From the University to Google: Career Prospects for HSE Alumni

Diana Ogarkova, a graduate of the HSE’s Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, shares her impressions of working at Google and gives advice for those looking to choose a university.

—    You have been working at Google for five years already. How did you manage to get this job?

—    I began my career in advertising at a French company. I liked it, but I really wanted to immerse myself into international business culture. I wanted to move to Europe to study, and before long a Google recruiter found me on LinkedIn and invited me to work in Wrocław, Poland. They were looking for employees for their Russian team, and they found my education and experience impressive. After five years, I became a manager. I have travelled a lot and acquired some international experience that I am unlikely to have gotten in Russia. It’s really useful for me to work abroad, and I know that I can come back as soon as I want, but as a more qualified expert.

—    Could you say a few words about your professional responsibilities and what you do at Google?

—    I work as a manager of an international team that focuses on developing relations with Google AdWords clients via social networks and the online community. There are six people on my team who come from Colombia, Poland, Italy, Russia, Brazil, China, and Japan. My boss works in California.

—    What do Google employees do in their free time?

—    Google employs active people with a broad outlook, which is why we spend our time in interesting ways. In Wrocław, the majority of employees younger than 30 travel a lot and spend their time with friends. In New York and London, the employees are a bit older, so they prefer to go to exhibitions, run in Central Park and travel. In California, our colleagues do sports, surf, cook meals, and go to cafes. They even call themselves ‘foodies’, as they either cook themselves or taste various delicacies in restaurants. Then they go on wine-tasting tours in Napa Valley.

—    Why did you choose the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs?

—    For me entering the HSE was a dream that seemed unattainable. As for the faculty, I wanted to study something more fundamental than management, but at the same time more practical than economics. That’s why the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs was a perfect choice for me.

—    What skills did you acquire at the HSE that help you in your work?

—    First, the modular approach helps with staying focused and setting priorities. I compare it to project work in consulting. In my work, I apply economic theory, creative writing, linear algebra, and statistics. This is a very good basis for solving pressing challenges in my work.

—    What advice can you give to people who are unable to decide which university to attend?

—    They should visit the university and meet students and faculty in order to understand if that is where they want to spend the next four or six years. It’s also important to get information on international opportunities for students at a university.

—    What is the most important thing in your life?

—    I like travelling, working alongside smart and interesting co-workers, doing sports and self-development. It’s important for me to do what I really want and to find harmony between myself and the world.

Dmitry Bolkunets, Alumni Association