YouTube CEO Reveals How To BUILD A BRAND & Achieve SUCCESS In 2023 | Susan Wojcicki & Jay Shetty

At the time, no one was sure what was. going to happen. There were not a lot of. believers. In fact, like there had. actually been a really well-known. article that had been published a week. before we bought YouTube that said only. a would buy YouTube. The. best-selling author and host of the. number one health and wellness podcast. On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Hey everyone, welcome back to On. Purpose, the number one health podcast. in the world. Thanks to each and every. single one of you that come back every. week to listen, learn, and grow. Now,

you know that I'm always excited to dive. into the minds of people who've done. phenomenal things, taken incredible. leaps, maybe started things with a bit. of risk and excitement. And we're here. to unpack how they did that, what they. did, what they think they got right, the. failures they went through, the journey. that they've carved for themselves. And. today's guest is Susan Wojcicki, the CEO. of YouTube, the world's most popular. digital video platform used by more than.

a billion people across the globe to. access information, share video, and. shape culture. An early champion of. online video who was instrumental in. Google's 2006 acquisition of YouTube, Susan now oversees YouTube's content and. business operations, engineering, and. product development. Please welcome to. the show Susan Wojcicki. Susan, thank. you so much for doing this, for being. here, for giving us this access into.

your incredible mind and life, and it's. been wonderful sharing a few moments of. pleasantries with you previously, but. I'm very excited for this interview. Thank you. Thank you so much for having. me. I'm glad to be here. Yeah, I'm I've. obviously, you know, for me YouTube has. been massively instrumental. in my personal journey, and so this is. truly an honor for me. I remember. sitting in a. ethnic minority TV training day run by. the BBC in London. And so they're doing.

this ethnic minority presenters. training. There were around six people, brown and black people in in a room. I. signed up to see if I had any skills to. be in the world of presenting in media. And at the end of it, they said to me, they said, "Jay, you've got some really. good skills. And we really think you. should pursue this career." And I was. like, "Great. Do you have a job at the. BBC?" Obviously, I'm born and raised in. London. And I said, "Do you have any jobs at the. BBC or anywhere in media? I'll start for. like next to nothing. I just really want.

to be in this world because I believe I. have a message to share.". And I remember them looking at me with. blank faces. And they said to me, "There's no jobs in media. And there's. no jobs in this industry." And I said, "Well, did you just invite. six ethnic minority people to tell us. there's no jobs in media?" And they. literally said to me, they said, "You. should start a YouTube channel." And my. reaction to them was, "Well, that only. works for Justin Bieber." Like that was. literally the thought in my head. And.

and here we are today. So very grateful. to you, very grateful to YouTube on on. such a deep level. Uh but I want to talk. about you today uh before YouTube, beyond. that. Sorry. I've heard that from so. many YouTube creators where they wanted. to get started, they tried, and for. whatever reason, they were not. successful on the traditional media. path. And then they started a YouTube. channel and had tons of success. afterwards. And. um and that's actually added a lot of. diversity in backgrounds and people and.

also their uh what they want to cover as. well and type of content that we're. covering. So I I love hearing stories. like that. So thank you for sharing. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And I want. to talk about YouTube today, of course, but I do want to talk about your life. before and beyond YouTube. And I think. what I was fascinated about most, and I. don't know if people know this, but a. lot of people may not recognize that you. actually studied history and literature. in university, and now of course you're.

a huge tech icon. I'm intrigued by what. drew you towards history and literature, and have they been useful at all. to this journey in technology that. you've had so successfully? So, I. definitely was a humanities major, and. if you had asked me when I started. college whether or not I'd wind up. working in tech, I would not I would. have definitely said no, and I would not. have believed you if you if you had told. me that I would be doing that later on. in my career. And I I I love history and literature. I.

love looking back at what has happened, reading, hearing stories and. storytelling, and I really only. discovered technology when I was a. senior in college. That's I took my. first computer science class as a senior. in college, and. uh that completely changed my life, and. but what I saw in it in some ways is. consistent with the history and. literature, which is that I love being. creative and making things and like. doing art and all kinds of projects, and.

I saw technology as a way of extending. that creativity, of doing and creating. products that could be used by people. all over the world. And that's what I. fell in love with when I started working. on technology. And I do think the history and. literature has been extremely useful, especially now because we deal with a. lot of issues that are not just black. and white. There are a lot of ethical. issues. There are a lot of people. issues. Uh and we're dealing with a lot of. storytellers, particularly on YouTube,

who are covering a broad range of. topics. And so, having a background. where you have understood and spent time. training to interpret different meanings. of books and literature and what it. means, and um has has really helped me, and um combining both the technology as. well as the humanities and putting that. together has has been really helpful to. me in my career. Was there any part of. you that felt a sense of impostor. syndrome or self-doubt when you were.

moving into that space or did you have a. confidence that you'd be able to apply. those skills and your passion almost. pulled you in that direction? When I. started, the internet hadn't really come. of age yet as we know it today. And so. uh a lot of people were really confused. Like, why do you want to work in. technology? Especially all the people. that I was working with who all the. people that were studying history and. literature were completely confused. Like, why are you taking. computer science? And I even remember.

