Susan Wojcicki, a pioneering figure in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56 following a two-year battle with lung cancer. Her husband, Dennis Troper, announced her death on Friday, highlighting the profound loss felt by her family and the global tech community.
Wojcicki was a trailblazer in Silicon Valley, playing a crucial role in the rise of Google from a small startup to a global technology giant. She was Google’s 16th employee and first marketing manager, joining the company in 1999 after it was founded in the garage of her Menlo Park, California home by Sergey Brin and Larry Page. During her nearly two-decade tenure at Google, Wojcicki was instrumental in the development of key products like Google Image Search and played a significant role in the acquisitions of YouTube and DoubleClick.
In 2014, Wojcicki became the CEO of YouTube, where she guided the platform through a period of significant growth and transformation. Under her leadership, YouTube expanded its advertising formats, launched a streaming television service, and navigated complex challenges such as child privacy concerns, hate speech, and misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wojcicki stepped down from her role at YouTube in 2023 to focus on her family, health, and personal projects. Her husband reflected on her legacy, saying, “Susan was not just my best friend and partner in life, but a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable.”
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Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, paid tribute to Wojcicki, stating, “She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it’s hard to imagine the world without her. She was an incredible person, leader, and friend who had a tremendous impact on the world, and I’m one of countless Googlers who is better for knowing her. We will miss her dearly.”
A strong advocate for parental leave, Wojcicki, who joined Google while four months pregnant, was known for her belief that generous parental leave policies were beneficial not just for families but also for businesses.
Wojcicki is survived by her husband and their five children, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to influence the tech industry for years to come.
