Technology, Community and Leadership
Google Developer Experts (GDEs) are individuals who are recognized by Google for our expertise in a particular Google technology or technical domain. In this post I share with you how I became a GDE in machine learning, what makes a great GDE and why, and some cool projects I worked on as part of this amazing community.
How did I become an ML GDE?
I became an ML GDE in 2018. When I first filled out my application for the GDE program, I debated about whether to apply for Android or machine learning. At that time, the ML GDE community was much smaller with only a few of us in North America, so I decided to apply for the ML program in order to make a bigger impact.
To apply for the GDE program, one needs to be referred by either a GDE or a Googler. At the time I already knew quite a few GDEs and Googlers who would refer me, since I was actively sharing my knowledge with the developer community.
I went through two interviews: one focusing on technical knowledge of machine learning and the other one on community. I studied and prepared for the ML interview as if it was a job interview. For the community one, I made sure that I was ready to discuss my community contributions: organizing, speaking, writing tutorials, and contributing to open-source projects.
What makes a great GDE?
I’d say there are 3 important attributes for a GDE: technical, community and leadership:
- First and foremost is having the technical knowledge in the domain.
- Sharing the knowledge with the community. This can be done by public speaking, writing blog posts or books, creating tutorials, or contributing to open source projects.
- We are leaders and early adopters who are not afraid of learning and trying new things.
Why become a GDE?
I feel very fortunate to be part of such an amazing community. Here are some of the perks and privileges of being an GDEs:
- As GDEs, we get to collaborate with experts (other GDEs and Googlers) from around the world. Many of these experts are accomplished and famous authors, speakers, or top open-source contributors.
- We get to preview Google products and provide feedback. Some examples of products that I provided feedback on are: People + AI Guidebook, ML Kit, TensorFlow Lite, Colab, Explainable AI, MediaPipe, Generative AI, BARD, PaLM API, etc.
- We get a lot of invitations to speak at events and conferences.
- We amplify each other’s voice on social media while sharing our knowledge with the Google developers community.
Cool projects & contributions
What I love the most about being an ML GDE is that I get to collaborate with many ML GDEs and Googlers around the world. Here I share the highlights of cool projects, collaborations, recognitions, and my contributions to the community ever since becoming an ML GDE.
2018
I still remember my very first ML blog on Fashion-MNIST with tf.Keras published on the official TensorFlow blog on Medium. I was grateful that I got to work with Josh Gordon from Google TensorFlow team on this.
I also helped write a few tutorials for tensorFlow.org, collaborating with ML GDE Kshitiz Rimal.
Mentoring ML projects at Hack the North in Canada.
Margaret M on Twitter: “We helped a lot of students today in the @GoogleDevExpert mentor hub @HackTheNorth. #GDE #HackTheNorth pic.twitter.com/M2wvSAIMH7 / Twitter”
We helped a lot of students today in the @GoogleDevExpert mentor hub @HackTheNorth. #GDE #HackTheNorth pic.twitter.com/M2wvSAIMH7
2019
TensorFlow Doc Sprint
As part of the TensorFlow 2.0 transition, I helped organize the worldwide TensorFlow Doc Sprint with ML GDE Sergii Khomenko, Googler Paige Bailey, and many other ML GDEs and GDG organizers worldwide. The impact was so huge that it was even mentioned in the 2019 TensorFlow World keynote.
Speaking at TensorFlow Contributor Summit, part of the TensorFlow World conference.
Sergii 🇺🇦 on Twitter: “Great panel discussion at @TensorFlow contributor summit #TFWorld featuring Karmel Allison, @martin_wicke, @spmorgan_ and @margaretmz – very insightful and fun discussion pic.twitter.com/cnTSMQlyvw / Twitter”
Great panel discussion at @TensorFlow contributor summit #TFWorld featuring Karmel Allison, @martin_wicke, @spmorgan_ and @margaretmz – very insightful and fun discussion pic.twitter.com/cnTSMQlyvw
TensorFlow World was an incredible experience.