one of my job at you know, I had no idea. what I was going to do when I graduated. from college. I literally had no idea. I. graduated with no job. I had no idea. where I was going. And I remember talking to a career. counselor and telling them that I was. thinking about working in technology and. she was so confused and she kept saying. like, I I don't see you as a that kind. of person. um because a lot of people were not. working in technology. And I think the. insight I had was like was that A, this. is a really big growing field and that. it's actually going to be creative and.

it's going to it's going to be a lot. more than just people who are coders. behind a computer like writing lots and. lots of code. There were going to be all. these implications for what it meant and. and how the technology would used and. the the storytelling that went into the. technology or that came out of the. technology. And so that for me what I. was really interested in. And. I mean, there were definitely times. where people were just really and and. there still are sometimes really. confused. Um like, what what are you. doing here?

But you know, I just really persisted. and I've loved what I do. And so if I. can get back to the parts that I love, then that helps me get through whatever. is the hard time. I think that's going. to be really comforting for a lot of. people to hear uh when they understand. your journey. And now when you look. back, I think it's always easy to see. people have these incredible wins and. successes and not recognize that they've. had their own challenges or pivots or or. moments of uncertainty, but taking a.

trip down memory lane and and looking. into history, I I understand that you. lent your garage to Larry Page and. Sergey Brin, that the founders of. Google, of course. And I was talking. about it with my team literally 2. seconds before we went live and I was. sharing that with them and I was like. there there's so much history there when. you think about the things that have had. such a big impact on the world, Google. and YouTube without a doubt have had, you know, colossal amounts of impact and influence. on the world today and continue to on.

the on the future. When you gave them that space, what was honestly going through your. head? Like what was truly going through. your mind at the time? People think I. had a bigger plan when I gave them the. space. They think there was some grand. strategy and they were this amazing. company and I was so lucky. People would. say questions like, "Oh, how did you How. did you get that? Like how did you have. them rent the garage?" And the reality. is I just wanted the rent. Like I just. wanted the the rent payment.

Um that was my I know this might not. seem super inspirational at this moment, but the reality is I was a student. I. just graduated from business school. I had student debt, but I had managed to. buy a house and it wasn't that big a. house, but the thing is Sergey and Larry. were further behind me. They were living. in the dorms. Um so they didn't have the house and. they needed a place to start their. company. And this was This was 1998. Um. and this time was It was a huge boom.

And so. uh like every um billboard on the. freeway was like of a dot com company. There was no space anywhere. I knew them. beforehand as friends, and so they knew. I had bought this house and I had moved. also I had just stopped being a graduate. student, so I didn't think I needed all. this space. And so I said, "Okay, well, I'll rent it to you." And I was worried. about covering the mortgage. I might not. have enough money. So, I'll rent it to. you. And they moved in and it was, you. know, it was actually pretty fun.

That's amazing. I actually prefer that. answer. That's that's a brilliant answer. and it and it's so relatable and. believable and and now I think I think. you're going to inspire a lot of people. to let people rent their spaces just. based on that story. So, if you have. founders come knocking at your door, everyone's going to be like, "Yeah, sure, you can have my space.". Hoping hoping. That that's amazing. I. think one of the most favorite moments. in a YouTuber's journey is is getting. their plaques for reaching these.

milestones with a letter signed by you. Uh and of course, you initiated the. proposal of acquiring YouTube back in. 2006. That sounds like a much more intentional. focused strategic decision than letting. Larry and Sergey rent space. So, tell us. about what was going through your mind. at the time because. again, I think it's so easy to look at. YouTube today and say, "Oh, of course it. was going to do well." And you know, but. there were so many other platforms. How. did you know that YouTube had this.

potential? What did you see. that was happening culturally in the. world, not even in technology? What was. happening happening in culture and. consumer behavior that made you. understand that YouTube was going to be. something different? At the time, no one. was sure what was going to happen. There. were not a lot of believers. In fact, like there had actually been a really. well-known article that had been. published a week before we bought. YouTube that said only a would buy. YouTube. And that was actually like a a.

news story that ran. And they didn't understand. user-generated content. They didn't. understand that average people can post. content and have that be really. successful and that other people would. want to see it. And that was something that that I was. lucky I had some understanding of it. because Google had been working and we. had built. a product called Google video. And so Google video, I had seen two. different things that really led me to.

being sure that YouTube had a future. The first of which was that people. wanted to share their stories. So, like. we said, you know, upload your content. here. We weren't always we didn't. guarantee that they were going to have. views or revenue or any of the things. that we guarantee today and yet all. these people would upload and share. their videos. So, there was just something very human in. people wanting to share and connect, be. found, be understood. And then I I you know, and I think that. that's reasonable. I think people. generally understand that people want to.

be share their stories. But what really. surprised me and was less understood. was that people want to see other. people's stories, right? And and this. was a time where all there was, like the. only thing we knew was was studios and. highly produced content. And so suddenly. you have somebody and they're filming in. their bedroom or they just upload. something of them doing something funny. in their backyard and a lot of. traditional media people thought that.

