Hello Local Guides!
We have been absolutely blown away by the energy surrounding the Community Spotlight 2025! Inspired by the incredible diversity of content and the passion you’ve all shown as we celebrated #10YearsOfLocalGuides, our Google team couldn’t resist joining in to support this initiative. A special thanks to @AdrianLunsong for welcoming us to join the fun and giving us the honor of concluding the series —until next year!
While you often see our names popping up around Connect, we realize you don’t always get the chance to know the Googlers behind the posts. To bridge that gap, we’ve put together this topic designed to help you discover ‘who is who’ and what we do in our Local Guides Google team — all with a fresh and fun angle.
We are thrilled to kick things off from New York (& Gurgaon!), but keep an eye out: a follow-up topic featuring our amazing Google Moderators based in Sofia is already in the works!
Let the spotlight begin!
Disclaimer: The transcript of each image is available directly below it, so you can use the translation tool as needed.
@David_K, Local Guide Level 6, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2018
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
I lead the UGC community team, where I get to work with an incredible team of people that show up every day thinking about new ways we can build deeper, more meaningful connections with our community.
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
I loved this post from @SophatCHY sharing his journey from quiet observer to active community participant. Some great inspiration for others who might want to get more involved!
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
I was so appreciative of logging onto Connect every day and seeing all of the different celebrations happening across our community and around the world! It’s so inspiring to see how you all came together to celebrate the community you’ve all built.
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
‘Aspirational’ Trailblazer - I want to discover more new places! 
@Kristen_NYC, Local Guide Level 7, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2022
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
I lead shared experiences (think events and initiatives like the LG10ScavengerHunt).
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
All of the Community Spotlight 2025 posts!
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
ConnectLIVE - the energy from this amazing community was infectious.
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
Expert Reviewer 
@Latika_Malhotra, Local Guide Level 6, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2024
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
India User Generated Content Marketing Manager 
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
We’re piloting a Local Guides WhatsApp channel in India. Subscribe now!
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Meeting so many amazing Local Guides and listening to their inspiring stories.
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
Trailblazer 
@Julie_A, Local Guide Level 6, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2023
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
I’m the Community Manager working to keep Connect engaging and fun, while ensuring your voices are heard by our product and engineering teams.
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
Hard to choose, but I loved listening to the thoughtful responses and touching memories shared by many Local Guides in the 10th anniversary edition of @JanVanHaver’s LetsGuide Podcast.
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Seeing the first groups of Local Guides participate in the #LG10ScavengerHunts! These real-life challenges can bring so much fun to Local Guides locally and help them find each other. To me, this is the concrete realization of what a community should be!
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
An Expert Fact Finder 
@TinaWill, Local Guide Level 8, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2015
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
I partner with product & engineering teams to build helpful features on Maps — with our community in mind!
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
My Local Guides Journey: Mapping Vegan Options Around the World
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Trying Arizonian cactus candies with @JustJake in NYC; learning about the passionate Indonesian LG community with @indahnuria in Tokyo; feeling honored to receive a dupatta (and fitting!) from @RosyKohli at the Women@ meetup in Bangalore.
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
The “Phone Eats First” Photographer 
@Alextsuievers, Local Guide Level 7, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2022
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
I am the Growth Marketing Manager for Local Guides communications channels (think: Emails!)
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
Finally, emoji icons on desktop! 
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Getting to connect (IRL) with our friends in Tokyo and New York!
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
An Expert Photographer 
@TiffanyBnyc, Local Guide Level 5, joined the Local Guides Google team in 2018
MY ROLE IN THE SQUAD
As a marketer on the Local Guides team, I work on a number of brand marketing initiatives that help bring the Local Guides experience to life for our amazing Google Maps contributors.
THE 2025 CONNECT TOPIC I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT
Spotlight on Marco, the Local Guide who maps the beautiful La Maddalena National Park
MY FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
I loved seeing so many familiar faces, and meeting new friends at Connect Live New York!
IF I WERE A LOCAL GUIDES BADGE, I WOULD BE…
A Novice Director. Because I never share videos, but I should because I find them so helpful when others post. 
To wrap things up, we want to switch gears slightly. While we love wearing our ‘Googler hats’ here on Connect, at heart, we are also explorers and contributors just like all of you. When we aren’t working, we’re out there discovering the world around us! We got curious about our own contributing habits, so we polled our team on the classic debate: Reviews vs. Photos. The verdict? 4 of us lean towards Team Photo while the other 3 are dedicated reviewers! What about you?
- I am Team Photos
- I am Team Detailed Reviews
Speaking of exploring, our wanderlust is already kicking in for next year. We asked the team where they hope 2026 will take them, and the results are below:
- Italy
- Morocco
- Kerala, India
- South Korea
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Somewhere warm that I have never visited - maybe Indonesia or Australia?
- Napa Valley, California
Now, here is a challenge for you: Can you guess who picked which dream destination? Drop your matches in the comments below — we’ll update this post in a few days to reveal the correct answers!
Update: Destination Reveal! Click to see who picked which destination.
- Italy : @David_K
- Morocco : @Julie_A
- Kerala, India : @Latika_Malhotra
- South Korea : @Kristen_NYC
- Edinburgh, Scotland : @alextsuievers
- Somewhere warm that I have never visited - maybe Indonesia or Australia? : @TinaWill
- Napa Valley, California : @TiffanyBnyc
You guessed it—the hints were hidden emojis in our responses 
! Congrats to those who spotted them and to everyone who guessed right.
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