'I want you to know that there's a place for you at Google': CEO Sundar Pichai tells women coders
The cancelled meeting was to address concerns over a controversial document published by a former Go
(Web Desk) – “I want you to know there’s a place for you in this industry, there’s a place for you at Google. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You belong here, and we need you”.
CEO Google Sundar Pichai said this during a girls’ coding event just after Google cancelled a company-wide town hall meeting which had been scheduled to address the anti-diversity memo that claimed ‘biological differences’ between men and women were responsible for gender gaps at the organisation.The memo had stirred a controversy both inside and outside Google.
According to The Verge, after cancelling the meeting, at a coding event for girls happening at Google’s campus today, Pichai emphasised the importance of girl engineers. “To all of the girls tonight, I want to say thank you for joining us at Google. I hope it s the beginning of a long career of building amazing things which we can all use one day. I know the journey won t always be easy, but to the girls who dream of being an engineer or an entrepreneur, and who dream of creating amazing things: I want you to know that there s a place for you in this industry, there s a place for you at Google. Don t let anyone tell you otherwise. You belong here and we need you.” he said.
The meeting was cancelled after employees who had sent preliminary questions started getting harassed online.
In an email to his staff, Sundar Pichai explained that questions from employees had been leaked and that in some cases the identities of some employees were revealed, exposing them to harassment and threats. Instead of today s large-scale meeting, which was to be live-streamed to Google s 60,000 employees worldwide, smaller groups will meet sometime in the future to discuss the matter, reported CNN Tech.
.jpg)
Sundar Pichai at Girls Coding Event in Google Campus Photo Source: The Mercury News
"We had hoped to have a frank open discussion today as we always do to bring us together and move forward. But our Dory questions appeared externally this afternoon, and on some websites Googlers are now being named personally. While many Googlers are supportive of the decision, some wish the company does more. All of your voices and opinions matter and I want to hear them." Sundar said in the email.
Pichai’s remarks were especially noteworthy because of the controversy happening at Google right now, after James Damore, a senior software engineer at Google had inscribed a document titled “Google’s Ideological Echo Chamber,” which calls for the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai to replace its diversity initiatives within the company with ones that promote “ideological diversity”. According to Motherboard, the author of the document argues that the gender gaps at Google are the result of “biological differences” between men and women, and that the company shouldn’t offer programs that help under-represented groups. The author also alleged that employees who stand politically orthodox are discriminated against, and that achieving ideological equality should be a priority. ‘Gizmodo’ obtained a full copy of the 10 page manifesto that can be found here.
