Editor’s Note: For Black History Month, we're profiling some of the inspiring, dynamic and creative Canadian Black+ men and women at Google.

Vincent Anioke is proving that you can do more than one thing you love (at the same time) and be exceptional at all of them. By day, he’s a Software Engineer at Google Waterloo, and night, a writer. Inspired by his father’s library in Nigeria, Vincent immediately fell in love with the power of words and has been using them to motivate others ever since.

Although his path to a career in technology wasn’t always one he knew he’d pursue, his love for mathematical problems and puzzles led him to discover the world of computer science. And today, he’s passionate about paying it forward and inspiring other Black+ professionals, crediting his path in technology and time at Google to the power of seeing yourself represented.

How would you describe your job at a dinner party to people who don't work in tech?
I usually start by telling people that I work on the Gmail team since it’s something that most people are familiar with! The work I do specifically focuses on features that enhance the efficiency, productivity, and accessibility for all Gmail users which can range from individuals to small business owners to corporate employees.

Is there a particular Gmail project that you are proud to have worked on?
Absolutely! I was really fortunate to have worked on Gmail Offline — a feature that provides consumers the ability to read, respond to, and search your Gmail messages even when you aren't connected to the Internet.

Personally, I’m proud of working on this because it helps make email more accessible. For example, in my home country of Nigeria, there are many people in rural locations who have very low or sometimes no internet access at all, so this feature allows them to still use their Gmail despite this.

What's the most challenging part of your job?
I find that the initial few weeks of diving into a new project can be challenging. There are so many unknowns and complexities — some of which take months to untangle! It is like stumbling around an intricate maze on a starless night. But by diving deeper into relevant (and often enormous) codebases, reading through design docs, prototyping potential solutions, and working with engineers across other teams, I start to get a picture of what the solution should look like — which is really exciting and rewarding.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
It’s funny, I have this memory from when I was 7 years old, where I would lay on the floor in my bedroom and solve number puzzles. I really loved puzzles, and the harder they were the better. Today, the puzzles look a little different — there are multitudes of breakthroughs that happen in my role. Whether it's successfully getting a stubborn piece of code to run, resolving a bug, or brainstorming with a coworker on a tricky problem, working at Google means reckoning with technological roadblocks of all different sizes on a regular basis — but there's this release of euphoria that goes off each time a roadblock is navigated. I find this constant tango of question and answer very rewarding. I’ve always liked mathematics and problem solving, and Google presents you with so many fun puzzles to solve — that child who loved solving puzzles is still very much inside me.

Was there something specific that pushed you toward your career in tech?
Definitely! There was actually a series of moments that inspired my career path. I attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for mathematics, but out of curiosity I took a computer science elective called Intro to Python. In the first month, we made an interactive game of Hangman that blew my mind. I had this moment where I realized: wow, if this was the product of a few weeks, how much could I learn in a few years? This was supposed to be a one semester exercise, but then it changed my life and eventually became my career.

Another pivotal moment for me was when a Black Google employee came to campus to give a talk about his own path. I had no idea that a career in tech could be possible, so seeing someone like me working at a company I once deemed unreachable was what convinced me to apply for an internship. It also showed me the inexorable power of visibility.

And lastly, my internship at Google! I was fortunate to do two internships at Google, but my first was so deeply rewarding that I knew I wanted to pursue this line of work for years to come. It was like discovering Narnia. Some days, the height of technology's output still feels like magic!

What’s your one secret power/habit that makes you successful?
Knowing when to ask for help. There was a time when I was convinced that being a software engineer at Google meant grappling with difficulty until I lone-wolfed the answers into existence — that asking for help was a red flag. Since then, I've come to understand that it's normal and even expected, that by reaching out to the right experts (and Googlers are usually very responsive), I significantly improve my productivity and learn a few new things in the process.

What's something about you that would surprise people?
Since I was a kid I’ve always written voraciously in my free time. Back in Nigeria, my dad had a huge library of books, which inspired me to work on writing my own novel. These days, my focus is writing short stories for publication in literary magazines. The stories are usually melancholy and introspective in nature, and are usually set in my home country of Nigeria. I've also been shortlisted and longlisted for a few literature prizes. Tech and the arts are often situated as oppositional, so I think my deep and abiding love of writing might surprise people. You can keep up with my stories on my Twitter.

