to something less gargantuan, the expectation of not fitting in among all the type A triathletes and the desire not to subscribe to being a cog in a machine for long - take what you need and get out and grow in the greener pastures. Yesterday- 8 years, 7 teams, 6 titles later- I catch up with that same "Noogler" during one of the "casual collisions" this company is known for. We wish each other a happy "Googleversary" and laugh reflecting on our first impressions and early intentions. We've both built an unexpected life, and an unexpected career here- but more importantly, we've built ourselves here. Because we could. I reflect on the person I was walking in, and the person I am now. It's not all been rosy growth and high fives and up up up and non stop gratitude. It's been headwinds and tailwinds and turbulence and debates - roaring accolades, massive apologies, crashing glasses of prosecco, headbutts, heart felt thank yous, confrontations, pleases and praises, smashed targets and grotesque oversights, "you're the best" and "do better". The scaffolds of this rollercoaster have carved a flexibility, adaptability, self assuredness and resilience into me that no other ride could. I'm equipped for so much, and I have everything and everyone Google has given me to thank for that. I like to think I am rarely wrong (which I should work on), but I like to admit I was wrong when I am. In light of how wrong I was about what I could accomplish and who I could become with Google in 8 years, here is a photo of the offender on her first team offsite, being wrong about her future, in July 2016. #lifeatgoogle

I manifested my dream job at Google in San Francisco. Here’s how the journey was: So 11 years ago, I first visited San Francisco, and let me tell you, it was love at first sight! From day one of my trip, I knew I wanted to call this place home. I was 21 years old and working at Google India; I had a non-technical bachelor's degree and a big dream. No idea how and when, but I was determined to make SF my reality. I hustled hard, worked 16-hour days, so many side projects and badged two promotions at Google while relentlessly applying for jobs in SF. Sure, I faced hundreds of rejections and more flopped interviews than I care to count. But I kept applying. In 2014, I came across an opportunity within Google but it was a completely different product. I was a subject matter expert in Google Ads (Google Partner) (FKA Adwords) and this opportunity was in Google Ad Manager (FKA DoubleClick). But I was determined to give it a shot! So I showed up for a virtual interview with Xavier Brouard who was then based in San Francisco. In the first round, he was impressed by my determination and hardcore execution skills, and I aced it!  But for the second round, he put me in touch with Kara Meyer who grilled me with technical questions about Google Ad Manager. The problem was that I hadn't had much hands-on experience with the product, and I crashed and burned. Right after the interview, I sent them a humble email, owning my slip-up and I asked for a second chance. To my surprise, they agreed to it and I was scheduled for an interview in 15 days. For those two weeks, I went all in and studied every piece of information I could find on DoubleClick. I reached out to anyone and everyone including my amazing colleague in Google Argentina Melina  López who put me in touch with her neighbour who used to work on DoubleClick. So when the interview happened again Kara Meyer and Jason M. were impressed(?) and happy with how much I was able to understand about the product in such a short span. And I finally got a job in San Francisco! So yes, if you manifest something and take all possible actions towards it, it’s bound to happen!! But it’s also *SO much luck* and about the incredible people who play a role in making it happen behind the scenes (shout out to my Google Hyderabad homies) <3 Do you have any manifestation stories? Share them in the comment section, I would love to hear them! P.S. My birthday cake that year? Shaped like the Golden Gate Bridge. My room? Decorated with SF posters. My workspace? Covered in SF magnets. I couldn't help it, I was 23! #manifestation #entrepreneur #foundersdiary

I'm humbled by the overflow of responses to my "Leaving Google" message. I really wish for people to appreciate how much freedom they have to shape their careers. So, I recorded this video of my farewell message in which nearly every photo I show was taken on an approved business trip that Google paid for. I've had many of my most incredible wild adventures on Google's dime (again, all were approved by leadership). As you see me on multiple African safaris, tropical beaches, and with wild animals, just remember that these are not vacation photos. Each represents a time that I, as a Google Product Manager, decided to prioritize my love for nature over getting another promotion. Over and over, I chose to work on what mattered most to me rather than what was most lucrative. Multiple times, I left very successful projects that I helped start, even though staying there surely would have gotten me more money, a bigger team, and a promotion. But each time, I saw a different way to get closer to nature, the ocean, and the things I loved most. You can make these choices, too. As much as possible, I used my time at Google to live my life on my terms, not to be a conventional Product Manager. I hope this video of my business trips is some further evidence of that, and some inspiration for you to keep listening to the unique voices that call to you. You have far more wisdom than you realize... just listen to your internal guides, and not everyone else around you. Enjoy the show: https://lnkd.in/gTZ8mwBd #careeradvice #techlayoffs #googlelayoffs #mission #purpose #google #nature #techfornature #biodiversity #wisdom #climatejobs #naturejobs #conservation #amphibian