this was really low-quality content. because the content had been produced by. people who were not professionals. without the same type of cost or studio. equipment, but yet it was really really. compelling. And so it what mattered is. people people loved it and we saw I I we. had one hit and this was the first one. that really convinced me was we had. these two students, they were singing in. their dorm room. They have their. roommate in the background doing his. homework. Um. throughout this entire performance and.

it just brought a smile and a laugh to. everyone's faces and we got millions of. views and I realized that anyone can. have a hit and as a result of that. YouTube will create this new form of. content and there'll be a lot of success. for that going forward. Yeah, I I I love. hearing that because. I do think that it is a surprise seeing. how much. so many technologies that come together. to make it a success too. The access to. making high quality video or even video.

from your bedroom. I mean, you know, even how that's evolved at the same time. and to see that all coming together and. people. today I think being attracted more to. that authentic content, more to that. relatable content, more to that person. next door content is is really. fascinating. I mean, you're running the. most famous video sharing platform in. the world. Uh it sounds like an exciting, stressful, hectic job. I want you to. walk us through what a day in your life. looks like because I think when you.

think about YouTube CEO and you think. about the journey you've been on since. 2006, I don't quite think we know what what. you do every day and what you're going. through every day. So, could you walk us. through. from the moment you wake up to the. moment you go to bed? What's what's. happening in your day? Well, first of. all, um I am not a super early riser. I. wish I were, but I'm not. So, I usually. wake up at the last minute possible to. still get my kids off to school. And I just So, I try to wake up, um get.

them get breakfast, everything ready. Then. I need to exercise every morning. If I. don't, I am really grumpy. Um I need. that fresh air and exercise, stretching, just some opportunity to connect with. nature and. do something physical. And then I go to work. Um you know, now. with COVID and hybrid and everything, sometimes I'm working at home, sometimes. I'm working in the office. And there I'd.

say my time is really focused on what I. think are most is most important for me. to get done as the CEO of YouTube. And. that is a variety of different aspects. I'm going to start with like, you know, one of them is to under is to meet with. my key reports and understand what they. are all working on. And um to also to review the future. products that we're building. um and understanding where is YouTube. going. So, I should understand like what. is YouTube going to look like not today, but what it looks like a couple of years.

from now. And are we positioned based on what's. happening in the external environment to. be successful? So, if I look at the. future and estimate like this is what. the future holds in 2 years or 3 years, are we set up to be successful then? And. in order to do that, I need to know a. lot of times like, well, what's broken. within the company today? And what I. worry about the most often is when. there's something really important for. us to get done that nobody in the. company is working on. Like there's like.

it generally like our core parts of our. business, we have really great people. and they're smart and they know. everything, you know, better than I do. They do it all the time. But there can. be gaps that companies have and those. gaps can cause big issues if you don't. address it. So, in some level I'm. looking at like, what's broken? Where. are the gaps? How can I help fix it and. make sure that we're set up for success. in the future. And then I go home and I have dinner. with my family. Uh. you know, my kids tell me all the ways.

I'm screwing up probably. Um. and um. you know, we have dinner and put them to. bed and I usually read uh. I I try not to do too much email at. night because I find otherwise I get. really wired and I can't go to bed on. time. So, I like to read, have a chance to reflect on other things. before I go to bed. Has that changed. over time, Susan? Do you think there was. a point in your career where. you were more focused on sending emails. in the evening and having to do that? Has that balance changed over time or is. that something that has always been that.

way where you've been good at kind of. trying to shut off at least as we all. try and attempt to do that? Yeah. Well, so when I first joined Google, just to. really date myself cuz Google I've been. at Google now for 23 years. Like we did. actually didn't have the ability to read. emails at home when I first started. That was like and and now I see that was. a blessing, but that we got over that. pretty quick. You know, one of the. things that has helped me and I believe. it's given me some of the longevity. because tech you can really burn out in. tech. You can overdo it, work really. hard, and then say you need a break. And.

what has helped me in many ways is the. fact of how I've balanced my work and my. family. And in many ways the fact that I. have. always had to be home for my family has. made it be that I have to have hard. stops in terms of my work. And you know, my children when they're. in a daycare, you have to be there exactly on time. And if you're not, you're charged a. dollar a minute. So, there's no option. to be late. You must finish at that. time. And that has helped me in any many.

ways like segment my life of like here's. my work and I I only have from this time. to this time to get it done. And then I. have my family life. And making sure. that I try to keep those separate. actually it's hard to do that. Um a lot. of times people will think about work. when they're at home or home when. they're at work. Um and so being able to. separate them has has really helped me. and try to turn off my work when I'm at. home. But yeah, it's definitely been. something I've worked on and.

