Who was Susan Wojcicki, one of Silicon Valley’s most exceptional leaders, and what did she do?

Susan Wojcicki, former YouTube CEO, has died at the age of 56 from lung cancer (Getty)

Susan Wojcicki Born on July 5, 1967 in Santa Clara, Californiain an academic setting. His father, Stanley, was a physics professor at Stanfordand his mother, Esther, was a teacher. He studied at the Harvard Universitywhere he earned a degree in economics, and later earned an MBA at the Anderson School of Management de UCLA.

From its beginnings, it was a central figure in the construction of Googleone of the most influential technology companies in the world and, with time, work and a lot of dedication, She became one of the most influential women in the technology industry

At 56, Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube and one of the first employees of Google, died last Friday from lung cancer. The news was announced by her husband, Dennis Troperthrough a post on Facebook: “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Susan Wojcicki. My beloved wife of 26 years and mother of our five children left us today after two years of living with non-small cell lung cancer.”

Neal Mohan, the current CEO of YouTube, praised Wojcicki’s legacy on social media (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)

Following his passing, several technology personalities expressed their condolences and praised his legacy. Neal Mohancurrent CEO of YouTube, praised Wojcicki in a tribute on social media, recalling her friendship and guidance. Sundar PichaiCEO of Google and Alphabetalso paid tribute to him in a post on Xstating that it is difficult to imagine the world without it and highlighting its fundamental importance in the history of Google.

Adriana Noreña, Vice President of Google for Latin Americashared on LinkedIn an emotional message about Wojcicki’s impact on both his professional life and the company’s culture. He highlighted “her efforts to make this company a home for everyone, a place where people could feel comfortable pursuing their dreams and goals.” He also highlighted her courage in leaving a secure job at a company on the list. Fortune 500 to bet on Googlea small startup, and stressed that Wojcicki made this decision while pregnant, showing that she “was not afraid to ask herself ‘why not?’ and then take the leap.” “The passing of this great leader has shocked and saddened all of us who shared moments with her,” he concluded.

Born into an environment that promoted academia and knowledge, Wojcicki became a pioneering figure in the technological world, which set the course for essential platforms in the digital field.

In 1998when Larry Page y Sergey Brin They were at the beginning of their project, the future tech giant Google, They did not yet have a suitable space to work in. At the time, they were both graduate students at Stanford University and were looking for a place to develop their budding idea. It was at that point that fate led them to a modest garage in Palo Alto, California, owned by Wojcicki.

Newly married and struggling to pay the mortgage on her new home, she decided to rent out her garage to these young entrepreneurs. Unbeknownst to him, he was about to become a key part of one of Silicon Valley’s most iconic stories. Even though the name “Google” seemed foreign to her and she didn’t fully understand Page and Brin’s vision for their company, she agreed on one simple condition: “As long as you pay your rent on time, you can build your Google thing here,” Wojcicki recalled in a 2014 speech.

Under his leadership, YouTube implemented live streaming and monetization policies (REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo)

This garage became Google’s first “headquarters”and witnessed long nights of work, sessions of brainstorming and a tireless passion for changing the world through technology. Thus, What began as a simple real estate transaction ended up being the starting point for one of the most influential companies in modern history.

And in 1999 she formally joined Google as the company’s 16th employee. She served as the company’s chief executive officer. marketing the googleplaying a crucial role in the creation and launch of Google AdSense y Google Analyticstools that have revolutionized the way companies monitor and monetize their online activities. Her work at the company quickly positioned her as a key figure in its development.

Later, he was in charge of Google Videoand it was in this context that he suggested the acquisition of YouTubewhich was completed in 2006. This decision was fundamental to Google’s growth and success in the field of video content.

In 2014, she was appointed CEO of YouTube. Under his leadership, The platform experienced a period of enormous expansionestablishing itself as the largest video sharing website globally. It introduced several innovations and policies aimed at improving the user experience and monetization for content creators.

Implemented the option of live broadcasts and promoted greater inclusion of original and quality content within the platform.

Wojcicki joined Google in 1999 as the company’s 16th employee (EFE/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON)

However, the professional also had to face significant challenges. During her tenure, YouTube became a focus of criticism for the proliferation of misinformation and hate speech, according to CNN. In response, the company implemented stricter measures to moderate content and worked to improve its recommendation algorithms. In February 2023, Wojcicki announced her departure from YouTube to begin “a new chapter focused on my family, my health and personal projects.”

Following her passing, her husband highlighted Susan’s profound impact on their family and the world at large: “Susan was not only my best friend and life partner, but also a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many.”