Susan Wojcicki

Susan Wojcicki was born in Santa Clara County, California. Her mother, Esther Wojcicki, is Jewish, and her father, Stanley Wojcicki, is of Polish ancestry and not Jewish. She attended Harvard University, where she majored in history and literature, before earning an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Wojcicki joined Google in 1999 as its 16th employee and first marketing manager. She worked on several key products, including Google Images and Google Books, before suggesting that Google acquire YouTube in 2006. She became YouTube’s CEO in 2014, overseeing its growth into the world's dominant video platform.

Under her leadership, YouTube expanded globally, introduced new features like live streaming and YouTube TV, and navigated numerous controversies surrounding content moderation and creator monetization. She stepped down as CEO in 2023, citing a desire to focus on family and personal projects. Her impact on the internet, from its earliest days to its current form, is undeniable.