What advice would you give to Black+ people pursuing a career in technology?
The advice that I would give is actually advice I've personally received in my life, which is that there are way more people than I realize who struggle with imposter syndrome. Essentially feeling like they aren't good enough or being exposed as a fraud. It’s important to recognize that this feeling is common, and that it cannot stop you from trying your best, or your hardest. Oftentimes, you'll be surprised by just how much you can accomplish with perseverance. Discipline will always trump any reliance on innate talent.

What inspires you in your career?
There are definitely a few people that come to mind — my co-workers, my mom, my first manager in Canada and Taylor Swift.

I am consistently astonished by my coworkers’ intellect, drive and humility. I find surprises in the depth of their passions too and I’m fortunate enough to work with talented, well-rounded individuals. They inspire me in my career and also in my personal life.

My mom is very inspirational to me. She grew up in a village in Nigeria, and worked really hard to make a name for herself, and give me and my siblings an amazing life. Her love and sacrifice was a true act of selfless love. She gave everything for us.

My first manager in Canada, Ryan, made a huge impression on me. When I joined Google Canada he really helped me learn the ropes. I suffered from imposter syndrome and he really made me feel like I was capable and did belong here.

And I know it sounds really weird (and all my friends make fun of me for this!) but Taylor Swift is a big inspiration to me. She’s an incredible example of someone that’s at the top of their game. She started writing at 13, continues to work on her craft, and has an incredible work ethic.

How do you hope to inspire the next generation of Black+ boys and girls as they start to explore their interests?
I hope to be a good example of a Black man and Black engineer. Through the work that I do, I want to show Black students that they can have a future in the career that they choose to pursue.The reason I am at Google is because someone came to campus and inspired me to apply. I understand the power of representation and I’m still really involved in campus outreach to show Black young students that they can have a career in tech.

I also want to inspire others through my writing. I use my writing to speak out about my experiences as a Black man in a country that is mostly white, and what it is like to be an immigrant. Essentially, I write stories around identity and the different layers of my humanity.

The past year has shown how resilient we are — how are you continuing to rise?
I feel very lucky and very privileged to be where I am in 2021. I have a job I love, a home, safe family and friends, while many people are struggling and have lost so much. I think this sense of privilege makes me want to make the most of it, and this is really a driving force for me. I also work really hard at maintaining my work/life balance. Part of what keeps me sane and grounded is my writing — so I always make time for that.

Editor's Note: For Black History Month, we're profiling some of the inspiring, dynamic and creative Canadian Black+ men and women at Google.

As a lifelong learner, Roger McFarlane’s curiosity introduced him to the world of computer science and fostered his passion for tech. Over the past 10 years, he’s brought his love for problem solving (or as he calls them ‘puzzles’) to Google — as a software developer for Chrome. And there’s a good chance you’ve used a feature or two that Roger helped bring to life — notably the handy feature that allows Chrome to automatically fill out forms with saved information, like your address or payment details, also known as autofill.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Roger immigrated to Winnipeg at the age of four and later moved to Montreal to continue his studies at McGill University. Throughout his life, he’s drawn inspiration from other successful people, always seeking lessons to learn and ways to draw from their success as he paved his own path. Today, he says pursuing an education in something you’re passionate about and making choices that open the most doors is something he hopes to instill in his two kids and others around him.

How would you describe your job at a dinner party to people who don't work in tech?
I solve puzzles. As a Senior Software Developer on the Chrome team (based in the Montreal office), I need to get the computer to do something or react to something in a certain way. As a part of my job, I have a wide array of tools at my disposal, but I need to arrange them in a certain way, similar to a puzzle, to make that action happen.

What’s your one secret power that makes you successful?
Curiosity. As a kid, I was curious about everything — science, physics, people etc. and my curiosity pushed me to discover the world of computers and continues to fuel what I do today.

