Google Veteran Kristin Furdak Smart Exits Company
Kristin Furdak Smart left Google after accepting its voluntary exit program, ending a career that began in 2007 with a return in 2017.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Remote Work
Kristin Furdak Smart left Google after accepting the company's voluntary exit program, returning her laptop, badge, and e-bike before running seven miles home. She had first joined Google in 2007 as a Training Specialist and returned to the company in 2017 after an earlier departure.
Why it matters
Her exit, announced in a LinkedIn post about six months before the report, shows how voluntary exit programs can let long-tenured employees step away while leaving open the possibility of return. Her hint at a possible 2027 comeback adds a reminder that departures from large tech employers are not always permanent.
The available figures come from Furdak Smart's own account: she joined Google in 2007, returned in 2017, and ran seven miles home after surrendering her laptop, badge, and e-bike. The report does not disclose the size of the voluntary exit package or how many other employees accepted the program.
The players
Kristin Furdak Smart
A former Google Training Specialist who worked in the company's London and Mountain View offices and introduced the AI TLDR series before leaving under a voluntary exit program.
Alphabet's technology company, which runs Search, Android, and Google Cloud and offered the voluntary exit program Furdak Smart accepted.
The details
Furdak Smart worked as a Training Specialist and later in Google's London and Mountain View offices, taking part in the Google Sales School and GBO Manager Academy programs. She also introduced the AI TLDR series before accepting the voluntary exit program and announcing her departure on LinkedIn.
Timeline
2007: Furdak Smart joins Google as a Training Specialist.
2017: Furdak Smart returns to Google after an earlier departure to spend time with her daughters.
About six months before publication: Furdak Smart posts her departure announcement on LinkedIn.
2027: Furdak Smart hints she may return to Google.
Industry Dynamics
Her exit through Google's voluntary exit program is one personal account of how large tech employers have offered buyouts to shrink teams without formal layoffs. Her return in 2017 after an earlier departure also reflects a pattern in which tech workers move in and out of the same firms over long careers.
For employees weighing a voluntary exit program, the story suggests leaving a major employer can still leave a route back later. Workers considering a similar move may want to document their roles, tenure, and benefits before accepting an offer.
The takeaway
Departures from large employers do not always close the door for good, and a personal announcement can reach a wide audience. Employees considering a voluntary exit should weigh both the immediate package and the potential for a future return.
Further reading
Explore more on Remote Work to see how flexible and voluntary employment arrangements are shaping careers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.
