From Chennai to Google's helm

Sundar Pichai grew up in Chennai, India, in a middle-class family where education was valued. His father was an electrical engineer and his mother a stenographer. He had minimal access to computers and waited five years for a rotary phone.

Technology changed everything

Pichai said experiencing technology for the first time was a vivid moment that showed him how access to technology can make a difference. This childhood experience inspired his later work rolling out Chromebooks to students in the U.S.

“It was a vivid moment for me as to how access to technology can make a difference.”

Education and early career

Pichai moved to the U.S. in nineteen ninety-three to earn his master's degree in materials science from Stanford University. He later earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, worked briefly at McKinsey and Company, then joined Google in two thousand four.

Twenty years building Google's products

During his two-decade career with Google, Pichai worked on major products including Google Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps, and Chromebook. In two thousand nineteen, he became CEO of Alphabet, which currently has a market cap of more than four trillion dollars, and its subsidiary Google.

Surround yourself with better people

Pichai's advice to young leaders is to work with people who outshine them. He said: get yourself in a position where you're working with people who stretch your abilities. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations, because that's what helps you grow and surprise yourself.

“Get yourself in a position where you're working with people who you feel are stretching your abilities.”

Listen to your heart, not your mind

On a two thousand twenty-five podcast by Podium VC, Pichai reflected on his success, saying it took a lot of luck along the way. He advised young people to listen to their heart and see whether they actually enjoy doing it, rather than relying solely on rational thinking.

“I think listening to your heart a bit more than your mind helps in terms of figuring out what you want to do.”