What Does It Take to Succeed in Big Tech?

What does it take to be successful in Big Tech?

I recently joined a panel at Google Atlanta for MBA students to discuss this question. It was a fun conversation, but the truth is that there's no single formula for success in tech.

There are habits, though, that increase your odds of success, like being dependable, scrappy, and the kind of person others enjoy working with.

One thing I love most about working at a big company is the ability to specialize and go deep — depth over breadth. I'm in M&A, but I don't scout potential targets or handle post-acquisition integration. We have specialized teams for those.

At the same time, you can have multiple careers within the same company. There are plenty of opportunities to explore different roles and reinvent yourself along the way.

In the end, success in Big Tech isn't about where you start. It's about curiosity, resilience, and finding meaningful ways to contribute.