So you mentioned curiosity led you to discover computers. Was there something or someone that pushed you toward a career in tech?
Absolutely! When I was around 12, I discovered computers and while I didn’t have a computer of my own, my cousin had a Commodore 64. I was fascinated. I quickly realized that I could control how they worked through programming and so I’d go to the library and get books with programs in them, then head over to my cousin’s to use his computer. As I continued to learn, I realized I could write and create my own video games.

From there, I knew I wanted to study computers. When I was in high school in Winnipeg, I was fortunate to have had an amazing science teacher, who also ran the newly created computer lab. He recognized my passion in computer science and gave me the materials, including software licenses to use with my home computer and to complete the Advanced Placement Computer Science curriculum on my own. And so when I went to McGill University in Montréal, I already had some credits completed.

What advice would you give to Black+ people pursuing a career in technology?
Continue learning and stay curious! Being a lifelong learner I constantly approach challenges as opportunities that can open new doors. Take advantage of these opportunities as they arise; they will broaden your knowledge, skillset and professional network.

Secondly, be open to taking risks. This will help you grow and learn from your mistakes.

And lastly, surround yourself with people who are similarly driven to be successful. You can learn a lot from your colleagues. Seeing someone's passion is a very cool thing and inspires me everyday.

What's the most challenging part of your job?
No matter what I’m working on, the biggest challenge is understanding the various needs and wants from our Chrome community. There’s a tendency for engineers, like myself, to think about the products we use in a certain way or to want products to do different things, but that’s not necessarily how our wider audience thinks. And so I’m often thinking about this.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
It’s really simple! It’s knowing that every day there are billions of people who are using the features I created — including family and friends.

How do you hope to inspire the next generation of Black+ boys and girls as they start to explore their career interests?
I want them to see that they can not only be successful, but that they can thrive doing something they love. Learning from other people has always been integral to my success. I look around and see what does and doesn’t work for people and then apply those learnings to my own life.

As a Black person, you don’t always see yourself reflected in the industry that you want to join. This was true for me. I didn’t specifically have Black inspiration in software development growing up. I hope to inspire Black students to pursue a career in tech by seeing themselves represented, especially in senior positions.

The past year has shown how resilient we are — how are you continuing to rise?
Being self sufficient and responsible with the things I have is really important to me. The past year has really reinforced this. It’s important to always have a plan and make responsible choices that will keep doors open down the road. As a father, I want to set an example for my two kids and set them on a path to success.

Editor’s Note: For Black History Month, we're profiling some of the inspiring, dynamic and creative Canadian Black+ men and women at Google.

Blessing Nnachi believes technology is an equalizer. She sees the opportunities as endless, and for Blessing, her passion and love for technology have shaped her life since she was 11. What started out as an interest in robotics, led to a degree in computer science and today, she’s a Service Delivery Manager at Google Cloud.

Her path has been guided by the words ‘your chosen field, know everything you can about it’ and with that in mind, she believes while you’ll become an expert, learning never really ends. Blessing also recognizes the power and importance of having mentors, heroes and people that look like you or have stories that relate to you — and when she speaks about this, she notes that she acknowledges the responsibility (and burden) she has to inspire others to see themselves in a career in technology.

How would you describe your job at a dinner party to people who don't work in tech?
I often tell people my role is similar to a consultant service manager. As a Service Delivery Manager on the Google Cloud Professional Services Organization (PSO) I oversee a team who are very much on the frontlines, working directly with our customers — providing technical advisory and engineering expertise.

Within PSO, my specific team is a mix of program managers, engineers and consultants. So what that means is, we work with clients who want to use Google Cloud but aren't sure where to start. We help them figure out a roadmap, provide design recommendations and implementation support. Our clients in Canada range from financial services, telecommunications, retail, gaming, and healthcare.

What's the most challenging part of your job?
I don't know if I would call it a challenge, but it is definitely something I pay a lot of attention to — my job is a balancing act! My days are rarely the same, but often have similar themes and so, I find there’s a healthy tension between different priorities.

