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| Mira Lane is the founder of Google's Envisioning Studio, an AI innovation prototyping lab that explores the impact of tech innovation on society. Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images |
Majoring in philosophy, art history, or another liberal arts discipline might not seem like the most obvious stepping stone into the technology industry. Yet, according to Mira Lane, vice president of Tech and Society at Google and founder of the company’s Envisioning Studio, it can be a surprisingly powerful route — if approached the right way.
Lane leads a team unlike most in Silicon Valley. Her group includes documentary filmmakers, philosophers, product designers, and researchers, many of whom started their careers far outside the traditional paths of computer science or engineering. Together, they explore how cutting-edge innovations, particularly in AI, will impact society.
For Lane, the key to making a leap from a non-technical field into technology starts with excellence in your current domain. “Be really confident and great in the space you’re in,” she advises. If you’re a philosopher, that means mastering your theory, honing your expertise, and understanding your discipline deeply.
Why Tech Needs Non-Traditional Thinkers
While mastery of your own discipline is critical, Lane is quick to point out that you can’t rely solely on your liberal arts background. To be competitive in tech, you need hands-on exposure to technology itself.
“You also have to have an opinion or a point of view on tech,” Lane says. “And that means that you have to use it in some way so that you understand the nuance.”
As a visual artist herself, she knows that the unknown can be intimidating. “If you don’t use technology, it’s really easy to be afraid of it,” she says. But once you’ve experimented with it — whether by tinkering with AI tools, learning a design platform, or coding a basic app — you can form an informed perspective on its strengths and limitations. That combination of creative thinking and tech fluency is exactly what makes non-traditional professionals so valuable in the technology world.
“Not only are they bringing this other discipline, style of thinking,” Lane explains, “but now they’ve played with the technology. They have a point of view on it, and that becomes really interesting for us.”
Other Paths from Creative to Technical
Lane isn’t the only example of someone who has bridged the creative–technical divide at Google.
Steven Johnson, now the editorial director of NotebookLM, began his career as an author. His interest in AI and emerging technologies led him to write extensively about them, start a company, and eventually join Google to help develop its AI-powered note-taking platform.
Another Google leader began in journalism and filmmaking before transitioning into tech by earning technical certifications. Today, he leads AI sales for Google’s media, entertainment, and gaming sectors, blending storytelling expertise with technical acumen.
Now Is the Time to Experiment
Lane believes there’s never been a better moment for creative professionals to explore technology. With the explosion of AI tools — many of them free — the barrier to entry has dropped dramatically. “The barrier to entry, and the friction, is so low at this time that it’s actually really easy just to get into the tech world,” she says.
Anyone can now experiment with building apps, training AI models, or designing new digital tools without the cost or complexity that once kept tech development in the hands of a select few.
The Traits That Make Non-Traditional Candidates Thrive
Even with the right skills and tools, the tech world isn’t for everyone. Lane says those who succeed in this constantly evolving field tend to thrive in ambiguity. They embrace rapid change, adapt quickly, and aren’t afraid to pick up new technologies on the fly.
Sometimes that means diving into an unfamiliar coding language, testing a new AI platform, or iterating on an idea with a chatbot until it works. People with a growth mindset — those who see challenges as opportunities to learn — excel in these dynamic environments.
“People with a growth mindset do really, really well in a domain that’s always growing and learning and evolving,” Lane says.
A Call for More Non-Traditional Roles in Tech
At Google, experimental projects and interdisciplinary teams like Lane’s are more common than at many companies, thanks to the scale and resources available. But Lane believes that more tech firms should follow suit.
“There’s definitely a chance for this type of people, with these types of backgrounds, to be in the tech world,” she says. Diverse perspectives, creative problem-solving skills, and a nuanced understanding of human behavior — often found in liberal arts graduates — can be just as essential as coding proficiency when building technology that serves society.
Her advice for anyone considering the leap? Master your craft, immerse yourself in technology, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The intersection of creativity and tech isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore — it’s where some of the most innovative work is happening.