I've gotten better at over time. Yeah, no, it's it's made me think about I. think I was I was someone was telling me. about this show the other day called I. think it's called Severance where it's. based on this concept of whether when. you're at work, your memory of home. doesn't exist. And you know, it's it's. an interesting thought to think about. like what would life be like, but it. sounds like the most high-performing. leaders and CEOs are actually able to. bring those two worlds into one another. uh to improve it. I mean, you mentioned.

in an interview that if you could. describe your management style in one. word, you would say it's supportive. And. I thought that was really quite unique. I work with a lot of leaders. I've I've. coached a lot of organizations, companies. And. I don't often hear that word. I I really. believe it's quite unique. When did you. decide that that was going to be your. style? And how does it look in reality? Because I think we all have connotations. of what the word supportive looks like,

but as a CEO, I'd love to know, yeah, when did it kind of feel like, yeah, that's my style? And then what does it. look like in reality? Well, so I would. say I definitely am a supportive CEO, but there are other things, too. Probably I would I'd like to add. visionary, too, because I do think. especially in tech, it's important to be. one step ahead and have an understanding. of what the future is and how you get. the company there. So, I'd like to say. I'm like very supportive in helping the. company get to what's the right future. And of course, there are hard decisions. I mean, there are times where you make a.

hard decision and that has to be it. Like you you have to you got to make it. And if you don't, the company will. suffer. So, you have to be willing to. make those hard decisions. But. one of the reasons I said supportive at. the time, and I I do believe that's an. important part of running a company, is. that. for me, it's really important to. understand what's actually going on in. the company. And it's possible as CEO. that everybody tells you how good. everything is. That the the you know, that their product is great. It's.

getting lots of views. It's doing all. the right things. They have the right. road map. And there are a lot of. problems, and they're not necessarily. going to tell you what the problems are. And so, as a CEO, you need to figure out. what they are. And if you are a scary. person that everyone is really worried. about, they're a lot less likely to tell. you about what the problems are. And so, I've really wanted to take an approach. where people are open with me, that they. understand that we can talk about what's. going well, but also what's not going.

well, and then I will work with them to. fix it. And there are a lot of things. that don't go well. I I acknowledge. that, and I want to actually talk with. my teams about what's not going well. Where are the problems, and how do we. get to a plan to fix it? Cuz if you. don't get that plan, if you don't. acknowledge it, and you don't then it's. never going to get fixed. And. so, that's one of the reasons I I said. supportive. Yeah, I I I find that. refreshing, and and definitely I think. the balance of maintaining leadership,

but also being supportive, and. being able to talk about and receive. feedback on what's not working requires. a lot of. adaptability. It requires a lot of. openness as well. And so, you know, I I can feel that that that. may be challenging to. to definitely practice on a day-to-day. basis. I mean, how do you communicate to. someone on a day-to-day basis that. you're like you're there for them, that. you're supportive, you're open, you're. approachable? Like, what does that look. like? Or how how do you make someone. aware of that? I was really lucky. I was.

able to work with this person named Bill. Campbell, and he if you look up like the. coach of Silicon Valley, you'll you'll. read about Bill Campbell, and he was I. was fortunate to work with him for many. years. He also was a coach to Larry Page. and Sergey Brin and and the Google. management team, and also. um Steve Jobs. Um he would he would they. were were very close. And he would. always say, "It's all about the people.". That that was one of his big lines is. that you really have to get to know the. people, and he would talk about when you.

have your one-on-ones, you need to take. them really seriously and you need to. get to know the people. first and you need to know what's going. on, what makes them tick, how to support. them. And he cared. He really cared. And. um like I'll actually tell you this like. specific example. So, I remember once we. had. some performance review and and for a. variety of reasons, there was something. in this performance review that upset. me. Um does it doesn't really matter. what it was, but there was something in. it that upset me. And. I thought it was really unfair and I you.

know, sent some emails and said I was. really upset about it. And he knew um. that I was upset about it and so he. said, you know, call me. Um I want to talk to you about it. Of. course like I wasn't calling him back. And at 11:00 at night, he called me at. home um because he was just Oh, by the. way, I was leaving on vacation the next. day. Um he called me at home because he. really cared. I knew he cared about me. And he talked to me. He said, "Look, I. understand that wasn't fair. I'm going. to fix it for you. I don't want you to.

worry about it." He said I remember he. said like, "Go on vacation. Like hug. your kids. Have a great time. Don't. worry about this and when we come back, we'll address it." And you know, that. that to me made me feel like somebody. really cares about me. They He went to. this extra effort. He didn't have to. call me at 11:00 at night. Um but he did. and so I I that's just a perfect example. about feeling that you really cared for. that person and um and and as a result, I would go the extra mile for him. I. would do whatever he needed because I.

knew he was there for me. I mean, that's. fantastic and also speaks to the value. of coaching, mentorship, uh having that. guidance which I think so many of us. think we have to do it alone or that a. lot of the people we look up to have. just been figuring it out all for. themselves, but the value of coaching, the value of having mentors in our lives. is is profound and can be so impactful. especially at tough times. I think I. think a lot of the times we try and. these days document how great leaders. deal with failure and how they've. overcome failure, but I think something.

