Closing a Chapter

Yesterday was my last day working at Google. March 26 would have been my 18th Googleversary. I plan to share more soon about how I came to this decision and what I’m doing next, but for today I want to focus on my final days and capture my raw feelings about this big transition.

In my last few weeks after I shared the news of my departure, I heard from various people I had worked with, mentored, and coached over the years. It struck me that people say really nice things to you when you’re leaving, and I wish we had more opportunities to express our appreciation to each other in general because sometimes you may wonder how people feel about you and, like me, think the worst. I also got to spend some time with folks to share memories. My team ordered cookies that were printed with my face on them. Although I shrieked out of embarrassment when I saw my face, it was a very Googly, fun way to send me off. And the cookies were delicious!

On my very last day, I attended one meeting and approved an expense report. I had already wrapped up the rest of my manager responsibilities before my team moved to their new manager. Then my husband and I had lunch at Charlie’s, the original Google cafe, and I finally had the chance to slide down one of the indoor slides in a nearby building that started on the second floor and ended in front of a barista bar. We walked over to the first building I worked in when I first started as a Senior Product Specialist in Google Checkout in March 2007. I signed out of my laptop at the end of the afternoon, and that was it!

So far, I’m still feeling pretty excited about the future and much lighter without the job responsibilities and obligations. But I haven’t really had a chance to just sit and process my feelings, because even without work, life keeps on going and we had a flag football game last night and a birthday party this morning. I expect that once things really sink in I’ll go through a range of emotions, but for now I’m grateful for the many challenging opportunities I’ve had at Google, the amazing perks and benefits, and most of all, an extended family of smart, caring, and dedicated peers.

I’ll be back soon to talk about why I left Google, how I came to this decision, and what’s next, but for now I’ll finish by sharing excerpts from my farewell note:

As I prepare to embark on a new chapter, I wanted to share some news with all of you who have made my journey at Google so incredibly special. The time has come for me to graduate from Google, a truly magical place! When I joined in 2007, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I certainly never imagined that I’d stay for almost 18 years! My last day will be March 7.

I have mixed emotions about leaving my home away from home in a few weeks, but above all, I’m Feeling Lucky . I got to work in a variety of teams in both business and tech orgs, and I learned a lot about myself. I had really smart, interesting, and dedicated co-workers, like YOU; it’s so true that people are what make Google special! I’ve grown as a program manager, people manager, leader, coach, mentor, and human being. My fondest memories are of trying to achieve seemingly impossible goals, like fixing all of the top places on Google Maps or building an Insider Risk program for Search & Assistant!

One of my most rewarding opportunities here has been mentoring Googlers representing a wide range of backgrounds, roles, and levels. A few years ago, I became a g2g Coach, completed an accredited coach training program, and earned my International Coaching Federation (ICF) ACC certification. As I’ve continued to coach internally and a little outside of Google, I have found what feels like my true calling. While at times I wonder why it took decades to get to this point, I know that it’s the result of investing in my professional development throughout my career.

I’ve been exploring building a professional coaching practice for a while now. I planned to start a new career after my kids finished high school. But recently, I decided that I don’t want to wait any longer. Life is short and unpredictable, and I want to enjoy many years of coaching and whatever else comes next while I have the energy. This pull towards coaching has become so strong that I know I need to dedicate myself to it fully. While it's a risk, I'm ready for the challenges and possibilities ahead. After March 7, I’ll be taking some time off, exploring my creative side, and doing a lot of experiments and discovery. 

Thank you for being part of my Google experience, and please stay in touch!

--Caroline