Black Googler Network fuels inclusion at Google

Posted by Yolanda Mangolini, Director, Global Diversity & Inclusion

On February 1 we kicked off Black History Month with a Doodle recognizing the remarkable life of Frederick Douglass and a new collection of Black history archives on the Cultural Institute. Googlers around the world have joined in the celebrations, hosting film screenings, spoken word performances, speaker series, and participating in community service. These efforts have been driven by the Black Googler Network (BGN), one of Google’s largest employee resource groups with 12 branches worldwide.

BGN focuses on empowering the Black community at Google and beyond. BGN Googlers work on many different teams, participating in BGN as volunteers or in their 20 percent time. They run service trips to communities in need, provide professional development and mentorship programs, convene dialogues on topics affecting the Black community, and help Googlers connect with each other and develop a sense of community. They’ve also driven social justice movements across the company, including Gayglers, I try to showcase the rich particularities to the personal and professional lives of Black people on the LGBTQIA spectrum. I’m celebrating Black History Month by renewing my commitment to unapologetically bringing my whole self to work each and every day.

Maasha says: Our Black History Month theme within Google this year is "Lift Every Voice: Ignite Inclusion." This theme of inclusion is powerful for me: when I first came to Google, I felt a bit isolated. I was not only a Black woman in Tech, but also working in the corporate social responsibility space, where there aren’t many Black folks. Joining BGN was critical in helping me feel like I could truly be myself at Google, with all my triumphs, tribulations, and differences included.

These days, I’m passionate about making Google a place where everyone is comfortable being themselves. In my role on the GooglersGive team, a agenda which gets Googlers involved in charitable giving and community service, I’ve coordinated opportunities for Googlers to use their spare time giving back in places ranging from Oakland and Harlem to Ghana and South Africa. Projects include teaching students computer science skills, conducting outreach to at-risk youth, and working with communities struggling with homelessness and abuse.

Jessica says: I first encountered Google’s commitment to making the company and the technology industry more diverse and inclusive as a BOLD intern on the Diversity team. Later, I returned to Google full-time on the People Operations team, and I plugged into the Black Googler Network. I’ve been able to serve in leadership roles for Black History Month, develop relationships with BGN members across the world, and interact with senior executives. BGN has provided me with opportunities that have helped me gain confidence and feel like I belong at Google—while allowing me to contribute to a cause much larger than myself.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm9lXUKJHXIGpJ9fNhtBhsujIRkadzzBcewkbcxL3TMLk-QjPP1ihON0aGhBOt5Vjwh0mWSaFH1C3-JGZcCJHVck5j_EM5VkF1U-BtS5DFGmOIVre8yx2ksbGw1ptuWjqeXGxyCjxPhc/s1600/BGN.jpg Yolanda Mangolini Director Global Diversity & Inclusion