Pivot with Purpose: Insights from a Google exec

Mira Lane, a Google executive who leads the company’s Envisioning Studio on AI and Society, offers a thoughtful take on career change. She explains that meaningful pivots begin with curiosity—listening, observing, and collecting information before taking a leap. Her story shows that clarity grows from exploration, not from pressure to move fast.

Lane encourages professionals to treat transitions as experiments rather than escapes. Talk to people in the roles you’re drawn to, shadow their work, or test a small project. Pay attention to what energizes you and what drains you. Those signals are often better indicators of direction than a title or job description.

Her own experience highlights the value of reflection. When asked what she wanted to do next, she didn’t answer quickly. She paused. In that space of waiting, she discovered a shift that aligned not only with her skills but also with her sense of purpose—leading thoughtful design in the world of AI.

For your further reflection

1. What signals—of energy or fatigue—might be pointing you toward your next step?

2. Where could you safely experiment with a possible pivot before making it permanent?

3. What questions would you want to sit with before your next major change?

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