Meghan Wilkens (she/her)

Meghan was raised in a military family and traveled all over the world, living in multiple countries throughout her childhood. She fell in love with the feeling of being completely immersed in a culture different from her own. After serving in the US Navy for 9 years, she is now pursuing an MBA at UNC Chapel Hill and completing an internship at Google.

“Upon graduating from high school in Guam, I went on to earn a bachelors degree in Advertising at Marquette University and secure a job at an advertising firm. But it didn’t take long for ‘cabin fever’ to set in. My thirst for adventure drove me to follow in the footsteps of my family, and I commissioned as a Supply Corps Officer in the US Navy, deploying early on in my career.

I learned management, operations, and logistics skills every step along the way. I also had the opportunity to lead sailors and teach them methods of problem-solving that started out here in Silicon Valley. After marrying, having two children, and completing nearly 9 years in the service, I am moving towards a transition into the tech industry, working on my MBA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and using an MBA internship at Google to get a taste of this world — a culture very different from what I’ve known in the military.”

Source of inspiration: Her sister, Kassandra, who served in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer before making a name for herself in the tech industry. She is someone Meghan looks up to for her confidence and resilience.

Book Recommendation: Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

Carla Harris McIntosh (she/her)

Carla H. McIntosh is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and Global Product Area Staffing Leader at Google. She is originally from Los Angeles, and spent many years in San Antonio, where she began her staffing industry career and later founded her own tech staffing company.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced and how did you get through it?

When I separated from the military I, like many veterans, struggled to sort out what a civilian career could look like for me. This was incredibly difficult initially because I was in the aerospace control field, which was very specialized and also very different from most civilian careers. I chose to leverage all the skills I learned in the military — networking, collaboration and leadership — to make connections that ultimately landed me in the staffing field nearly 20 years ago.

What’s something you’ve done that you’re really proud of?

One of my proudest accomplishments was starting my own company in 2005. After many years of growing other organizations, I built up the courage to step out on my own. I ran a very successful company for nearly a decade and kept it debt-free.

Kassandra Kristoff (she/her)

Kassandra is a Communications Manager at Google. Prior to transitioning into tech, she was an Engineering Officer in the United States Navy for 6 years. As her father was also in the Navy and her mother is from the Philippines, she grew up all over the world. After serving in the Navy, she became a stay at home mom of two, while completing her MBA. Shortly after, she finally had the opportunity to pursue her passion for communications after moving to the Bay Area.

“My mother is the strongest person I know. She believed nothing could hold me back and pushed me to pursue whatever I wanted. So I served in the Navy on a ship with mostly men, then stepped into an unknown career path in tech with two little kids in tow — all while pursuing a Masters. Having my mother’s strength really carried me through all the risks. Now I’m really proud I’ve leveraged my strength as a Filipina; when I put my mind to something, I do all I can to do it. Being here at Google, I look around me and realize how many “good risks” I’ve taken.”