Margaret M on Twitter: “With #ML #GDE and #TFLite China team. #TFWorld @TensorFlowWorld @GoogleDevExpert pic.twitter.com/Gvnbl2yUxy / Twitter”
With #ML #GDE and #TFLite China team. #TFWorld @TensorFlowWorld @GoogleDevExpert pic.twitter.com/Gvnbl2yUxy
2020
I put together an awesome list for TensorFlow Lite resources.
Margaret M on Twitter: “Here is an awesome😎list of #TFLite models, samples, tutorials & learning resources – https://t.co/uPH3djVVOr. Many thanks to #ML @GoogleDevExpert, #AndroidDev & TFLite team for helping me start this. Hope you find it useful and would love to see what you have built with TFLite! pic.twitter.com/g84NSnQ1QM / Twitter”
Here is an awesome😎list of #TFLite models, samples, tutorials & learning resources – https://t.co/uPH3djVVOr. Many thanks to #ML @GoogleDevExpert, #AndroidDev & TFLite team for helping me start this. Hope you find it useful and would love to see what you have built with TFLite! pic.twitter.com/g84NSnQ1QM
Selfie2Anime with TensorFlow Lite project, done in collaboration with ML GDE Sayak Paul.
Margaret M on Twitter: “Check out the E2E tutorial for Selfie2Anime w/ #TFLite on Android by #ML @GoogleDevExpert @margaretmz & @RisingSayak! From model saving, model conversion to Android with ML Model Binding (metadata & CodeGen). https://t.co/MojyqwtMkU @TensorFlow #DeepLearning #CameraX #AndroidML pic.twitter.com/dyjGWqiC1o / Twitter”
Check out the E2E tutorial for Selfie2Anime w/ #TFLite on Android by #ML @GoogleDevExpert @margaretmz & @RisingSayak! From model saving, model conversion to Android with ML Model Binding (metadata & CodeGen). https://t.co/MojyqwtMkU @TensorFlow #DeepLearning #CameraX #AndroidML pic.twitter.com/dyjGWqiC1o
The TensorFlow Community Spotlight award for the project, “Create Artistic Effect by Stylizing the Image Background”, in collaboration with ML GDE Sayak Paul, George Soloupis, and TFUG organizer Patrick Haralabidis.
TensorFlow on Twitter: “🏅#TFCommunitySpotlight Winners: Margaret Maynard-Reid, Sayak Paul, George Soloupis🏅This team created a project that uses style transfer and segmentation and shows how to combine multiple TensorFlow Lite models in one app. Amazing work!GitHub → https://t.co/PKgybvTxbH pic.twitter.com/cFPSa1JG6G / Twitter”
🏅#TFCommunitySpotlight Winners: Margaret Maynard-Reid, Sayak Paul, George Soloupis🏅This team created a project that uses style transfer and segmentation and shows how to combine multiple TensorFlow Lite models in one app. Amazing work!GitHub → https://t.co/PKgybvTxbH pic.twitter.com/cFPSa1JG6G
I was honored to receive the Google Open Source Peer Bonus award because of my contributions!
2021
Launching the ML GDE YouTube channel in collaboration with other ML GDEs: Jerry Kurata, Lesly Zerna, Kshitiz Rimal, Daniel Goncharov.
lesly🍫 on Twitter: “Here is an intro of @margaretmz (#MLGDE from Seattle) and some of the projects she has worked on, in collaboration with ML GDEs around the world. https://t.co/AnSzkUEODM#AI #ML #MLGDEs @GoogleDevExpert #WomenTechmakers #WomenInTech / Twitter”
Here is an intro of @margaretmz (#MLGDE from Seattle) and some of the projects she has worked on, in collaboration with ML GDEs around the world. https://t.co/AnSzkUEODM#AI #ML #MLGDEs @GoogleDevExpert #WomenTechmakers #WomenInTech
Mentoring several TensorFlow projects for Google Summer of Code.