I find really fascinating is also how. they deal with success. And you've had. so many career-defining moments, I'm. sure, and I'd I'd love to hear about the. one you're most proud of, but what I'm. most interested in is how have you. learned to celebrate better? Or has. celebration, or has acknowledging where. you are been an important part of the. journey? Or actually, is it like, well, I don't really think about that because. we're on to the next thing. So, I guess. that's a two-part question. Like, what's.

what's been a career-defining moment, and where has celebration stacked in the. journey of reaching new milestones and. peaks? Yeah, when I think about my. career as a whole, it's hard to. celebrate it in its entirety. Um that's just a reality. I've realized. that people just move on. They're like, "Great, you did that thing, but, you. know, what's coming next?" And I tend to. focus my celebration on um. what's happening right now. Like, what. are what are the events that are.

happening today that matter for our. teams? And. they may be moments that crystallize. that success, like, you know, um a. product that launches, or you know, if. we identified an issue a year ago, like, let's say we identified something on our. survey, like, our creators are upset. about a specific, you know, issue, and then it's been a, you know, we had a. team working on it to fix it, and then. it's been a year, and we got a new.

survey back that says, you know, "You're. 20 points higher on that.". Uh that matters. Like, so I really I. want to celebrate the big successes, but. also the little successes and focus on. what we do now. And I worry if you spend. too much time talking about like, "Oh, all these things that have happened, and. and like, yes, we went from from a. garage to a big company.". Um. it I mean yes, like yes, I celebrate. that. But it but I I celebrate that for. like a second and then have to focus on.

what we're dealing with today because. that's that's what matters and you know, and also celebrate some of the small. moments that happen. What's happening. today and the people who like people. it's actually really interesting. People. are always asking me just whenever I ask. questions about things that are just. affecting their daily life. Like what's. happening like office space and whether. people are coming back into the office. and what our COVID policy is and all. these like little things. Like these. little things really, really matter to. people. Like yesterday we just had a. really nice offsite where everyone came.

and like we all got to meet each other's. family and be outside, have a beautiful. day. Like it was great. I I like I left. that feeling fantastic. I That's so. fascinating because it sounds like the. internal successes that are almost. invisible to the outside world are. actually sometimes more satisfying and. it's really interesting in a world where. we're so used to celebrating our. successes publicly, the private. successes are actually the ones that. bring us the most joy. So the things. that people don't know about, may never.

hear about, may never see externally can. sometimes be the most fulfilling. I I. feel like that's what I'm hearing or at. least or at least what I'm taking away. I mean there will be times where we will. do a launch and people will be well. received and we're like, "Yay, that's. great. I'm glad this product is doing. really well or that it's being it's. getting this kind of adoption.". But those those moments just don't. happen that much. Um and the reality is. most of the things that we're doing are. what we're dealing with in the everyday. and how do we make sure that what we're. doing in the everyday is celebrated.

And also, uh you know, I don't want to. pin our happiness or the happiness of. our of the company either just on what. the external point of view is. Like I. think it's really important for us to. have an understanding like these are our. metrics. This is what we think is. important. If you disagree, like we can. have a conversation about what our. internal metrics should be or how they. should be changed or how we should. measure that, but the external world is. is rocky and bumpy and unpredictable and.

they don't have the same set of. information that we do. And so I don't. want us to just be swung back and forth. like, "Oh, now they love us. Now they. hate us. Um we're happy. We're sad." You. know, everyone in the company would be. completely confused. Like, what's going. on? It It was good and now it's bad and. and like I have to be able to explain. consistently to the company about, you. know, where we're going, are we doing a. good job, and make sure that then we. celebrate when we work hard to achieve. what we said set out to achieve. Yeah, I.

know a lot of young people. uh see you as an inspiration as you. know, being one of the iconic people in. tech today. And. you know, what do you think. is a good reason for a young person. today, especially young women as well, to pursue careers in technology? Like, what would be a good reason or intention. for getting into technology that you. think could inspire younger generations? I would say it's a great career for. everyone and all backgrounds. And one of. the things I've been really concerned. about is not seeing enough diversity and.

not seeing enough women, but all. different backgrounds. Like, just not. seeing a lot of diverse enough diversity. overall in tech. And if you look at. change in our society, it's a lot of it. is coming from tech. And so who are the. people that are changing it? Who are the. ones that are driving that? Uh you want it to be a diverse set of. people. And I think that tech. has uh at least traditionally had an. image of being a very difficult place to. work, fast-moving, long hours. Like, you.

have to be a like coder who spends, you. know, 100 hours a week behind your. computer. Um and so people who have that. perception are driven away and they. don't want to join technology, and they. don't want to join it as a field. But, the reality is is that we need those. diverse voices and backgrounds to come. in and to to help figure out and shape. what that future is. And And reasons to. go into it, you know, as you're asking, is like you can make a difference. Your. products are used by, you know, millions.

of people all over the world. Um it's a. good career. There's There's always. going to be demand for your skills. And. I So, I think it's a really important. area for us to have more diversity. I. think computer science should be taught. to everyone at school. And the reason. that it's not taught at school right now. is basically because there are not. enough resources. Like, there's not. enough computers, there are not enough. computer science teachers who can teach. it. And so, as a result, it's like given. to a smaller set of people, and they.

