All about Google
Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube, passed away on Friday (9) at the age of 56 after a battle with lung cancer. Wojcicki was a key player in transforming Google into one of the largest technology companies in the world. She joined the company in 1998 as one of its first employees and was Google’s first marketing manager, eventually becoming the most senior woman at the company.
In 2014, Wojcicki took over as CEO of YouTube, after Google acquired the platform in 2006. Under her leadership, YouTube established itself as the leading video service on the internet, with new forms of advertising and subscription services such as YouTube TV and YouTube Music.
During her time at the helm of the platform, Wojcicki faced significant challenges, including controlling hate speech, extremism and misinformation.
Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. (Image: Reproduction / YouTube)
In a note sent to Google employees, CEO Sundar Pichai described Wojcicki as “one of the most energetic and vibrant people” he has ever known, noting that her loss is devastating for everyone who knew and admired her.
Pichai highlighted Wojcicki’s inspiring journey from renting her garage to Google founders to becoming the CEO of YouTube. He also emphasized the positive impact of her initiatives, such as advocating for parental leave and promoting “edutubers” on YouTube, especially those who have expanded the reach of STEM education to underserved communities.
Susan Wojcicki’s legacy at Google and the world of technology
Wojcicki has been widely recognized for her impact on the digital advertising industry, being called “the most powerful woman in advertising” when she took over as CEO of YouTube. She was also responsible for the acquisition of advertising technology company DoubleClick in 2007, strengthening Google’s dominance in the industry.
Despite her success, Wojcicki stressed that her legacy at YouTube would depend on how the platform handled content moderation, an ongoing challenge. In an interview with The New York Times in 2019, she said she was committed to improving the company’s practices in this regard, acknowledging that there was still work to be done.
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YouTube exit and personal life
Susan Wojcicki stepped down as CEO of YouTube last year to focus on her family, health and personal endeavors. However, she remained an advisor to Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and was involved in philanthropic activities, particularly supporting cancer research. Born in 1968 in Santa Clara, California, Susan was the daughter of Stanley, a particle physicist, and Esther, a journalist and teacher. She was the eldest of three sisters: Janet, an epidemiologist, and Anne, the co-founder of 23andMe. Susan Wojcicki was married to Dennis Troper, with whom she had five children. In February of this year, the couple suffered the loss of their 19-year-old son Marco, who died of a drug overdose.
Susan Wojcicki helped shape YouTube into what it is today. (Image: Amanda Alamsyah/Shutterstock.com)