After 13 years, today is my last day as a Googler. Everyone talks about it, and it's undeniably true – the people are Google's magic. I was fortunate to meet and make friends with incredible people.  The opportunity to facilitate Search Inside Youself (SIY) and leading virtual retreats were the most rewarding parts of my time at Google. Outside of SIY, I struggled.  And, in August 2022, I broke.  I took a three-month mental health leave. While on leave, I thought a lot about the personal training side hustle I had in CA. It had aligned with the values and motivations I discovered in SIY, and was always the best part of my day. I daydreamed of taking the leap to full time. But with no benefits and retirement age closing in, a desk job seemed like a necessity. I started looking for corporate jobs outside Google. Then, around Thanksgiving, a Google friend told me about a new team in Cloud being built by another former colleague. I’d get to work with people I liked and respected, who would support and mentor me. We talked, but there was no headcount. January 10, I received the layoff email. Shocking, but not surprising. Project manager mode kicked in, I ramped up my job search. My friend from Thanksgiving still didn't have the headcount. Then a freind suggested I talk with a financial advisor, "With 13 years at Google, you might have more options than you think". Turns out, my paid-off condo in Colorado and a (hopefully) stable stock market meant I had a choice! February 3rd, I decided. Time for a gap year (or two) in Colorado. Personal training, here I come!  Worst case, I could always go back to the office. Plan B was in place. February 13th-14th, my birthday and Googleversary. My friend finally got headcount and offered me a spot on her team! Any other offer from Google would have been a hard no. But this was different. This was a chance to work with two of the most incredible people I know.  Conflicted, I asked for time. The fear of staying and living with regret outweighed the fear of failing at Plan B. So, I took a deep breath... and declined the offer. (Yes, the gasps were audible!) My friend, amazingly supportive as always, understood. I've passed my personal training certification. On April 1st, the kitties and I are headed to Colorado.  Practical as always, I’m taking on a part-time program management consulting gig to pay the bills while I build up a training clientele. While my Google experience wasn't without its challenges, I'm incredibly grateful for the lessons learned, the amazing people I met, and the lasting friendships I formed. A special thanks goes to the friend who gave me the gift of choice. Did I make the right call? I don't know. I'm a mix of sad, grateful, and "uncomfortably excited" to embark on my personal moonshot.

I can’t believe it’s already been 2 months since I moved (again) to the other side of the world to work at the Google EMEA HQ 🌍 And here’s what has surprised me the most… Yes, the perks are amazing—everything has been beyond what I imagined. But there’s one thing nobody tells you about, something you don’t really hear about in all those stories about Google and it’s Their incredible people 🙌 In just a couple of months I’ve met so many amazing people from every corner of the planet, with different backgrounds, cultures, languages, who are, of course, incredibly smart. But what I admire the most about everyone I’ve met here is: Their mindset 🧠💥 I’ve never seen such a diverse group of individuals so willing to help, collaborate, so kind, and ambitious—all in the same place, at the same time. I honestly have learned so much and am grateful for every single person I’ve met so far! it’s a privilege to be surrounded by such positive, inspiring energy✨ I’m looking forward to everything that’s coming: to the many more amazing professionals I’ll continue to meet, to the customers whose businesses I’ll help grow, and to contributing with my own experience to the team. It’s incredible to be part of an organization that doesn’t just adapt to the future but actually creates it. Because while the company name itself is impressive, what truly makes it great are the people behind it—and they’ve definitely got the best! 🚀 #Google #TechSales #B2B #DigitalMarketing

A great illustration of the problems with corporate culture changing. And it’s always changing. Same too with the taking the human out of HR. It’s really just Resources. Shocking for a company that knows so much about me as an individual know so little about it’s people. HR does need to take a marketing approach to HR and personalize the function again.

Culture is a Currency that works best for the Company. Hi Ben, wise words, and I guess it's time to make some lemonade. 🏖️ Irony seldom fools humans. The reason is that most of us are designed to conform to the norm of the group we belong to. Company Culture is often misunderstood to be in a state of homestatis. However, any culture is never fixed or static; it is constantly influenced by the external and internal forces that affect the organization, such as market conditions, customer demands, leadership changes. Culture always evolves. For Good or for Bad is perspectives. One thing has always been constant - "Survival of the fittest." Layoffs can have paradoxical effects on company culture. On one hand, layoffs can reveal the true nature of the company culture, by exposing the underlying assumptions, priorities, and trade-offs that guide the decision-making process of the organization. For example, layoffs can show how the company values its employees, customers, and stakeholders, and how it balances short-term and long-term goals. On the other hand, layoffs can also reshape the company culture, by creating new challenges, opportunities, and expectations for the remaining employees and the management. For instance, layoffs can affect the morale, trust, productivity, and innovation of the organization, and require a reevaluation and redefinition of the company culture to align with the new reality. Therefore, layoffs can be seen as a paradox of company culture, as they both reflect and transform the identity of an organization. The ultimate question is, how can leaders and employees navigate this paradox and maintain or improve their company culture after layoffs? Don't' bite more than chew, and don't swallow more than you can digest is all I can say for now. Remember, company culture is not a one-time meal. #thoughts