Google Developers Space, Singapore on Twitter: “#RT @googledevs: RT @margaretmz: I mentored a few student developers of their TensorFlow projects for #GoogleSummerofCode 2021. Read my story here 👉 https://t.co/JvtPwYws4C#GSoC2021 #gsoc #tensorflow #keras #tfgan #tfhub #tflite @GoogleDevExpert @TensorFlow / Twitter”
RT @googledevs: RT @margaretmz: I mentored a few student developers of their TensorFlow projects for #GoogleSummerofCode 2021. Read my story here 👉 https://t.co/JvtPwYws4C#GSoC2021 #gsoc #tensorflow #keras #tfgan #tfhub #tflite @GoogleDevExpert @TensorFlow
Speaking at Women in ML Symposium along with ML GDEs
Merve Noyan and Bianca Ximenes.
Margaret M on Twitter: “A belated thank-you: thanks @jocarrasqueira and team for inviting me to speak at #WiML Symposium 2021, and the lovely gifts! pic.twitter.com/UXVw5LFPY3 / Twitter”
A belated thank-you: thanks @jocarrasqueira and team for inviting me to speak at #WiML Symposium 2021, and the lovely gifts! pic.twitter.com/UXVw5LFPY3
Very honored to receive the TensorFlow Top Contributor award representing the North America region.
Margaret M on Twitter: “This is so cool! Seeing my sketchnotes in the official announcement of 2021 TensorFlow Contributor Awardees! https://t.co/FsbhBmiHqy / Twitter”
This is so cool! Seeing my sketchnotes in the official announcement of 2021 TensorFlow Contributor Awardees! https://t.co/FsbhBmiHqy
2022
ML GDE YouTube channel — when started recording interviews with ML GDEs.
Chat with ML GDE Vikram Tiwari.
Margaret M on Twitter: “I’m recording a series of short videos with ML GDEs. Here is the very first one: “Chat with ML GDE @Vikram_Tiwari”! https://t.co/AMZLaRNDu8 #ML #MachineLearning #GDE #GDG #DevFest2022 @GoogleDevExpert @GoogleDevsNA @googledevs @googledevgroups pic.twitter.com/2yTid9BVyp / Twitter”
I’m recording a series of short videos with ML GDEs. Here is the very first one: “Chat with ML GDE @Vikram_Tiwari”! https://t.co/AMZLaRNDu8 #ML #MachineLearning #GDE #GDG #DevFest2022 @GoogleDevExpert @GoogleDevsNA @googledevs @googledevgroups pic.twitter.com/2yTid9BVyp
Chat with ML GDE Aakash Nain.
Margaret M on Twitter: “My “Chat with #ML @GoogleDevExpert @A_K_Nain”! He has contributed to so many open source projects: multiple https://t.co/mpQSTKGESl tutorials, #TensorFlow addons maintainer, “annotated research papers”, #JAX tutorials and diffusion models tutorials… https://t.co/xD99LjClPf pic.twitter.com/x2UDq9JT3p / Twitter”
My “Chat with #ML @GoogleDevExpert @A_K_Nain”! He has contributed to so many open source projects: multiple https://t.co/mpQSTKGESl tutorials, #TensorFlow addons maintainer, “annotated research papers”, #JAX tutorials and diffusion models tutorials… https://t.co/xD99LjClPf pic.twitter.com/x2UDq9JT3p
Invited to the ML Community Summit 2022 in Bangkok Thailand, along with the top contributing ML GDEs.
Margaret M on Twitter: “What an inspiring experience from the ML Community Summit 2022! #ML @GoogleDevExpert @googledevs Thanks again @ksoonson, @heeya_ML and Nari for organizing!https://t.co/m7qaGSUdJh / Twitter”
What an inspiring experience from the ML Community Summit 2022! #ML @GoogleDevExpert @googledevs Thanks again @ksoonson, @heeya_ML and Nari for organizing!https://t.co/m7qaGSUdJh
It was so great to meet in-person for the first time with the ML GDEs who I’ve collaborated with in the past!
Margaret M on Twitter: “A photo with #ML @GoogleDevExpert @mervenoyann @GSoloupis @algo_diver and @RisingSayak at the ML Community Summit. pic.twitter.com/Lg6ZEBblCW / Twitter”
A photo with #ML @GoogleDevExpert @mervenoyann @GSoloupis @algo_diver and @RisingSayak at the ML Community Summit. pic.twitter.com/Lg6ZEBblCW
2023
Chat with ML GDE Hannes Hapke.
