Alana Karen: The Adventures of Women in Tech: Passion, Persistence & Changing the World

Mar 8

**Alana Karen**

**Director, Search Platforms at Google & Author**

Alana Karen, Google's Search Platforms Director, talks about her very intellectual and independent upbringing. She explains how she transitioned her career interest from history to tech in college and worked her way from the bottom up. Listen in to hear her explain how she is influenced by her teams and handles team feedback as a leader.

Alana Karen shares the story behind her rock bottom moment when her people-serving nature went too far leading to a possible job loss. She explains the positive challenge it was to see Google grow from a small organization to a huge tech conglomerate.

Alana talks about her book, The Adventures of Women in Tech, what it's about, and who she wrote it for. She goes deeper into the impacts of impostor syndrome, especially for women in tech, and how to overcome it. Listen in to learn how you can practice inclusivity as a leader while eliminating limiting beliefs in your team members.

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The Executive Commute Podcast with Jayson Krause: Show Notes

The Adventures of Women in Tech: Passion, Persistence & Changing the World

Bio: Alana Karen

Alana Karen is an award-winning tech leader, author, and speaker whose work impacts many of our everyday lives. From Google Search to Ads, Fiber to Google Grants and beyond, Alana has been leading the charge to develop, scale, build and drive team and product development that has seen a rippling industry impact. Alana has spoken at conferences and summits on technology, leadership, DEI, talent and innovation.

Her book, Adventures of Women in Tech: How We Got Here and Why We Stay, aggregates hundreds of stories on these topics as well. She lives with her three children, husband and two dogs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Part 1: The Early Days

Quotes

“If you feel passionate about something and you believe in it, you should go for it.”
“Sometimes, especially in those early years of your career, you have to be willing to take a job and see how it works for you to fuel your growth.”
“I saw a ton of growth at those early jobs even though in the end when I went to Google, I basically made the same thing I was making on my first job.”
“If you hire people who will not be just ‘people’ and will challenge you and give you that feedback, you’ll totally grow.”
“Not all feedback deserves equal airtime.”

Summary

We started the interview with Alana explaining how her parents instilled intellectuality and independence in her and her brother. She learned to relate to adults well and knew she was in charge of her life from a very early age. She, did however, have challenges pitching herself in the early days of her career, but the lesson of going after her passion from her parents kept her going. Alana described how she sometimes wanted her parents to support her, rather than having to go after what she wanted by herself.

Alana recalled her parents’ straightforward parenting style and what she learned from them. She later became a more balanced parent exercising both straightforwardness and empathy with her kids.

She explained she studied history because of its critical aspects and intellectual capabilities. Alana is a linear practical thinker, which is why she ended up not doing drama even though acting was her dream. She became interested in the artsy side of what was then web and web design, self-taught herself, and got a webmaster job right after college.

Alana went on to speak about how she chose a career in her passion of tech over history. She described the entry-level jobs and salary cuts she took in the early years of her career, since it was the very beginning of the dot-com boom. It is important to take on entry-level jobs during your early career days to fuel your growth.

She described how her experience in Silicon Valley and startups led to her believing in lateral moves and betting on Google over the years. Alana has been influenced by her teams, Sheryl Sandberg, and support groups. It is important to listen to your team’s constructive feedback as a leader to continue providing a better working environment.

Timeline

[3:02] How Alana grew up intellectually challenged and somewhat prepared for adult life.
[6:06] The work ethic that Alana was taught by her parents and the challenges that came with it.
[8:00] The unclear bar for energy and support she feels she got from her parents.
[10:07] The parenting lessons she got from her parents and is now exercising with her kids.
[11:37] Why she chose to forego drama for history in college.
[12:48] She explained when she pivoted her career from a history interest to tech interest.
[16:07] “Be willing to start from the bottom in a career you don’t have much background in.”
[19:36] Why she decided to make lateral career moves, plus how teams shaped her as a leader.
[26:46] Why she chooses to be inspired by her teams as a leader.
[29:49] The importance of listening to your teams’ feedback as a leader.

Part 2: Hitting Rock Bottom

Quotes:

“I like to create, I like to define, and I like to problem-solve.”
“You have to ask yourself a bunch of questions and see what’s most important to you and try to align on that.”
“Watch that you don’t pass off your story as the absolute truth to other people.”
“Sometimes you’re doing something for the minority because you want to make sure that group is taken care of.”

