“Ever since I discovered computer science in high school, I’ve dreamed of working at Google,” says Teo, a London-based software engineer who works on generative AI in the Drive team, developing features like in-context summaries. “I always wanted to build products that impact people globally every single day, and Google felt like the perfect place to do that. I was drawn to the commitment to innovation, creativity and a healthy disregard for the impossible.” Teo’s advice for students seeking a similar path? “I encourage students to view their university years as a period for experimentation and discovery. Instead of focusing solely on academics, I recommend using this time to build a diverse toolkit. Exploring a variety of roles, technologies and locations through different internships will help you gain a deeper understanding of what truly motivates you.” Explore our open roles → goo.gle/3LY3x2Y
What separates people who want a job from people who build careers. Your approach shows that true strength lies in experimenting, gaining diverse experiences, and having the courage to impact millions of people every day.
Inspiring journey 👏 Teo’s story perfectly captures what happens when curiosity meets courage. Viewing university as a playground for experimentation rather than just a degree factory is powerful advice. Building a diverse toolkit through internships, real-world projects, and exposure to different technologies truly shapes long-term impact. Innovation thrives when we’re willing to explore beyond the syllabus and stay open to the “impossible.” Wishing all aspiring engineers the confidence to experiment, build boldly, and think globally 🚀
There’s something incredibly powerful about discovering a passion early in life and having the courage to pursue it with long term conviction. What resonates most in Teo’s story is not just the dream of working at Google, but the desire to build products that truly impact people at scale. Wanting to create something that millions rely on every day reflects a mindset that goes beyond career ambition and moves into purpose driven work. I also deeply appreciate his advice to students. University is often treated as a performance phase where everything must be perfectly optimized, but in reality it is one of the few seasons in life designed for exploration. Experimenting with different roles, technologies, industries and even locations does not distract you from your path, it helps you refine it. Exposure builds perspective, and perspective builds clarity about what genuinely motivates you. In the end, the most meaningful careers are rarely built by following a rigid script. They are shaped by curiosity, experimentation and a willingness to lean into uncertainty. When the focus shifts from chasing prestige to pursuing impact and growth, the right opportunities tend to align naturally.
This really resonates. “Experimentation” is such a better frame than “perfect path.” In recruiting, the best hires usually aren’t the prettiest resumes — they’re the people who can show what they built, what they learned, and how they got better. Curious from your side: when hiring for GenAI/product teams, what matters most early on — proof-of-work, problem solving, or how someone collaborates?
Absolutely motivating! Experimentation during the learning phase helps uncover passions and strengths, and developing a diverse toolkit makes navigating future challenges much easier.
"Inspiring journey! Stories like this remind us that consistent learning and curiosity can turn early dreams into reality. Excited to see how generative AI continues shaping the future at Google."
Teo cracked the code early, stopped optimizing for grades, and started optimizing for exposure. The engineers building the next generation of AI products aren't the ones who played it safe in university. They're the ones who experimented, failed fast, and figured out what actually drives them. That self-awareness is what separates good engineers from great ones. The future belongs to builders who know exactly why they build. Read more on developing that operator mindset at sdabusiness.com.
Very true. Its always nice to explore new technologies
Love this. Framing university as a period of experimentation instead of just “get the grades, get the job” would change a lot of people’s trajectories. The earlier you start testing environments, problems, and technologies, the faster you learn what actually gives you energy vs. what just looks good on paper. That “diverse toolkit” Teo mentions ends up being the real moat later in your career.