Signing Off

Reflections on the last week at Google

People keep asking me how my last week at Google was so I thought I would share it here. This is a day by day breakdown of how last week went for me in my final week at Google after 19 years of being there.

Monday:

I usually work from home on Mondays so I had a pretty regular day with my last weekly staff meeting. I packed up my computer and monitors from home and got them ready to bring into the office on Tuesday.

Tuesday:

I brought in my computer and monitor from home to drop off then headed over to the University of Colorado campus to do a guest Q&A for an undergrad Human Computer Interaction class. We discussed everything from interviewing at Google to the impact of AI on the software engineering discipline. The students had great questions and it is always energizing being on campus again.

My friend Aidan Chopra whose class I was in with his ingenious attendance boosting lottery system (students names redacted)

Wednesday:

Had a 30 minute virtual going away video conference call for all of the folks that are in other offices that wanted to say goodbye. It was really special to see folks that I have worked with over the years. Many shared stories of early memories and how I would be missed. Though virtual going aways are always a bit awkward, it was touching to hear from so many long time colleagues.

Poster of me that was a discussion topic at the virtual going away

Thursday:

Finished the day with an in person going away party at the Rayback in Boulder. This has become a bit of the Sports Page of Boulder for the number of Googler going away parties it has hosted over the years.

Some of the crew at the Rayback for my farewell party

Friday (My last day at Google):

This was it. Final day. I started the day with an early morning climb with Thomas to start things off right. I went into the office, which I don’t always do on Friday’s, but hey, thought I should on the last day. Read my last few emails. Got approval for my last CL, removing myself from the geo/OWNERS file (after Yatin had me clean up a couple things “while I was in there”). Didn’t really have anything else on the schedule other than a nice final lunch with former teammates, one last free latte, and needing to drop off my badge and laptop. The question was how can I get from where I need to drop off my badge to where my car is parked without a badge. Thankfully Melody was in the office on Friday.

Melody and I saying goodbye in the Boulder Google Office

Leaving the office was emotional. “The Google Office” was a special place. And I mean it more than just the Boulder office I just left, because I have been in many buildings there. If you ask any Googler that has traveled to any Google office in any city around the globe, they have had the same experience as I have where they walked up to the door and looked down at that badge reader glowing red on top, swiped their badge and the light turned green, stepping inside into a familiar and comforting world of The Google Office. I will miss that welcoming feeling of being a Googler. And as I stepped out that door, I left The Google Office behind.

Badge reader at the Boulder Google Office

The drive home was emotional.

19 years and 53 days. 2,806 CLs, 65 unique direct reports, 9 managers, 6 different buildings (all in Boulder), 75 trips to Mountain View, … And just like that, it was over.

Brian