When the man ‘Sundar Pichai’ joined Google, he seemed like an unlikely candidate for a CEO position, but his smart, intelligent and opinionated work, does prove his stand in the world today. The new CEO of Google hails from a middle-class Tamil family residing in Chennai, TamilNadu. Google’s announcement on 10th august that it would be subsumed within a new parent company called Alphabet had a bonus for people of Indian-origin, world over. The Google boss ‘Larry Page’ announced the happy news of Sundar Pichai’s take over as CEO who will also play a key part in restructuring the company.
Sundar Pichai (43), was born and brought up in Chennai, but left the city after he completed his class XII in 1989. Pichai completed his Class X at Jawahar Vidyalaya school located in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, and completed the Class XII from Vana Vani school located inside the IIT campus, Chennai. He grew up living in a two bedroom house where his brother and he were touted to be studying all the time in the living room. His mother was a stenographer while his father, an engineer at a components factory. Mr Pichai’s family did not own a car and had installed a telephone only when he was twelve years old. Mr. Pichai’s real life experience played a major role in his professional life as well. He was able to manage Google’s conflict situation and was able to reach agreement in a fractious environment and helped the company regain its momentum after Andy Rubin soid Android to Google.
He then did his majors in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. After he graduated from IIT, his professors spoke to Mr. Pichai about pursuing a PhD abroad. Recommendations poured and then he went on to take another step forward. Mr. Pichai did his MS and MBA. He holds an MS from Stanford University in Material Sciences and Engineering and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar.
Mr Pichai started his career working working in engineering and product management at Applied Materials and in management consulting at McKinsey & Company. In his first job, he joined a very small company which worked as a team for Google’s search bar, Later, Pichai suggested that the giant comes up with its own search browser. While this idea was very attractive, Page and other owners of Google, were interested in getting Mr. Pichai join the Google team to serve the same purpose. He then joined Google in 2004 where he led the product management and innovation efforts for a suite of Google’s clients.
His growth in the company was seen crystal clear when Pichai helped develop the Chrome operating system for laptops, that also stores data in the cloud rather than storing it in a local device which may lose all data easily. Cloud computing was the concept he worked on. Also, supporting the concept of thought, ‘Page’ asked Sundar Pichai to take over Chrome OS, which has been successful in schools and colleges now.
He was largely responsible for Google chrome’s invention and for the development of Google drive. He introduced and oversaw the development of Google apps like Google drive, Maps and Gmail. After his invention and innovative findings, he was then made the Director in Jive Software. Though those efforts have yet to catch on, Pichai wants to expand low-end Android smartphones in emerging markets.
He then headed the entire Android department. It can be noticed that his growth was very progressive and steady and gave room for Google’s head ‘Page’ to anoint him as his heir.
Mr. Pichai now oversees day to day operations of all Google’s big products, including maps, search and advertising, including Google photos and Google now.Giving this a closer look, we all can agree that almost all the Indian tech CEOs have been heading the product management department in their own companies. Sundar Pichai has entrenched the idea where yesterday’s solution could easily be discarded to tomorrow’s innovations. That is the thought process that has taken him to great heights.
The Wall Street journal reported that Pichai’s success can be attributed to his nature. According to reports, he is a self depreciating, empathetic, supportive and graceful navigator who delegates work at ease. He avoids confronting others, and believes more on cooperation from his team. He believes in his team and a group of amazing talents who can produce more outcome when in a cooperative set up. And so, he gives his team what they ask for. A strong communicator whose vision is far more than the goal his team has to achieve. Being Page’s facilitator and interpreter, he has great values on the Indian CEO.
Facing challenges have been Pichai’s favorite work since he joined Google. Pichai has won a lot of technological hearts like Twitter, Amazon, Facebook and others. Whatever said and done, this Indian man has managed to swamp his schedule even more by accepting to be the CEO of the world’s largest giant company-Google. His techniques and handling skills have given way to him becoming one of the high-end NRI Indian CEO who has worked very hard to prove his stand today.
Here’s to one of the Indian pride! Kudos and cheers to the great thinker – Mr. Sundar Pichai!
