Changhua County, Taiwan

Beyond the requirements of Jerry’s role, he finds building community inside and outside the data center equally fulfilling. Within the data center, he has helped organize second-hand markets, year-end events, and talent shows that have allowed Googlers to connect in meaningful ways.

He has also loved serving the Changhua community, gathering with his fellow Googlers to focus on outreach at rural elementary schools, like painting and cleaning up facilities and providing Chromebooks and robotics design experiences. They’ve also pulled together events to provide gifts to local children during the holidays.

Jerry says, “Through these events and interactions, we break down barriers and foster genuine connections, creating a welcoming and supportive community where everyone leaves with a happy face and a sense of positive impact.”

Yet Rachel Huang, corporate account manager at Junyi Academy, has seen a marked shift in that thinking, along with a growing acceptance to embrace technology’s role in the learning process as parents have come to see how education expands the future opportunities of their children. She has a strong interest and background in global affairs and wants to put Taiwan in a better geopolitical position by educating its youth and improving the talent pool. She feels that change can begin through Junyi Academy.

Junyi Academy is a nonprofit organization in Taipei whose mission is to provide personalized content to children that enables them to learn in an environment that is ideal for them. One way the academy achieves this is by training teachers to incorporate e-learning into their classrooms. “In a traditional classroom, all students are expected to follow the same pace, which can be challenging for those who either struggle to keep up or are ready to move ahead,” Rachel says. “This [e-learning] approach has led to significant improvements in students’ academic performance, as they can engage with the material in a way that suits their learning style and speed.”

Rachel shared a story of a student who was struggling in class and had parents who couldn’t provide much support at home. The student’s teacher, who had participated in the Junyi program, felt the student could benefit from more screen time after school. However, the student’s mother was skeptical, worried her son would use the technology to play games. Yet the teacher built trust, using the technology to help the student improve his study habits, while also nurturing a relationship with the mother, explaining the technology and program through multiple evening calls. The mother eventually embraced the program, especially when she saw her son’s grades improve.

Google felt the work of upskilling teachers in underinvested communities was important, and invested in Junyi to train them. Rachel says this investment has already greatly benefited the community, and Junyi now has a vision to pursue personalized learning. “This aims to tailor education not just to pace, but to each student's unique interests, strengths, and goals, providing a truly individualized learning experience,” she says.

It’s simple. Through the years, Melody built transferable skills that buoyed her move into new opportunities, whether communications or HR, vendor management or data center security. Each new skill has strengthened the one before it, enabling her to take on new challenges with confidence. “As a nontraditional practitioner in the security industry, I think I’ve proven that many skills are transferable, and we don’t need to limit ourselves.” She also credits other people for believing in her and pushing her to embrace challenges and change, which has helped her get to where she is today.

Melody pays that support forward in her Google community as a member of our Women@Data Centers employee resource group (ERG). Women manage a wide range of tech roles at Google Data Centers, and Melody understands the importance of supporting and helping these women overcome unique challenges, like family responsibilities, and build their own personal brand in a historically male-dominated tech industry. “We are fortunate enough to work for a company that truly promotes gender equity and diversity,” she says.

And at the end of every busy workday at Google, Melody is grateful that her community balances the need for new ideas, businesses, and technology with tradition. “Our data center is located in a science park built on reclaimed land on the coast of Changhua County. It’s an add-on to this old soil,” Melody says. “Everything in this new land is about development and standardization, while everything for the soul can be found in the ancient township. People go back to their communities to enjoy the street food and worship in the temples, just like their family tradition for generations.”