#046. Michiel Bakker: behind the scenes with Google’s renowned workplace programs- food, transportation, fitness, and more

As the Vice President of Global Programs for Real Estate & Workplace Services, Bakker leads Google’s renowned workplace programs and services such as food, transportation, events, guest services, sustainability, placemaking as well as fitness, massage and well-being. Bakker is focused on providing integrated offerings and experiences that enable Google to thrive. He is also focused on supporting the growth and future of Google through the scaling of these programs, ongoing innovation and partnerships. 

Bakker has spent over 25 years in global hotel and food and beverage operations, creating and building out partnerships, hotel F&B developments, openings, and food experience design. Before joining Google, Bakker worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide  in various roles for 17 years. From 2012 to 2017, Bakker led Google’s Food program, supporting all food service related activities and initiatives for Google’s global community as well as developing internal and external partnerships to explore and tackle the challenges and opportunities of the broader food systems. 

Bakker continues to be very involved in the ever-evolving and growing intersection of food, health, and sustainability through various roles and organizations around the world such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Food and Nature Board, the EAT Forum Advisory Board,, the Yale School of Management Center for Customer Insights' Advisory Board and the Culinary Institute of America’s Menus of Change Business Leadership Council.

Bakker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Hotel Management School Maastricht (The Netherlands), an MBA from the University of Bradford (United Kingdom), a Master’s of Hospitality Administration degree from the University of Nevada (USA) and a Master’s degree in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver (USA).

Michiel’s podcast and book recommendations:

• The Land of the Giants podcast
• Essentialism. The disciplined pursuit of less (Greg McKeown)
• Team of Teams. New rules of engagement for a complex world (General Stanley McChrystal with Tantum Collins, David Silverman and Chris Fussell
• Leading WIthout Authority (Keith Ferrazzi)
• Locked In: The true causes of mass incarceration and how to achieve real reform (John F. Pfaff)
• The Death of Expertise The Campaign against knowledge and why it matters (Tom Nichols)