Google CEO Clarifies “Googleyness” at Company Event
In a recent address to employees at a Google I/O event in Mountain View, California, Google CEO Sundar Pichai provided clarity on the long-standing but often vague concept of “Googleyness.” This term, which has been a part of the company’s culture and hiring process for years, has undergone significant evolution.
Pichai acknowledged that the definition of “Googleyness” had become too broad over time, necessitating a more precise explanation for current employees. He outlined six key components that now define the term: “Mission First,” “Make Helpful Things,” “Be Bold & Responsible,” “Stay Scrappy,” “Hustle & Have Fun,” and “Team Google.”
The concept of “Googleyness” has been a part of the company’s ethos for many years, with various interpretations. In 2015, Laszlo Block, former head of people operations at Google, described attributes of “Googleyness” in his book, including “intellectual humility” and “comfort with ambiguity.”
However, the term has not been without controversy. In 2019, Google modified its hiring guidelines to distinguish “Googleyness” from “culture fit” following criticism regarding workplace diversity.
When approached for comment on Pichai’s remarks, a Google spokesperson declined to provide any additional information.
As this story develops, current and former Google employees are encouraged to share their insights with reporters through secure communication channels.
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