Susan Wojcicki, a longtime Googler who spent nearly a decade as the CEO of YouTube, passed away Friday after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer.
Wojcicki, who was 56, famously rented the garage of her Menlo Park home to Larry Page and Sergey Brin as they were starting Google. She then became one of the company’s first 20 employees, taking on the chief executive role at YouTube in 2014, before stepping down last year.
Once her husband Dennis Troper and Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared the news on Friday night, Wojcicki’s colleagues, friends, and peers began posting their own memories and reflections. We’ve gathered some of their posts here; we will update as more are published.
Marc Benioff (Salesforce co-founder and CEO):
Tim Cook (Apple CEO):
Neal Mohan (YouTube CEO):
Melinda French Gates (philanthropist):
John Green (writer and YouTuber):
I’m heartbroken to learn that former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has died. She was (very quietly) the single biggest donor to our project supporting maternal health in Sierra Leone. She never once asked for credit or attention for her gifts–just privately supported our project and many others. An exceptional leader and person.
Hank Green (writer and YouTuber):
Susan stepped down from her role barely a year ago after leading youtube for nearly ten extremely complex and fraught years. I got to know her fairly well over that time and found her to be amazingly thoughtful but also surprisingly kind considering how goddamn tough she was. This is so fucking sad…
Diane von Furstenberg (fashion designer):
Rest in Peace dear Susan Wojcicki, mother, sister, daughter, loyal friend …Intelligent, thoughtful, funny … we will all miss you ❤️🙏❤️…witness to our century , Google started in her garage… YouTube blossomed under her leadership… She fought for her life and finally went to join her beloved son Marco ! The world won’t be the same without you …. Rest in Peace ❤️❤️❤️
Kara Swisher (journalist):
She was a true treasure in Silicon Valley, a kind, warm and loving woman who led with integrity, while also being a tremendous parent to five kids.
Marques Brownlee (YouTuber):
Emily Chang (journalist):
Ron Conway (venture capitalist):
Alex Winter (director, “The YouTube Effect”):
RIP Susan Wojcicki. I interviewed her for our YouTube doc, and I found her brilliant, gracious, compassionate, and willing to listen to and consider some intense criticism of the platform.
Matt Ross (former YouTube executive and founder of Day2 Health):
Such sad news. Susan was an incredible leader but she led with compassion. She was so good to me when I got my Parkinson’s diagnosis and would incredibly find time to check in on me. She didn’t always like the creative work I presented. But had an amazing ability to reject work she didn’t like without making you feel like a complete idiot. Wishing her family a long life.
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