Susan Wojcicki Life Lessons And Inspiring Stories

Susan Wojcicki, ranking among the top ten CEOs of the world and with a personal valuation of $ 300 million, is a powerful woman, to say the least. With a treasure trove of experience and armed with the zeal to constantly learn new things, Susan did not just reach the top of YouTube’s corporate ladder, but worked to earn a place at the table. Here’s looking at some truly inspiring life lessons from the woman who has it all!

1. Always be willing to grab new opportunities

At the young age of 11, Susan realised there was a certain kind of liberation which came with being a part of a self started business. Her first ever foray into the world of business and as an entrepreneur was when she started selling homemade spice roads. Growing up, one of the things that set her apart was the fact she took the road less traveled, a feat which led to her becoming the CEO of YouTube!

2. Fight for the rights of those who cannot

Back when maternity leave was not considered an option for the women employees of Google, Susan Wojcicki broke the mold by being the first person to do the unimaginable. When she returned after her break, she created a new change in the way people treated pregnant women at work. Pushing superiors to start giving women the leaves they need during pregnancy, Susan was instrumental in starting a new wave of acceptance in the workplace.

3. Give your peers a chance

Apart from being one of the first women to introduce the concept of maternity leave for working women, Susan has been known for advocating equality in the workplace. The moment she realised there was a huge disparity in the number of women employed at YouTube as opposed to the number of men, Susan hired as many women as she could in order to bridge the gap. Instead of just being a bystander to this issue, Susan struck when the iron was hot and worked to hire women across different divisions.

4. Do not be afraid to use your personal experience at work

Susan learnt this when she returned to work after the birth of her first child. As a new mother, her insights into how people worked changed and she realised she could use her break as an advantage and not as a barrier. Susan learnt the importance of compassion and prioritizing, thanks to her pregnancy and over the course of her four pregnancies, Susan realised she could use this fact to her advantage. This was one of the reasons she became the CEO of YouTube and stayed there for so long.

5. Ensure you have a strong work life balance

However efficient and organised you are, there is always the chance of not being able to balance your work life and personal life. Susan learnt early on that the more you rise on the ladder of success, the more you have to prioritize your goals in life. Give yourself a direction and make sure that everything you do is aligned with what you want.

When women work towards reaching the top of the ladder, there are always compromises one has to make. Learning through the different things Susan Wojcicki taught the world, it is worthwhile to see how one grows despite multiple adversities and biases. If you think we missed out on any other inspiring lessons from the lady who changed the world, comment and let us know!