Sergey Brin's Mentorship Shaped Android Chief's Path

Sameer Samat, Google's head of Android, changed his career path in 1999 by sending a cold email to co-founder Sergey Brin at 3 a.m. seeking advice as his startup cofounders considered graduate school. Brin replied almost instantly, invited Samat for impromptu interviews at Google's office, and offered him a job, which Samat declined out of loyalty to his team. Brin continued to support Samat by offering advice and investor connections, aiding in the eventual acquisition of Samat's startup. Samat later joined Google in 2008, left in 2015, and was personally recruited back by Sundar Pichai to help lead Android. He credits his early experiences and Brin’s mentorship for shaping his career, encouraging entrepreneurs to trust their instincts and prioritize real-world experience over formal education. Samat also aims to pay forward the support he received, especially in today’s competitive tech and AI talent environment.