don't have It's harder to get those. skills. Um and then a lot of times like. the introductory, you know, computer. science course is not really as. introductory as it really should be. And. so, people join in and think it's hard, and they're like, "Oh, this is really. hard." And they drop out. But, I think. it should be taught everywhere, and the. introductory class should truly be. introductory. And if you did that, a lot. more people would understand like, "Oh, this isn't that hard. I can do it. I can. get jobs. I can make change. I can be. part of this trend and and industry and.

make a difference, and that would be. really welcome." Yeah, I mean, how how. far Obviously, the tech industry's. changed so much while you've been in it. How much further do you think it has to. go? Like, what what is that change. that's needed? What are the shifts that. are required to get it to where you see. the future of it? And how much has it. progressed during the time you've been. in it and leading? Well, it's definitely. changed a lot since I've been in it. I. mean, I I know that from when I started. till now, it's Well, A, the industry is. much bigger. But, I I it is a much more.

diverse industry, and. I would say I do see change across the. board. Like, if you look at, you know, who's taking the intro to computer. science class and you look at the. percentages of how many women are. graduating. If you could look at most. universities, one of their biggest. classes now is the introductory to. computer science class. Like and that is. just In fact, a lot of schools are. saying like, "Oh my gosh, we have too. many computer science majors. We want. people to go back to study the classics. and, you know, um, humanities." And it's.

true, we need all kinds of people. So, I. I I do see it changing but it's just not. changing fast enough. There's still, like when we look at our overall stats, there's still not enough women here. But, I you know, I think it makes a. difference. Like I was thinking like who. were my role models when I started? Like. who and and I can only remember one. woman that I really looked up to when I. started, which was Donna Dubinsky, who. started Palm. And now, I think if you're. a young woman, there are like a lot of. companies that have been started. There.

are a lot of women founders and there's. all there's, you know, there's a whole. range of tech from like hardware to, you know, fintech to biotech, um, right to consumer software. So, there's many different areas and I think. there are a lot more role models, too. How How do you find as as the CEO of. YouTube, like when you're. playing this role? I feel like, as you. were saying, the industry is moving so. fast. There's so many things constantly. changing. How have you figured out How do you know.

when it YouTube is changing fast enough. or not fast enough? Like how do you. decide whether you're iterating quickly. enough or not? And what is the scale and. what's the spectrum with which you rate. yourself on? like we're not changing fast enough. That's like That's actually like when I. have anxiety. That's like one of the. things I have anxiety about. Like, "Wow, the industry is changing so quickly and. and we can't always change fast enough.". And that's just the reality to like the. systems and the people and how we build. And so, at the end of the day, it has to.

be a prioritization. Like, what are the. most important things to YouTube and one. Let's put We have to put our people. there and make sure that what we do, we. do that really well. And And realize. that we can't do everything. I mean, we're we're talking here right on a on a. podcast, and that's like an area where I. would have liked to invest invested. more. Um if like you had asked me 2 or 3. years ago, I would have said, "Yeah, I. know I know this is a big area. I know. this is really important. It's important. to our creators. It's important to our. users, but we only have so many people. and so many resources, and we need to.

focus on what is important to, you know, to the platform and what's core to the. platform. Um. And like we're actually doing a lot with. podcast now, which I'm excited about. Um. and so, there'll there'll be lots of. good things coming. But if you had asked. me, you know, a few years ago, I would. have said, yes, I see it and I. understand it, and I want us to get. there, but. there were just there were a lot of. other things, too, that we needed to do. And And that's probably one of the. hardest aspects of the job is doing that. prioritization and realizing that. there's some really important stuff that.

we're just not going to be able to get. to. We can't do everything. You have to. choose and and make some hard decisions. Yeah, I know I know it's exciting, though. And And I'm excited about that. because obviously, I I believe I I. remember my team was sharing with me. a stat the other day separate of this. conversation, but it I don't know it. exactly, but it was around the idea. that, you know, the number one. platform where podcasts are being viewed. for the longest amount of time is. YouTube, obviously. And so, the fact. that it's almost Yeah, the almost the. fact that it's happened in an opposite. way is great because.

uh you know, people are already using. the platform in that way. I know it's. been incredible for us from the video. but we always wanted a video version of. the show, and you know, it's always been. YouTube first in the way it's been. edited and designed, and we know that. that's where it's consumed. And to me, that's what's so beautiful about about. the platform is often you're able to. then see the stats and the data and then. I guess invest accordingly and. prioritize accordingly. So, very excited. personally and for the rest of the. podcaster community for the advancements. and the announcements that have come.

from that area. If if there was a. warning Susan that someone could have. given you before the beginning of your. career, what do you think it would have. been? If there was a warning, maybe just. a piece of advice, but something that. you would have liked to be a caution. around because I think when we when we. start something we can be highly. optimistic and then we start to learn. the reality of a situation. What would. have been useful? One of the things, you. know, when I I look at my career, like. certainly being persistent. Um like.

