Susan Wojcicki, a longtime Google employee who served as YouTube CEO for nearly a decade, died Friday after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer.
Wojcicki, 56, famously rented out the garage of her Menlo Park home to Larry Page and Sergey Brin when they started Google. She became one of the company’s first 20 employees and took over as CEO of YouTube in 2014, stepping down last year.
After her husband Dennis Tropper and Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared the news Friday night, Wojcicki’s colleagues, friends, and peers began posting their own memories and reflections. We’ve collected some of their posts here. We’ll update as more are posted.
Marc Benioff (Salesforce Co-Founder and CEO):
Tim Cook (Apple CEO):
Neil Mohan (YouTube CEO):
Melinda French Gates (philanthropist):
John Green (author and YouTuber):
I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. She was (quietly) our largest donor to our projects supporting maternal health in Sierra Leone. She never asked for any credit or attention for her donations. She simply supported our projects and many others personally. A great leader and person.
Hank Green (author and YouTuber):
Susan stepped down from her role just over a year ago after leading YouTube for nearly a decade and doing some very complex and dangerous things. I got to know her pretty well over that time and found her to be incredibly thoughtful, but also incredibly kind considering how strong she was. It’s just so fucking sad…
Diane von Furstenberg (fashion designer):
Dear Susan Wojcicki, Mother, Sister, Daughter, Loyal Friend… Intelligent, Thoughtful, Funny… We will all miss you ❤️🙏❤️… Witness of our century, Google started in her garage… YouTube blossomed under her leadership… She risked her life to finally be with her beloved son Marco! The world will not be the same without you…. Rest in Peace ❤️❤️❤️
Kara Swisher (Reporter):
She was a true Silicon Valley treasure. She was a kind, warm, loving woman who demonstrated honest leadership and was a wonderful parent to her five children.
Marques Brownlee (YouTuber):
Emily Chang (reporter):
Ron Conway (Venture Capitalist):
Alex Winter (director, “The YouTube Effect”):
RIP Susan Wojcicki. I interviewed her for a YouTube documentary and found her to be brilliant, gracious, kind, and considerate of the harsh criticisms she receives on her platform.
Matt Ross (former YouTube executive and founder of Day2 Health):
This is really sad news. Susan was an amazing leader, but she led with compassion. She was so kind to me when I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and took incredible time to check in on me. She didn't always like the creative stuff I put out, but she had an amazing ability to reject stuff she didn't like without making you feel like a complete idiot. I hope her family lives long.