Margaret M on Twitter: “Check out my “Chat with #ML #GDE @hanneshapke” on our ML GDE YouTube channel! He shared with us how he became an ML GDE, what he likes the most about being an ML GDE, and a few of his work & community projects. #machinelearning @GoogleDevExpert https://t.co/ZQhNs48enH pic.twitter.com/J3LvnGuoFu / Twitter”
Check out my “Chat with #ML #GDE @hanneshapke” on our ML GDE YouTube channel! He shared with us how he became an ML GDE, what he likes the most about being an ML GDE, and a few of his work & community projects. #machinelearning @GoogleDevExpert https://t.co/ZQhNs48enH pic.twitter.com/J3LvnGuoFu
Hanging out with ML GDEs at Google I/O in Shoreline.
Margaret M on Twitter: “It was fun hanging out with you all at #GoogleIO! See you soon at #GoogleIOConnect Miami!#ML #GDE @GoogleDevExpert @hugoznn @NathalyAlarconT @margaretmz @CharmiChokshi @Vikram_Tiwari @vykthur @SWebCEO @devharuiz #Web #GDE @rabimba pic.twitter.com/rOrnXJWCvD / Twitter”
It was fun hanging out with you all at #GoogleIO! See you soon at #GoogleIOConnect Miami!#ML #GDE @GoogleDevExpert @hugoznn @NathalyAlarconT @margaretmz @CharmiChokshi @Vikram_Tiwari @vykthur @SWebCEO @devharuiz #Web #GDE @rabimba pic.twitter.com/rOrnXJWCvD
Hanging out with ML GDEs at Google I/O Connect in Miami.
Margaret M on Twitter: “Photos for remembering the beautiful moments with the amazing #ML #GDE community at Google I/O Connect 2023. #MachineLearning @GoogleDevExpert #GoogleIOConnecthttps://t.co/1oAd2TYKDh / Twitter”
Photos for remembering the beautiful moments with the amazing #ML #GDE community at Google I/O Connect 2023. #MachineLearning @GoogleDevExpert #GoogleIOConnecthttps://t.co/1oAd2TYKDh
I was featured by Google for Developers in the blog post “Celebrating Google Dev Library’s Women Contributors in AI/ML”.
Google for Developers on Twitter: “👏👏🏽👏🏾 #WomenInTech are making waves in open source ML/AI! These incredible women are contributing to #GoogleDevLibrary projects using technologies including TensorFlow, Google Cloud, and more ↓ https://t.co/cnLzvVziNY / Twitter”
👏👏🏽👏🏾 #WomenInTech are making waves in open source ML/AI! These incredible women are contributing to #GoogleDevLibrary projects using technologies including TensorFlow, Google Cloud, and more ↓ https://t.co/cnLzvVziNY
This year the ML GDE program started the ML Community Sprint where ML GDEs and Google teams collaborated to work on ML projects to create ML content that can be used by the other communities such as TensorFlow User Groups, Google Developer Groups, and Google Developer Student Clubs.
I contributed to the MediaPipe Sprint and then the Keras Sprint, in collaboration with Aritra Roy Gosthipaty and Henry Ruiz.
Margaret M on Twitter: “I received wonderful gifts for contributing to @GoogleDevExpert #ML Community Sprints: a suitcase, a backpack and even a #keras T-Shirt!Thanks @ksoonson, @heeya_ML & Nari for sending these!Thank you #MLGDEs @ariG23498 & @devharuiz for collaboration on #KerasSprint projects! pic.twitter.com/GkWtWKNoIu / Twitter”
I received wonderful gifts for contributing to @GoogleDevExpert #ML Community Sprints: a suitcase, a backpack and even a #keras T-Shirt!Thanks @ksoonson, @heeya_ML & Nari for sending these!Thank you #MLGDEs @ariG23498 & @devharuiz for collaboration on #KerasSprint projects! pic.twitter.com/GkWtWKNoIu
I’m looking forward to future projects and collaborations in the Google Developer Expert and the broader Google Developers communities. I hope my journey gives you a glimpse of what it is like being an ML GDE and inspires you to become part of our community.
Being an ML Google Developer Expert was originally published in Google Developer Experts on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