there are a lot of setbacks. I I don't. want to say like it's always been easy. or it wasn't always been nice and. friendly and helpful. Like I there have. been a lot of hard times. But for me it's been really important. just to be persistent and and to not. give up and to believe. And for me a a. lot of it has been just that I believe. in the mission of what we're doing and. providing information and access and. enabling people to have jobs and and.

like share their voices and tell their. stories. And when people tell me about. how that's made a difference for them, like that makes all the hard times. worthwhile. That that like that just. makes them all melt away. And so having. the mission has helped a lot, but you. know, I certainly understanding that. it's going to be hard. It's not going to. be easy and and you can't give up. You. have to just stick with it. Is there a. habit that you've developed over time, a. discipline, a habit, a a mantra, an. affirmation, a practice that you feel.

has made. life easier? That you feel like if young. people if if anyone listening, not just. young people, but if anyone wants to. develop, that would massively support. their career and support their life. Has. there been something that you point. towards? Well, for me it's been balance. Like I I have to take time off. Like if. I'm working all the time, it's it's not. healthy. And And I actually don't think. I do good work, either. Like I I I want. to say it's a combination of of both. So, for me, I have to have my weekends off.

I have to have a time where I actually. just turn off my job and just completely. reset. And I find that it doesn't happen. right away. Like it actually takes time. for that to happen. And. And but then when I come back to the. work, I actually have have a better. understanding of what needs to get done. And things that seemed really important. suddenly don't seem as important 2 days. later. And. uh so, I think having some balance is.

really really important. Um I mean, yes, and and you know, certainly having your. family time in the evenings and sleep. and. exercise. Like that's given a lot of. longevity. I mean, I've been in this. industry for a long time and I've done. this job for a long time. And and that is what has kept me going. is just. being able to keep that balance. Um I. think the other thing, too, is when I. get really frustrated with something, I. just stop doing it. I mean, that's.

another area. And it could be a few. things. Like it could be. like something that like I'm just having. a really bad day. Like over. Got to just. go to bed, do something different, um. not think about it. But also sometimes. like when we're when we're having a. product and it's like we'll try. something multiple times and it's not. working. Just we have to do try different. approach. Just acknowledge like this is. not working. Let's just try something. completely different. And maybe bring in. people who are not on that team or from.

different teams, different perspective. And and try something a whole a whole. different approach. So, I I I think all. of that type of balance gives. perspective and helps you do a better. job. I'm sure that would surprise a lot. of people, too, because often we hear. the opposite, but it makes so much sense. that to be creative and to be effective, we need downtime, we need stillness, we. need space, we need space to think, space to imagine. And and you shared in. an interview as well that your mom has. been an inspiration for you. Uh I wanted.

to hear about how, you know, the role. she played in that journey for you. because. I think it's it's always interesting I. think I think we hear both stories. Sometimes where people feel limited and. restricted by their parents and. sometimes supported. What was it for you. that she's played such a pivotal role? My mom is um well, you know, you used to. talk you used to talk to her. I'm sure. she would love to be on your show. Um. my mom always has something to say. Um.

let's start with start with that. And um. she actually wrote a book about being a. parent and she's like likes to You can. look her up on on YouTube or Google and. learn a lot about my mom. Um but you. know, in many ways the fact that my mom. always had something to say was like as. a kid was was horrifying. Um like I. yeah, I she would embarrass me. She. would complain, she would tell people. how things weren't done the way she. wanted, or she would protest, or.

she always has she always had an. opinion. So, um my mom is a teacher, I. will say that. My mom is an amazing. teacher. She's been a teacher for. 50-plus years. She literally she. literally she retired during COVID. And. she went when she was 80 and she um. started in her 20s. So, she literally is. an expert teacher, but she really. believes in giving people and like. stating her opinion and not holding back. and thinking for yourself. And there.

were times that as a kid that was a. really horrifying thing cuz she would be. embarrassing me. And you know, she also. says like, "Look, if you're wronged and. something happens to you, um like you go to a place and they. you know, it's not as advertised, or. they charge you something different, and. you don't say anything, then you're. actually making it harder for the next. person who comes along. Like that next. person is going to also have that same. negative experience. And so it's your. duty and responsibility to speak up and.

to try to fix it. And so as a kid, I was. always like worried like what was my mom. going to say and do, and um but that. that helped in many ways because in. business you have to be willing to speak. up and say what you think, and and not. be afraid if people are criticizing you. And so in many ways I was like. inoculated against being embarrassed as. a kid because I was embarrassed so many. times. Um. And um she I I think also just taught me. to like think for yourself, that if.

people are saying things that don't make. any sense, you should just think for. yourself and believe in yourself, and. believe what you. what you think, and not just go along. with what's the common thought. And um. she's done a really good job and and. she's really innovated a lot in the. field of education her herself um by not. going along and thinking her own ways. about how she got her students to think. for themselves. She's a journalism. teacher, so she's taught a lot about. gotten a lot of students to write. stories and to question and to ask hard.

hard questions, and then be willing to. say it and to write it. Uh and that has. gone a long way. She has a big a big fan. club of students. That's that's. incredible. I wonder how when you became. a mom, how did that change your view. about your relationship with your own. mom, but then also your relationship uh. to work as well? Well, my kids love. having they have lots of stories about. their grandmother. Um and um you know, I. think being a mom, you know, gives you. appreciation for your own mom, right? Cuz you realize like, "Oh my gosh, this.

is so hard.". And and you start thinking like, "What. did my mom do well? What do I want to. incorporate?" And I I'll say like what I. learned from my mom was just the fact. that she believed in her kids and and. believing in your kids and not. necessarily expecting them to fit into. an established mold. Like everybody has. to be the same, everyone has to do like. they're you know the same classes and go. the same school and get the same grades, right? But everyone is an individual.

