Sales

• Name: James
• Title: Industry Leader – Travel
• Office: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• Hometown: Heemstede, the Netherlands
• Education: Degree in Business Studies from Cass Business School in London.

Why did you decide to come to Google?

Having worked in several roles in the travel industry following graduation, I had built up significant sector knowledge. One day I got a call from an old colleague who was working for Google in London. She told me there was a role for someone with my expertise, and would I be interested in coming in to discuss this further which ultimately led to an offer of employment. Working for one of the world’s most innovative brands in history was too good an opportunity not to explore.

What cool projects have you worked on at Google?

I am working in my second country at Google, having started in the UK. During my time, I have worked very closely with many clients in the travel industry to help them develop their internet strategies and position Google as their partner. I’ve really enjoyed speaking at industry events where you can lay out an online vision for the sector and engage directly with stakeholders.

After transferring to the Dutch office, I am now leading a team in a market that is new to me. Google is fantastic at giving its people the opportunity to use their expertise in different markets, encouraging cooperation and the sharing of ideas. As the Industry Leader, I sit on the Dutch management team, so I am also getting more experience looking at the overall strategy for the country and how we position ourselves for the long term.

What are your goals at Google – what are you working to achieve?

My goal is to have the maximum impact on my clients and team in terms of developing them and their businesses. Google is fantastic at developing its people. I have taken advantage of various training programs, and have the opportunity to get involved in projects apart from your daily responsibilities that make a genuine difference to the company. For example I am currently leading a project in the Netherlands looking at how we can accelerate the recruitment of people into available roles. This allows me to work with a team of people from the different parts of the organization and find new and innovative ways of identifying potential candidates.

What is your favourite perk/benefit about working at Google?

I am going to indulge myself and give you 2 perks/benefits. The first perk is working with such great people. It is really important to us that Googlers are of the highest quality and have a genuine passion for what they do. Working with people who inspire and motivate you daily is something that may sound like a cliché, but genuinely exists in this organization. The second perk has got to be the food. My family used to wonder why I never ate breakfast at home until they came to visit me at work.

• Name: Tessa
• Title: Account Manager YouTube & Display
• Office: Amsterdam , the Netherlands
• Hometown: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• Education: University of Amsterdam, Communication Sciences

Why did you decide to come to Google?

I met another Googler by chance at a social event. At the time we met, she had been working at Google for half a year and was really enjoying it. After a couple of weeks, she emailed me and checked if I was interested in a job switch. I was still working as an account manager and team captain at one of Holland’s biggest publishers. I was still really enjoying the job but my curiosity started from there and after a few months I was totally convinced that it was time for something different at Google.

What cool projects have you worked on at Google?

I’ve been working at Google since April 2008 as an Account Manager. Getting to know my customers, and of course all Google’s products was my main goal in the beginning. Besides the day-to-day business on my clients by email and phone, I like to visit them as often as possible. Since January this year I started working for the Media Solutions team and focus purely on possible YouTube and Display propositions/opportunities for our clients. We work closely together with our clients' agencies to follow-up on briefings and create customized proposals.

What are your goals at Google – what are you working to achieve?

I want to continue to master our growing catalog of products and be an expert on our services. I would like to explore different areas within Google (sales and marketing, direct clients and agencies, maybe even internationally) and so on. Most of all I hope to continue working with these great people: all ambitious and a little bit crazy, and I want to join many projects and visit counterparts at other Google offices.

What is your favorite perk/benefit about working at Google?

One of the things I like most is being challenged in my job and getting the feeling that I learn new things everyday. That is exactly what’s happening to me everyday. I don’t think it’s possible to get bored around here. I am enjoying every new thing, supported by my team members and other colleagues. I don’t mind the good food either, or all other things we do together besides work.

• Name: Bastiaan
• Title: Account Manager
• Office: Amsterdam , the Netherlands
• Hometown: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• Education: M.A. in History (Universiteit van Amsterdam), a one-year Erasmus exchange in Paris, France (Université Paris Diderot, Paris 7) and a one-year research project in Paris

Why did you decide to come to Google?

