Troy Dickerson’s Post

Last week, Google hosted the 2024 Global Black+ Summit, an internal event that brings together Googlers from across the globe. The Summit included a day focused on celebrating and empowering Black+ women, and I was proud to join a fireside chat at the Playa Vista Office. The group felt so connected as we talked about uplifting each other, navigating challenges, and amplifying our voices. I shared a few things I've learned over the years, including: 1. Find your "fastball." Everyone has something they're uniquely good at. Discover what that is for you, lean into that skill, and become known for it! 2. Explain your impact. When you're busy, it can be tempting to cross things off your to-do list as quickly as possible, but you also need to measure your impact and explain what you accomplished. This will help you earn the recognition you deserve. 3. Control what you can control. Sometimes, we have to accept that things aren't how we want them to be. Don't let that take away your energy and well-being, keep moving forward. Thank you to Melonie Parker, and the many event organizers for helping our Black+ community stay connected. It feels especially meaningful to share this on Juneteenth, and I hope that today brings reflection and hope for all of us. #Google #Googlers #DiversityInTech #Juneteenth #Leadership #LeadershipStrategy

Last month, I traveled to Madrid to join some of my team at their global offsite. It was my first time in Spain, and as I researched things to do, I learned about Casa Botín. Founded in 1725, it's the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the world. They've struck an incredible balance of honoring their long history while adapting over time by perfecting their dishes, modernizing their space, and cultivating effective leadership. Their story is a powerful reminder that if you want to create something lasting, you have to adapt. Change is constant and sometimes comes at a rapid pace, like we're seeing with recent AI advancements. As I help my team navigate this dynamic environment, I'm keeping a long-term view as we focus on innovation, creating meaningful feedback loops, and investing in talent. To keep myself in the right mindset, I stopped by Casa Botín to take a picture of their oven, which has been burning continuously for almost 300 years. What a legacy! Are you doing anything to adapt to change and stay ahead? I'd love to hear about it! #business #growth #changemanagement #innovation

Earlier this year I brought the Google Operations Center leadership team together to talk about navigating the year ahead. Now more than ever, we find ourselves looking more critically at how we maneuver the healthy tension between creating stability and supporting our employees while continuing to innovate, adapt, and evolve our business. On the surface it may look like these scenarios are always a zero sum game, but they don’t have to be. As leaders we have the ability to be the bridge between our people and our partners, wielding the wisdom and patience to find the path that best supports everyone's needs. By fostering open communication, aligning incentives, and finding creative solutions, my team is aiming to build a foundation for mutual success. It's not always easy, but does this group look like they’ll give up easily? 😉 Has there ever been a time in your career where you took on the role of bridge builder? #peoplefirst #partnerships #bridgingthegap #holisticdecisionmaking Google

Five years ago, we opened Google Operations Center! I quickly sensed the start of something extraordinary, but I never could have predicted how our journey would unfold. Since 2019, we've grown from 500 to 5,000 employees, consistently met or exceeded our operation’s targets, expanded our portfolio by taking on increasingly sensitive and technical work, activated cost savings while creating revenue pipelines, and built all people processes and teams from the ground up (e.g., hiring, comp and benefits, learning and development, HR support, employee engagement, and more!). It hasn't always been a smooth ride. Along the way, we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home then returning to the office, and many other headwinds. But through it all, our talented team has worked together to find the solutions to drive our path forward. I'm immensely grateful to our Google partners who have entrusted us with supporting their businesses and our incredible employees whose dedication, passion for excellence, and unwavering kindness have defined our culture. While I'm proud of what we've accomplished in the past five years, I'm even more excited about the possibilities ahead in the next five. Cheers! #GoogleOperationsCenter #GOC

This Black History Month, Google celebrated the theme of Afrofuturism—an art movement that explores the intersection of Black culture, technology, and imagination. Afrofuturism asks us to build a more inclusive future and to create critical pathways to success that lead marginalized voices to the forefront of innovation. At Google, we work to create those pathways in every pillar of our work, across our products, our communities, and in our workplaces. In my work as Executive Sponsor of Google’s Sisterhood and Brotherhood career development groups, I’ve had the rewarding experience of helping foster the professional growth of Black+ employees through group meetings, mentorship opportunities, and more. It’s amazing what’s possible when you connect people to the right community and resources! As we celebrate Black achievement for the rest of the month, let’s carry the momentum throughout the whole year and continue to pave the way for a more inclusive future! Learn more about how Google has been celebrating Black History Month here: https://lnkd.in/enAjXHdy #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #Afrofuturism #BlackExcellence #Google #GoogleTV #GoogleMeet

I’m thinking about my team’s priorities for 2024, are you? Each new year comes with its own unique opportunities and challenges, asking us to take a step back to reset and realign our focus. Making the most of this moment is critical, especially as many companies are bringing greater clarity to where they invest their resources. By establishing clear priorities early on we are able to set ourselves up to have impact in the right places, and help our teams connect to our vision for what's ahead. I enjoyed reading this article from McKinsey & Company’s Homayoun Hatami and Liz Hilton Segel about their top eight CEO priorities for 2024 with suggestions varying from Gen AI integration to strategies for thriving during uncertainty. For any leaders still looking for a jumping off point for their own set of priorities, it’s a great resource to keep in mind. I'm mindful of the headwinds the tech industry continues to face, but I believe that 2024 will be a year defined by resilience. The heart of every organization lies within its people, so we can't lose sight of that! I plan to invest more into building our resilience as a team by making time to connect and contextualize challenges and opportunities, and by creating a supportive and adaptable environment. Do you know where your focus will be in 2024? I’d love to hear about it! Read the full article from McKinsey here: https://bit.ly/48si90l #PeopleOperations #Leadership #CEOs #AI #GenAI #Uncertainty

It’s spring and the Major League Baseball season is underway! Just as pitchers “find their fastball,” in my years of leading teams across industries and functions, I’ve seen the importance of continually finding new ways to apply your strengths. In my LinkedIn article, I shared some thoughts on key lessons I’ve learned about how you can find your niche and use it to shape your career path. I’d love for you to share your stories of how you found your “fastball!” #professionaldevelopment #careerpath #personalgrowth #HumanResource #careergrowth #OpeningDay #MLB #leadershiplessons

It was inspiring to listen to influential women spanning a variety of industries sharing their powerful journeys at the Leading Women Defined Summit this past weekend. After hearing their stories, what has stuck with me most was the importance of believing in yourself, living your truth, and trusting in the divine to guide you to your path. I wanted to give a few shout-outs as well. Thank you to our Google team including Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey (she/her), and Cassandra Johnson. Another huge thanks goes to Felisha Noel and her brand Fe Noel for her beautiful designs that made us look fabulous at the event! Finally, a very special thanks to Debra Lee for bringing us all together. Tekedra N. MawakanaWaymo #WeAreLWD #womenempoweringwomen #womenleadership #blackleadership #BlackExcellence #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM2023

For International Women's Day, I'd like to reflect on my journey and the many women who have shaped who I am as a person and a professional. And, while the list is too long to share, here are a few that I think are very special. Starting at the beginning, with the most important one, my amazing mom, who always believed I could do anything. Secondly, I want to thank a friend and great leader Mara Swan. Early in my career Mara was a catalyst, and influenced who I am today. And finally, I absolutely couldn't forget the inspiring Eileen Naughton. Eileen opened up the world of Google and inspired me to reach for the stars. #Grateful to all of the other incredible women leaders today and always, who inspire me every day! Happy #InternationalWomensDay everyone! #iwd23 #womensday