Finding Her Place on the “Playground of the Future”

Speaking of tech startups, you were at X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory. That’s like the ultimate tech incubator, ideas given a chance to breathe and develop. How did that experience influence you as a leader?

Well, being at X was fabulous, it’s like being part of the playground of the future; you go outside, Waymo’s are circling the neighborhood, and drones are flying overhead at lunch. Robots are roaming the hallways.

Wow!

I also spent some time working at Makani, which was Alphabet’s energy kite company, and saw via live cam, the first offshore flight in Norway. So, really exciting.
And I have to say, I was never more popular than when I was at X; everybody wanted to come have lunch with me. But on a more serious note, there were so many brilliant minds working on really bold initiatives. And there’s the sense of endless possibilities. So, it was both a really humbling experience and affirming.
Humbling, because with so many incredibly smart and accomplished people around, it’s very hard not to get or feel a sense of imposter syndrome. It was affirming because, even though these people were so accomplished, the vast majority of them were so supportive and inclusive. And they made me feel like I had a place there. So, I even had the opportunity to be on a panel with women like Takedra, who’s now the co-CEO of Waymo, and to close the other legal summit. So, it gave me confidence, even while I was feeling humbled.