“I started this course and never looked back,” Ms. Twohill said.

A few years after graduating, Ms. Twohill landed in a dot-com-era travel company Opodo, where she bought the first digital ads on Google and then a search engine startup. When Google invited her to visit their offices, she arrived expecting to discuss Opodo’s account. Instead, she ended up in a series of interviews that resulted in a job offer that she almost turned down.

“I had a great job and another offer that looked like a much bigger job,” she said of the 2003 opportunity. “But I saw with my own eyes the genius that was. was AdWords. “

In 2009, Ms. Twohill moved to the United States to lead global marketing for Google. As her responsibilities increased, she gathered a team around her who supported her at work and at home, including a doctor whom she could call or email at any time.

This support became essential when Ms Twohill noticed her urine was black while traveling abroad for work in 2016. Her doctor advised her to go immediately to the hospital where she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. stage two, a rare and fatal cancer. She had an operation two weeks later.

“I was very, very lucky,” she said, noting that most people don’t get cholangiocarcinoma until stage four.

She has been cancer free for five years and said she has been more inclined to delegate at work since. Currently, her team is focused on promoting the benefits Google offers at a time when corporate headlines often accentuate the issues, including a recent sexual harassment scandal, an AI practice controversy, and antitrust lawsuits. .

An advertisement running during the Oscars showed a Google designer who grew up with deaf parents. He described how he used automatic captioning tools in the video chat to introduce his mother and father to their newborn grandchild.

“I want to do work that gets people to not only think or do something, but feel something,” Ms. Twohill said. “For me, empathy is very important.”

Here are four of his most trusted advisors:

Sundar pichai

Managing Director of Alphabet Inc.

When Mr. Pichai was the product manager for Google Chrome, Ms. Twohill worked with him on a marketing effort to increase Internet browser adoption. TV commercials, which debuted in 2009 and then featured Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, helped Chrome become the world’s dominant browser with a 65% market share.

“Sundar saw first-hand the role marketing can play in involving us,” she said.

Over the years, Mr. Pichai has provided her with valuable advice, including empowering her team and choosing three things she has worked on in depth. The team can handle the rest, he said.

“It has been good for me as I focus my time and energy,” she said, especially as she was returning to work after cancer.

Jane rosenthal

Chief Executive Officer of Tribeca Enterprises LLC

When Ms Twohill moved to the United States, she didn’t know many people outside of work. She met Ms. Rosenthal at a Google event and they logged in as working mothers in leadership roles.

Ms Rosenthal, who has become a longtime friend, often provides Ms Twohill with what she calls “working mother advice”. They often share stories about kids and work, and in the process, they discuss how to be good moms and successful executives.

In the past, she turned to Ms Rosenthal when she wondered if she should travel for work at a time when her children had something special at home.

“She will advise me: you have to be there for the times that matter,” Ms. Twohill said. “She helped me feel more courageous and say, ‘I can’t do this because I need to be here. “”

Steve stoute

Founder / CEO of Translation Enterprises Inc. and UnitedMasters LLC

At a Google event with customers and partners, Ms. Twohill met Mr. Stoute. She kept in touch with the veteran and entrepreneur of the music industry.

Ms Twohill, who is Irish, grew up not understanding African American culture. Mr. Stoute, whose Translation agency advises brands on the nuances of hip-hop culture, helped her deepen her knowledge of black history.

“He almost became my teacher,” Ms. Twohill said. “Steve could help me understand, ‘Lorraine, it’s not just about fighting for women. You have to fight for black women. You must fight for the race. You have to fight for others.

She also appreciates that Mr. Stoute evaluates Google’s marketing efforts.

“He holds me responsible,” she said. “He’ll text me and go either ‘Well done’ or he’ll say ‘you know, you could have worked harder there.'”

Nikesh arora

Managing Director of Palo Alto Networks Inc.

In 2001, Mr. Arora attended a birthday party for Ms. Twohill and her best friend, with whom he worked at a telecommunications company. Mr. Arora spent a good part of the night talking with Ms. Twohill’s father, which she appreciated.

Three years later, Mr. Arora joined Google where he held the position of Vice President of European Operations before moving to the United States where he became the Company’s Commercial Director from 2011 to 2014. He was there. invited to join the board of directors of the security company he heads. Palo Alto Networks.

Like Mr. Pichai, Mr. Arora advised Ms. Twohill to be selective about what she devotes her time to at work. He also made her understand the importance of hiring well.

“One of the best things he did at Google was the bench he built and hired,” she said. “He taught me to hire senior talent who doesn’t learn on the job. Jobs will grow with talent. I always hire someone who will eventually challenge me and bring complementary skills.

Write to Tripp Mickle at [email protected]