I had the opportunity to go to DC last week in support of a VetNet initiative. VetNet is an employee resource group for veteran googlers and non-veteran googlers that support the veteran community. The goal of this group is to RECRUIT veteran talent, GROW awareness among non-VetNet googlers on what it means to serve, ATTRACT brand-awareness in the marketplace that Google is a vet friendly company, and finally build ESPRIT DE CORPS among the members of the group. I am part of the management team, which we call the Steering Committee and I run the Esprit and Grow squad.

The purpose of the DC trip was to show wounded warriors how they can use Google products to stay connected with their love ones and friends. These are individuals that suffered a combat injury and most of them have Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) or are missing limbs. The cherry on top was that we donated 600 Chromebooks to the Red Cross so that these warriors can check out a computer during their stay. Here is the press release from the Red Cross.

This was an amazing experience that I will never forgot. These warriors were grinning from ear to ear when they found out what they can do with our products and that they got to keep the chromebooks. I am so grateful that Google allowed me to not work for a few days and paid for my trip so that I could help out these warriors. I work for a great company.

Outside of the “hard” work we did get to do some sightseeing. In three days, I went on a Pentagon and White House tour,  went to the Air and Space Museum, gazed upon the famous Exorcist stairs in George Town, and checked out the Lincoln Memorial. In addition, my group had dinner with Vint Cerf, one of the founders of the internet.

Even with all the events, I still managed to get my 5 workouts in. That’s two weeks in a row I hit my goal. This week, I am off to Chicago to speak at a conference for the first time.

Strength and Honor,

M