When we talk about accomplished female CEOs globally, Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, really stands out. She’s been part of YouTube since 2014, and under her leadership, the company has become the go-to place for streaming videos, making it the biggest platform of its kind. Susan’s journey to becoming a highly-respected business icon is not just impressive; it’s also incredibly inspiring. Her story should serve as a fantastic example for women aiming to achieve greatness in any field, not just in the business world. In this article we will be able to know more about Susan Wojcicki’s biography, networth, age and lots more.
WHO IS Susan Wojcicki
Susan Diane Wojcicki is the current CEO of YouTube, a role she’s held since 2014. Before leading YouTube, she made notable contributions to Google’s development, including work on products like Google Images and Google Books. Susan is widely acknowledged as a key figure in the tech industry, and her leadership at YouTube has been instrumental in making it the largest video streaming platform today.
Susan Wojcicki Early Life.
Susan Diane Wojcicki was born on July 5, 1968, in Santa Clara, California, USA. Her father, Stanley, hails from Polish descent, while her mother, Esther, is Jewish. Stanley serves as a physics professor at Stanford University, and Esther is a well-respected educator. Susan’s formative years were spent in Palo Alto, California, and she attended Gunn High School for her secondary education.
During her childhood, Susan demonstrated early entrepreneurial spirit at the age of 11, engaging in selling spice ropes, which were yarns intricately threaded with spices, around her neighborhood. Alongside her business ventures, she also expressed an interest in journalism, actively participating in her school newspaper.
SUSAN WOJCICKI’S Education
Following her graduation from Gunn High School, Wojcicki headed to Massachusetts, enrolling at Harvard University. At Harvard, she pursued a degree in history and education, completing her studies with honors in 1990. Recognizing her growing interest in technology, she returned to California, undertaking two consecutive Master’s programs. In 1993, she earned a Master’s of Science in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later, in 1998, she achieved a Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Early Career and Google Senior VP
Wojcicki kicked off her professional journey at Intel, taking on a marketing role. She later ventured into consulting, contributing her expertise at management consulting firms like Bain & Company and R.B. Webber & Company. It was during her time at Intel that a mutual connection introduced her to Google’s co-founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
Interestingly, the roots of Google can be traced back to Wojcicki’s garage, where Brin and Page initially rented space to develop the first lines of code for the search engine giant. As Google’s operations expanded, Brin and Page eventually leased the entire first floor of Wojcicki’s house. Despite the increasing occupancy, Wojcicki welcomed their presence, as their consistent rent payments proved to be a significant financial aid during her challenging times.
Around 1999, Google officially took off, and Susan Wojcicki was among the first 16 individuals to join the team. In a groundbreaking move, she became the company’s inaugural marketing manager, steering the development of early marketing initiatives, including the now-famous Google Doodles. Her involvement extended to key projects such as Google Images and Google Books. A significant milestone in her career came with the creation of AdSense, now recognized as the world’s largest ad display network.
Wojcicki’s success with AdSense led to her promotion as Google’s senior vice president for advertising and commerce. Under her leadership, other impactful services like AdWords and Google Analytics were introduced, underscoring her influential role in shaping Google’s trajectory and introducing innovative solutions.
YouTube CEO.
As Google expanded, YouTube emerged as a formidable competitor, especially against Google Video. Founded in 2006 by Steven Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, YouTube swiftly gained momentum, attracting 20 million users every month. This caught the attention of Google executives, including Wojcicki, who saw the potential for a strong foothold in the lucrative video streaming market.
Wojcicki proposed that Google acquire YouTube, and after months of negotiations and fending off offers from Microsoft, Yahoo, and Viacom, Google successfully sealed the deal, acquiring YouTube for a hefty $1.65 billion. It was a strategic move that would shape the landscape of online video and solidify Google’s presence in the evolving digital entertainment space.
Following the acquisition, Wojcicki assumed the role of YouTube’s CEO, a position that earned her recognition as the “most important person in advertising” and a spot on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2015. At the completion of the acquisition, the YouTube app boasted 20 million users monthly and 100 million video views per day, contributing to Wojcicki’s net worth reaching $580 million.
Under Wojcicki’s leadership since 2014, YouTube has experienced substantial revenue growth, reaching record highs in 2020 with $19.77 billion. She also played a key role in launching YouTube Premium, the platform’s ad-free subscription service, and YouTube TV, its internet television service. Currently, YouTube Premium boasts over 20 million subscribers, and YouTube TV has gained three million subscribers.
Wojcicki attributes YouTube’s success to its diverse content creators, describing them as “truly next-generation media businesses” that generate millions of views, including live streaming, and contribute significantly to local and global economies by creating jobs.
Wojcicki is passionate about two significant causes: improving maternity leave benefits and fighting against gender discrimination in the tech world. As a mother of five, she understands firsthand the need for companies to offer better maternity leave. In a 2014 Wall Street Journal article, she pointed out that paid leave isn’t just beneficial for expectant mothers; it also positively impacts the company. Using Google as an example, she highlighted that increasing paid maternity leave from 12 to 18 weeks in 2007 resulted in a 50% decrease in the rate of new mothers leaving the company.
On the front of gender discrimination, Wojcicki advocates for Silicon Valley companies to actively hire more women and prioritize gender diversity. She acknowledges that discrimination is still prevalent in many companies today, and her advocacy aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment within the tech industry.
SUSAN WOJCICKI’S PERSONAL LIFE.
Wojcicki is happily married to Dennis Troper, and together they are parents to five children. Her family includes two sisters, Janet, who is a medical doctor, and Anne, the founder of the biotech company 23andMe. Notably, Anne Wojcicki was previously in a relationship with baseball legend Alex Rodriguez. While Wojcicki’s roots are Polish, her family holds U.S. citizenship.
As YouTube maintains its dominance in the video streaming industry, the spotlight will undoubtedly remain on Susan Wojcicki. Described as intelligent, passionate, and determined, she stands as an exemplary leader for women to admire and draw inspiration from.
SUSAN WOJCICKI’S NET WORTH.
As of February 17, 2024, Susan Wojcicki’s estimated net worth is at least $30 million. She serves as the Director of Salesforce Inc and holds approximately 104,283 shares of Salesforce Inc (CRM) stock, valued at over $30 million..
SUSAN WOJCICKI’S SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES.
Susan Wojcicki can be found on Instagram with the handle @SusanWojcicki, and she’s also active on Twitter under the same username, @SusanWojcicki.
Susan Wojcicki Body Measurements.
When it comes to her physical attributes, Susan Wojcicki has a height of 5 feet 5 inches and maintains a weight of around 55 kg. Additionally, she possesses striking blue eyes and sports brown hair.
SUSAN WOJCICKI ACHIEVEMENTS.
Beyond her successful career, Susan Wojcicki is a passionate advocate for paid parental leave, emphasizing its significance. She actively speaks out about closing the gender gap in the tech industry, pushing for greater diversity and inclusivity.
Her remarkable achievements include ranking #6 on the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2017. The following year, she secured the #10 spot on Fortune’s list of Most Powerful Women. Currently, Susan holds the #41 position on the Forbes list of America’s Self-Made Women, underscoring her ongoing influence and accomplishments.