On our flight to California a few days ago, we met a super-nice guy named Konrad who was seated in our row. In addition to being a triathaloner and the dad of a young daughter, he is an employee of Google. As we parted at the baggage claim, he gave us his business card and invited us to visit Google headquarters in Venice. Since we were staying nearby in Santa Monica, we decided the next day to take him up on the offer and made arrangements for a tour.
Yesterday morning we wallked the couple miles or so to Google. We received name tags and a welcome packet and were led by Konrad to the cafeteria. As guests, we were provided an all-you-can eat breakfast from the main cafeteria which provides unlimited food to employees all day long. Our tour took us to all buildings on the Venice campus and exposed us a bit to the unique corporate culture of Google. Employees (most of whom seemed to be about twenty-six years old) sat around in collaborative teams in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals while typing on their laptops. Some were using the massage services available or the gym, while others grabbed a "Google bike" for a spin to clear their heads or walked to the beach two blocks away (company policy encourages bringing surfboards and even small pets to work.) One of the coolest things we experienced was a circular video-surround "Google Earth" booth that zoomed in on our house in Williamsville.
What Konrad mostly shared with us was the corporate philosophy of Google and the success the company has had in employing highly creative, intelligent people with a strong work ethic. The perks have made Google the number one "best place to work" for most of the last several years. It's no wonder it's such a popular place to work and why so few who apply (one tenth of one percent) even get an interview. The values of the company (what I was most interested in) include innovation, a diverse work force, and individuality (and respect for the individuality of others.) Despite the emphasis on individual creativity, all projects are done by rotating teams. Employees are given much freedom in how they do their work, but they are highly responsible to one another. I came away impressed by the use of up-to-the-minute technology combined with a corporate culture that is built on human relationships.After a quick walk to Venice Beach (known for its funky, arty atmosphere and wide spectrum of interesting characters), we returned to our temporary home in Santa Monica. My buddy Jeff was kind to give us a ride to Long Beach where we met up with friends Sandy Damhof and Janelle Richardson from Albany for dinner on the waterfront. We saw the Queen Mary which is permanently docked in the harbor. Some of the Synod delegates are housed there for the week - lucky them! Today starts the work and worship of General Synod!
