Silicon Valley and the global tech community mourn the loss of Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and an early employee of Google, who has passed away at the age of 56. Her husband, Dennis Troper, and Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, shared the news of her passing on Friday night, revealing that Wojcicki had battled non-small cell lung cancer for two years.
Susan Wojcicki was a pioneering figure in the tech industry, serving as YouTube’s CEO for nearly a decade. She was one of the few women to hold such a position at a major tech company, and her leadership helped transform YouTube into the world’s largest video platform. Under her guidance, YouTube grew to over 2.5 billion monthly active users, with more than 500 hours of content uploaded every minute.
Dennis Troper, Wojcicki’s husband of 26 years, expressed his profound grief in a heartfelt Facebook post. “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of Susan Wojcicki passing. My beloved wife of 26 years and mother to our five children left us today after 2 years of living with non-small cell lung cancer,” he wrote.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, paid tribute to Wojcicki in a social media post, stating, “Her loss is devastating for all of us who know and love her, for the thousands of Googlers she led over the years, and for millions of people all over the world who looked up to her, benefited from her advocacy and leadership, and felt the impact of the incredible things she created at Google, YouTube, and beyond.”
Wojcicki’s journey from the garage she rented to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to becoming the CEO of YouTube is a testament to her vision and leadership. As Google’s 16th employee, she played a pivotal role in the development of the company’s advertising and analytics products, including the creation of AdSense, one of Google’s most successful ventures.
Beyond her contributions to Google and YouTube, Susan Wojcicki was a strong advocate for parental leave and education. She was the first Google employee to take maternity leave and used her platform to push for better workplace policies. Her efforts to champion “edutubers” and extend STEM education to underserved communities have left an indelible mark on the industry.
Neal Mohan, the current CEO of YouTube, remembered Wojcicki as a mentor and friend. “Her legacy lives on in everything she touched at Google and YouTube,” he wrote in a social media post. Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, also shared her memories of Wojcicki, highlighting her role in expanding opportunities for women in Silicon Valley.
Jeff Dean, Google’s chief scientist, echoed these sentiments, stating, “She has had a profound influence on everyone at Google and impacted the lives of so many.”
Susan Wojcicki’s legacy is one of innovation, leadership, and advocacy. Her contributions to Google and YouTube have shaped the digital landscape, and her efforts to create a more inclusive tech industry continue to inspire. As the world remembers her, her impact on technology and society will be felt for generations to come.