Your kids are not necessarily like you, but you still have to support them to. just be whoever they are. Even if it that's nothing with like what. you are. um and support them. And so like my I. mean my oldest kid. was really into magic for a while, right? Um like I know nothing about. magic. I love magic, too. But I have a lot of appreciation for. magic. And actually I've learned I've changed. in the sense where now I actually I'm. really thankful when my kids come up.

with some interest that I know nothing. about but they want to learn about. Like. how do I get into that with them? How do. I support them and go on that journey. with them? But but I I believe I got. that from my mom which was just. supporting people on who they are and. believing in them that they can. accomplish even if it's different than. what the established norm is. Well. Susan, I've been so grateful to talk to. you today. It's been such a joy hearing. about you from you and learning more. about you as a pre-human, as a person,

as a leader. And we end every On Purpose. episode with a final five. These. questions have to be answered in one. word or one sentence maximum. So one. word to one sentence. Susan, are you ready? These are your. final five. Okay, I'll do my best. Okay, great. All right, the first. question is what is the best advice. you've ever received? Not to be. defensive when people criticize you. Amazing. What is the worst advice you've. ever received? That you can't do. something. Lots of people like to tell.

you like all the things you can't do and. I I don't think they're true. Absolutely. Uh question number three, what's the biggest risk you've ever. taken? Probably joining Google when I. was pregnant and they had no revenue and. I had a house and a mortgage and. I was leaving an established job. Amazing. Question number four, uh what would you say has been your. biggest failure on this journey? I would just like to have more free. time. That's one of the things like even.

though I really try to create balance, I. still need even more time than I. probably have given myself. I can relate. in my own my own way too. So, I'm I'm. with you on that one. Uh fifth and final. question, if you could create one law. that everyone in the world had to. follow, what would it be? Well, I would love at least in the US. what we don't have that is we have in. many other countries is for there to be. paid family leave. Um and to have early childhood. education. And I've I've personally seen.

like how important that is and it's. something that we don't have for a lot. of working moms and. uh I I really think it would make a huge. difference to be able to uh working. families across the board. Like everyone. is impacted. So, like really supporting. the youngest our youngest citizens. how to make sure that they have the. right time and support. So, those are. things I would love for us to have. That's a fantastic answer. Susan, it's. been incredible talking to you. You.

know, often when I. sit down with CEOs, if I'm honest, it. can often be challenging because there's. just so many barriers to what you can. say and can't say and and I just want to. thank you for having been so open today. and been so vulnerable and it's just. been such a beautiful conversation with. a. a grounded and uh very very open leader. and I'm very very thankful for that. So, thank you so much. Thank you. I have a. question for you. Please. So, from your. book, I saw you offer so much wise. advice across the board and.

you know, I see. the some of the people who may need it. the most, particularly, are young people. and teenagers. Like, I want to know how. like do you offer classes? Do you offer. seminars? Do you offer camps? Like, I. think there would be a really. big opportunity for young people to. learn some of the life lessons that you. provide in your book. Well, first of. all, that's very kind of you. Thank you. so much. And I'd say that. currently, the part of my work that.

we've focused on up until this point has. definitely be been aimed at people 18. years and older. And at this point in my. life, I'm definitely starting to work. with far more younger audiences and. younger teens because I see the need for. that. And I've always wanted to do that. I think that some of the themes that. we've covered up until now are often. realized at a later age and stage, whether it's passion, whether it's. purpose, whether it's. uh challenges through work and. relationships. But, we are as we as we.

speak, we're currently working on a lot. more programming around those ages. So, I mean, I would love to partner with. you, figure out a way to work together. to do that more because that's where my. heart is, too. And I too share that. belief and value that you stated around. really investing in our future leaders. and not just saying that and talking. about it, but really giving them access. to those insights and ideas. So, it's. it's right there and it's we're right on. the cusp of doing that. Okay, good. No, I think it could be really valuable,

especially. the pandemic has been so hard for a lot. of young people. Seems like you have a. lot of really valuable tools to help. people adjust with challenging. challenging situations. So, well, thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much to you and your team. and thank you for your time and I hope. we get to hang out when you're next in. LA. I hope so, too. And thank you for. being on YouTube. Yeah, thank you so. much. Thanks, Susan. If you want even. more videos just like this one, make. sure you subscribe and click on the. boxes over here. I'm also excited to let.

you know that you can now get my book. Think Like a Monk from. thinklikeamonkbook.com. Check below in the description to make. sure you order today.