After living and studying in Paris for two years I felt I was ready for another international experience. At the time, Ireland was booming and I found an ad for a job at "the world's leading search engine" at their European HQ in Dublin. Although the job description was pretty vague, I figured it had to be Google and gave it a shot. I haven't regretted it for a single moment!

What cool projects have you worked on at Google?

The Dublin office really felt like a start-up when I joined early 2005. The organisation was growing at a rapid pace and there were just so many opportunities to sink your teeth into. I mainly worked on Account Management and New Business Development but there were and are plenty of other possibilities to develop yourself.

Another cool project I worked on was the development of a tool to facilitate Account Managers' work. As an Account Manager myself, I provided input from the user's point of view. Working in a small cross-functional team with Product and Engineering taught me a thing or two for sure. And it's of course very rewarding to see that your ideas are taken on board when the tool launches!

What are your goals at Google – what are you working to achieve?

Right now, my focus is on my job in the Retail team. I look forward to working with my new clients and helping them to achieve their (advertising) goals. I'm also keen on passing my knowledge and experience to colleagues who are new in their roles as Account Managers. At Google, you can carve out your own role and responsibilities so I'm sure that "coaching colleagues" could grow into "people management" if I would want to. But I'm not going to decide upon that right now.

Google is an international organisation and I've spent five out of the last ten years abroad. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if I would apply for yet another internal transfer, to another country.

What is your favorite perk/benefit about working at Google?

The real benefits of Google? Amazing, motivated colleagues and the constant drive to do things better, smarter. Never a dull day at work!

• Name: Daphne
• Title: Industry Manager – Technology Markets
• Office: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• Hometown: Haarlem, the Netherlands
• Education: Master’s degree Business Administration from Erasmus University Rotterdam, majoring in Information Technology. While studying International Business at the ISER, I did a 1-year exchange with the University of Georgia in the USA and did a traineeship at advertising agency BBDO in Jakarta in Indonesia.

Why did you decide to come to Google?

While travelling around the world I read The Google Story, a book that gives insight in how the company was founded and the Google culture. One of the things that made a lasting impression was that the Google founders Larry and Sergey were considering their motto “to have a healthy disregard for the impossible”. I love to be challenged by my environment and prefer to take the “road less travelled.” I visited Google Amsterdam for an exploratory talk to learn more and wound up applying for an Industry Manager position in Telecommunications & Media. I am about two years at Google now and can confirm that as a lover of innovation and continuous change no day is boring at Google.

What cool projects have you worked on at Google?

My team is responsible for providing advice on online sales, marketing and communications to operators, ISP’s, energy suppliers and the government. I’m excited about several research projects I am working to quantify the impact of internet media campaigns on branding and on offline sales to calculate the real ROI of online strategies. For the first time in my career, I feel I don’t need to break down boundaries first in order to expand my portfolio and work cross-functionally. Responsibilities are not fixed in stone and you can choose to work on projects that are not necessarily related to your role. This year I am co-organising a summit for Industry Managers across EMEA to share best practices, which is pretty cool!

What are your goals at Google – what are you working to achieve?

Companies need to continually reassess their thinking in order to keep pace with changing technology and evolving consumer behaviours. I want to continue to challenge companies to do things differently if we believe there is an opportunity to improve results based on online data insights. As a manager and coach, I want to make sure my team feels they can achieve their own professional goals. My personal goal is to make most of everything that Google provides.

What is your favourite perk/benefit about working at Google?

Fresh orange juice, fruit and plenty of newspapers in the morning and (sometimes) cake and cookies in the afternoon (The downside is that my husband now complains that I when I do the groceries I often forget to think about breakfast for him). What’s also nice is that as a Googler you have access to any office in the world. When my plane needed to turn around back to New York due to the volcanic ash cloud (a real bummer) I was able to work and play around in the New York office that week.