Susan Wojcicki, a pioneering figure in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, has died at the age of 56 after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer. The sad news was confirmed by her husband, Dennis Troper, who shared a heartfelt message on social media, reflecting on her profound impact as a wife, mother, and friend.
Wojcicki’s association with Google began in 1998 when she rented her garage in Menlo Park to the company’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. This partnership eventually led her to become Google’s 16th employee. Over the course of nearly 25 years, she played a critical role in the company’s growth and went on to serve as the CEO of YouTube for nine years. She stepped down from her role in 2023 to focus on her health and personal life.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, paid tribute to Wojcicki, emphasizing her essential contributions to Google’s history and her significant influence on the broader technology landscape. During her tenure, YouTube saw substantial growth and faced numerous challenges, particularly in navigating the complex dynamics of social media.
Wojcicki’s passing marks a significant loss for the tech community and all those who were influenced by her work.