Our vision as a team is to ‘help strategic customers solve their business objectives with Google Cloud’. This means that we help our customers solve really tough problems and my responsibility is enabling this, while also driving a sustainable business, all while protecting our culture and supporting our teams. And of course, there is the added complexity of working from home during the pandemic — so that has definitely been a challenge in 2020 and 2021.

What's the most rewarding part of your job?
The people on my team! Hiring them and watching them grow has undeniably been the most fulfilling part of my job. I get a lot of personal fulfillment from empowering, enabling, coaching, and mentoring. That’s when I’m truly in my state of flow! That is the stuff that I look forward to everyday and is by far the most rewarding part of it for me.

2020 was a challenging year. Was there anything specific that you learned last year or are doing differently now due to COVID-19?
2020 was very very interesting. For me, I experienced a lot of personal growth last year. One of the things that I learned while working from home, was that we need to be very intentional about communication. Previously, I could pop by someone’s desk in the office or catch them in the micro-kitchen and notice if they seemed off, but that is very hard to do virtually when you don’t have those small interactions. Now, I have  changed the agendas of my one-on-one meetings with team members to start with asking how they are doing, and then actually pausing and waiting for a response. In this virtual first world, it is very important that we create and hold space for those conversations.

What’s your one secret power/habit that makes you successful?
Definitely to-do lists! Nothing beats old school, pencil and paper lists and getting to cross off items as I accomplish them. They don't only keep me on task amidst my average day (which is largely chaotic) but it is also deeply satisfying and gives me the sense that I am moving the needle, no matter how big or small.

What advice would you give to Black+ people pursuing a career in technology?
A mentor of mine said to me when I was just starting out as a freshman in university: "know everything you can about your chosen field and never stop learning or challenging yourself, that is how you can stand out as an expert". This advice has really stayed with me my entire life and continues to be something I live by.

When it comes to the tech industry, it’s hard to say there is a point you get to where you stop learning since it’s constantly evolving. I think it’s actually impossible! If you are considering a career in tech, it’s important to love it — it can’t feel like work. If it constantly feels like a chore then you are going to struggle. If you are genuinely fascinated by the field and what you do then your work will feel energizing. This is how you stay cutting edge and how you maintain your knowledge base and expertise.

Was there something specific that pushed you toward your career in tech? A class in college, or a mentor, or maybe an internship?
For me, it was a book I read on robotics when I was 11. I loved that I could write code and make physical items do things — it was tangible. It opened me up to a whole new world of possibilities I hadn’t considered, I thought I was going to pursue robotics, but I later went on to study Computer Science at Benson Idahosa University and have been in the tech industry in multiple roles since then. After my first degree I went on to get an MBA from Robert Gordon University in Scotland and more recently a Data Science certificate from Sheridan College here in Toronto.

What inspires you in your career?
Very few people can say they work in a job that has the potential to change the world. Working in tech, opens up the possibilities to this. What we do in the tech industry can inspire, set standards, challenge the status quo and level the playing field. Everyday we work to solve very difficult problems and I am honoured to be along for the ride and to be a part of the amazing team at Google Cloud.

How do you hope to inspire the next generation of Black+ boys and girls as they start to explore their interests?
There is a real value to representation. Having heroes, mentors, and role models who look like us is incredibly powerful. Because of this, I’m intentional with the steps I take and decisions I make and want to inspire the next generation to know they can accomplish these things too, regardless of any barriers. With this also comes a great burden for me to do what I do very well. It’s a burden and a great responsibility, not an easy one to carry, but one I choose to carry with pride.

The past year has shown how resilient we are — how are you continuing to rise?
By constantly prioritizing and re-prioritizing. And I mean both personally and professionally. COVID-19 acted as an accelerator for changes that had been rumbling under the surface for years.

Personally, I’m constantly re-evaluating how I prioritize and manage my energy and time for myself and those that I love. Our wellbeing and rest is so important, and it is something that we need to focus more on. You are not a brain on a stick — without your body being healthy, your brain cannot function!

From a professional perspective, suddenly we saw industries re-evaluate how they were doing things and the importance of technology in these transformations. The world is constantly evolving — we need to continuously be making sure that we are getting the skills and knowledge to continue to stay relevant.