Summary

Alana described her rock bottom moment as when they had to let go of hundreds of people at Google and that uncertainty became a health issue for her. She was going through both professional and personal stress at that moment, which could have led to her quitting. Her patience and methodical nature led to her finding a job and completing her goal of helping others.

She explained why not having a backup plan led her to create something limited and later wanted to expand her scope and impact. Alana soon found another job that aligned with what’s most important to her and forewent another one that wasn’t compelling enough. Organizational changes from small to big lead to obstruction, which Alana found as an interesting challenge when it happened at Google. She is motivated by Google’s core mission of influencing the world for the better.

Tech companies like Google are focused on building products that help the world and are aware that some can lead to a possible downside. She described problems like career blockers and tough conversations that keep her awake as a leader.

Alana described herself as genuine and a listener who creates time to speak with her team. She believes that transparency is important and to know what’s helpful and what’s not. Transparency is not transparency, but packaged transparency- which is to motivate the team. It is important for leaders not to pass their story on others either.

We went on to discuss how Alana inspires her team by showing them she aligns with how things are happening. She motivates them by showing them the way as well as ideas- showing them execution. She conveys strategy and vision to her team, to allow them to know their role and to be motivated.

Episode Timeline:

[2:30] Alana defined her rock bottom moment as when she didn’t have a limit to serving others.
[9:34] How she chose a role that aligned with what’s important to her.
[13:20] She explained how she was positively challenged by Google’s growth and is continually motivated.
[16:15] The challenges that tech companies deal with amid criticism plus evolution of problems.
[19:07] The problems that keep tech leaders awake like dealing with huge system blockers.
[21:07] She describes the type of leader she believes her team would describe her to be.
[23:15] How to show transparency with your team is important as a leader.
[25:27] How Alana works towards management and leadership practices to set and convey strategy and vision to her team.

Part 3: Alana’s Book+ Leadership+ The Future+ a Rapid-Fire Question Session

Quotes:

“It’s a space that really attracts people who have that motivation and drive.”
“Whatever it is, it’s your plan; it’s not other people’s plan, and it’s not even some of the subconscious stuff your brain will tell you.”
“I want people to feel earlier, faster that they belong and that they’re not trying to prove themselves.”
“You have to figure out how to keep people informed and updated on what you’re doing.”

Summary

Alana explained what influenced her to write her book The Adventures of Women in Tech, which is about women navigating the tech world. She wanted to take next move to inspire a larger number of people. There are many stories as presented in the book that gave the reality of the tech world as many women have experienced it. She was surprised at how all women in tech were attracted to tech for similar reasons, which is about impacting the world and growing professionally.

She narrated a time when impostor syndrome took over as she was the only woman in the room, which has tremendously changed since then. It is important to communicate and keep people updated on what you’re doing without thinking that marketing your skills is bragging.

Recognize that what you’re doing is what brings you joy and fulfillment. Alana explained the importance of sticking to your plan and focusing on where you are and what you want rather than being influenced by outside forces.

Alana wrote her book for women to feel earlier and faster that they belong in the tech space. She hoped that the stories would inspire people to overcome imposter syndrome and start conversations about their journey. She also hoped that the systems in tech could be moved to make it an even better place for everyone.

There are things that as a leader you can do, like invite others to call you out to create a more inclusive working environment. Alana is impressed by how people are now more than ever asking questions and is worried about how people think they can write off what is good.

In the end, Alana answered Jayson’s rapid-fire questions in a single sentence and with very intelligent answers.

Thank you for listening to this 3-part value-packed interview with career advice!

Episode Timeline:

[2:43] Alana explained what influenced her to write her book.
[6:09] How the women in tech are aligned in their reasons to join the tech industry.
[8:09] How she got over her initial limiting beliefs to believing she can do it as a woman.
[11:30] The importance of marketing your skills instead of letting your work speak for itself.
[15:03] How to go after a plan that brings you joy and fulfillment in your career.
[17:37] Alana describes the things she hoped her book would inspire in others.
[19:21] Tips on how to become a more inclusive leader.
[21:15] What impresses and worries Alana in our society today.