Who Was Susan Wojcicki?

Feb 3

Why You Should Care

Most people don’t know Susan Wojcicki’s name, but they’ve definitely used her work. She’s one of the most influential figures in tech—whether you realize it or not.

Rented out her garage to two guys starting a company called Google.
Became Google’s 16th employee.
Helped build Google Ads, the engine that prints money.
Pushed Google to acquire YouTube for $1.65 billion (which, in hindsight, was a steal).
Ran YouTube for nearly a decade, shaping the platform into what it is today.

So why should you care? Because if you work in marketing, media, or tech, her influence is everywhere.

1. She Helped Build the Internet’s Business Model

Google Ads changed digital advertising forever. Before Wojcicki, online ads were mostly banner ads slapped on websites. She helped turn Google into the data-driven, targeted ad machine we know today.

If you’ve ever run a PPC campaign, generated leads through search, or even just Googled anything, her fingerprints are on it.

2. YouTube Became the New TV on Her Watch

When Wojcicki took over YouTube in 2014, it was a mess—copyright issues, monetization problems, and a struggle to balance creators with advertisers. Under her leadership, YouTube:

Launched the partner program, making content creation a viable career.
Expanded YouTube Ads, which now generate billions.
Navigated algorithm controversies (sometimes well, sometimes not).

Whether you love or hate the way YouTube works today, she was behind most of the big decisions.

3. She Proved That Business Leaders Don’t Have to Be Loud

Wojcicki wasn’t a Steve Jobs-style showman. She didn’t chase headlines or try to be a celebrity CEO. Instead, she quietly built and ran one of the most important platforms of the digital age—something many loud, overhyped tech execs never achieve.

Final Thought: Quiet Influence is Still Influence

Susan Wojcicki shaped the internet more than most people realize. The way you advertise, watch content, and even consume news has her fingerprints all over it.

So if you’re in marketing, media, or business, it’s worth knowing who she was—because whether you knew it or not, she helped build the world you work in.

Bruen Creative Co.