CRISP. recently caught up with Nisha Mathews – Google UK’s strategic insights manager – on how she got her start in tech, current feelings on working for The Big G, and her thoughts on the future of technology…it starts below!
Firstly, what does your current position look like in terms of role and responsibilities?
I’m currently a strategic insights manager at Google. I’m part of a team that helps our customers understand how they can reach consumers.
We create narratives with data and develop thought leadership pieces for our customers which helps give them a bigger picture of what’s going on and how Google can help.
What did you originally study at school/university?
I studied English and American Studies at University. I’ve always wanted to be in the media industry so went as broad as I could.
How does Google differ from other places/agencies that you’ve worked with?
Firstly, the diversity and inclusion at Google is incredible and I’ve not seen this in the same way at places I’ve worked at previously.
It also has an excellent culture and promotes great work/life balance, as well as flexible working, which again I’ve struggled to get at previous workplaces, and not forgetting the free food which is an amazing bonus!
What was the main difference between your expectations and the reality of working at such a renowned company?
Coming from a media agency background where I had a close-knit team who are now good friends, I didn’t know if I would find the same at Google. But the reality has been so different.
I’ve met some incredible people from so many different backgrounds and I can definitely say I’ve already formed some life long friendships.
What kind of reactions did friends and family have when you say that you work for Google?
Overall I’ve had some really lovely and positive reactions. Some people have a lot of questions around privacy and data and obviously have lots of opinions around this, which I understand.
Do you feel there are more opportunities now than ever for women to get into senior roles in the technology sector?
I think there’s a lot more to do here but I’ve definitely seen some big changes. I’ve seen some great examples of this at Google and it’s definitely something we’re working on.
There are some excellent events for women in tech and lots happening to get young girls interested in tech from a young age. I think getting young girls into STEM subjects is the priority here.
Has your gender affected the way that you were perceived or treated in prior roles? If so, how did you handle it?
I had never felt that my gender affected the way I was perceived or treated until I had a baby. In previous jobs and as a mother who wanted flexible working hours I found I had to fight for a 4-day working week or flexible hours for pick up and drop off.
I felt like I had to constantly prove myself or justify my reasons every time. Google has actually been the only workplace where I haven’t had to do this from the offset and that’s been really refreshing.
What’s your view on the impact and long-lasting value of social media?
I can definitely see the value in social media, and I have certainly benefited from what it has to offer. But as a mother of a small child I do worry about the impact it has on young minds and their mental health.
There are a lot more controls in place now and companies such as Google are making strides to make sure their platforms are as safe as possible.
Given your position of insight, what’s the next big tech trend that you feel has the potential to be a game-changer?
The big game changers will certainly involve machine learning and cloud infrastructure, which will mean faster, smarter tech. But the one I’m most excited about is the evolution of voice.
I think there will be some big shifts in the way we communicate with our ‘stuff’. People are typing a lot less and talking to their devices a lot more. That coupled with AI makes for some really interesting product developments, like your Google Assistant calling a restaurant to reserve a table for you.
Things like that just blow my mind!
