Yashica Patodia

About Yashica Patodia

My journey has always been guided by a simple curiosity: how can we close the distance between a line of code and a tangible human experience? My curiosity stems from a desire to keep the fire in me ablaze, which reminds me of what Jensen Huang said,\"Hard work brings me calm. When I am not working, I am thinking about work.\" I find it difficult to switch off as well.For me, technology was never just about the algorithm, but about its potential to solve a real, human problem. This curiosity first took root at IIT Kharagpur, where I dove deep into the world of generative AI. But it was in applying that knowledge at Google, on the Health & Home team, that my perspective truly crystallized. I realized my passion wasn\'t just for building smart devices, but for creating technology that feels intuitive, supportive, and fundamentally caring, technology that could help an elderly person live independently or give a new parent peace of mind. This drive to connect and contribute has consistently pulled me beyond the boundaries of my job description. I’ve learned that the most complex challenges aren\'t technical; they are human. They require building communities and mobilizing people around a shared purpose. Whether it was fostering a culture of collaborative innovation at Kharagpur Open Source Society, or spearheading the creation of two new schools in Bengaluru with Google.org, I discovered a deep passion for turning vision into reality.There is a unique energy that comes from bringing a group of volunteers together to paint a classroom or the profound humility in organizing a donation drive for hospice patients. They taught me more about leadership and impact than any technical project ever could. They solidified my belief that you don\'t need to have a lot to give/share with people. When I had expressed interest to one of my close friends in starting an NGO, they expressed concern, saying that you don\'t have enough money, first earn, then start an NGO.My path forward is shaped by two final, core beliefs. First, that you are the average of the five people you surround yourself with. This fuels my constant search for passionate individuals, not just to learn from their impact, but to understand the authentic stories behind their drive. Second, I believe that while luck plays a vital role in any journey, it is our responsibility to expand our own luck surface area. For me, that means taking calculated risks, choosing unconventional paths, and intentionally shifting gears the moment a path becomes too comfortable.

Experience

1. Software Engineer (L4)

   Google

   Jan 2026 — Present · US

Education

• Y Combinator

  Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

• Delhi Public School Megacity, Kolkata

  ICSE, Science

  2015 — 2016

• Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

  Bachelor of Technology - BTech, Computer Science

• Delhi Public School Megacity, Kolkata

  (10+2) ISC, SCIENCE

  2017 — 2019