Susan Wojcicki was an incredible role model for #womenintech. A successful business leader and mother of five, #SusanWojcicki will be remembered for her tenacious drive https://t.co/0Upcx3SqKa
— Women's Day (@womensday) August 10, 2024
Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and a key figure in Google’s early days, has died at the age of 56. Her husband, Dennis Troper, announced her passing on social media late Friday, August 9, 2024, after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer. Wojcicki played a crucial role in Google’s development, renting her Menlo Park, California, garage to Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin for $1,700 a month in 1998.
She soon joined the company and held pivotal positions before leading YouTube for nine years. Under Wojcicki’s leadership, YouTube transformed the entertainment, culture, and political landscape, becoming an integral part of the digital age. She stepped down as CEO in 2023 to focus on her family, health, and personal projects.
Saddened to hear of the passing of Susan Wojcicki. She was one of Silicon Valley’s visionaries and she will be missed by so many. May she rest in peace.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 10, 2024
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed his condolences, highlighting Wojcicki’s significant impact on the company and the world.
Unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend @SusanWojcicki after two years of living with cancer. 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…
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) August 10, 2024
“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.
Susan Wojcicki’s enduring legacy
We will miss her dearly,” Pichai stated. As one of the earliest Googlers and the first to take maternity leave, Wojcicki advocated for a better workplace for everyone. Her advocacy around parental leave set a new standard for businesses everywhere.
Wojcicki was also passionate about education and recognized YouTube’s potential as a learning platform. She championed “edutubers,” especially those who extended the reach of STEM education to underserved communities. Even during her battle with cancer, Wojcicki devoted herself to making the world better through her philanthropy, including supporting research for the disease that ultimately took her life.
Wojcicki is survived by her husband, Dennis Troper, and their five children. Her legacy in the tech industry and her impact on the world will be remembered for years to come.
