Interview with Susan Wojcicki
Susan Wojcicki was interviewed by Matilda Fletcher about persevering through and preventing discrimination. She was the CEO of YouTube fo
Ms. Wojcicki agreed to be interviewed when I was having an extremely difficult time getting Equitable FYI started. I really appreciated the fact that she took the time to answer my questions, especially considering her busy schedule.
Matilda Fletcher
What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
Susan Wojcicki
That everyone can be part of the group, feel included and do their best work as part of the community/company/university. Diversity also enables you to build the best products and community and prevents group-think.
Matilda Fletcher
Have you ever encountered discrimination? What did you say or do? When you had that experience what feelings did it bring up in you during and after the situation?
Susan Wojcicki
In general, I have been very supported in the companies I worked in. All of my mentors were men in my career since there were often no women in higher positions. I always remind people that they can be mentors to people who look different than themselves, and young people that you can learn a lot from all different kinds of people. The discrimination I have most commonly experience are more micro-aggressions eg mansplaining, or people cutting me off, or underestimating my abilities.
Matilda Fletcher
Did you have a positive outcome? What was that? Or was it negative? And what was that?
Susan Wojcicki
I have learned to compensate. I just speak up, or let them know I already am familiar with this material. I find that most people adjust and don't even realize they are doing it.
Matilda Fletcher
What would you do differently if you had the same encounter today?
Susan Wojcicki
Speak up more and not let it get me down.
Matilda Fletcher
What have you done to shift the understanding of diversity and inclusion?
Susan Wojcicki
Build an inclusive company, enable many voices that we wouldn't have heard from in traditional media to find an audience, be a role model as a women CEO in tech who has big family (five kids).
Matilda Fletcher
How do you think diversity and Inclusion can shift for more positive equality? What would you tell middle school girls now about bias-based exclusion? What would you have wanted to know about inclusion in middle school?
Susan Wojcicki
I didn't think about it.. but I had big dreams as a middle school student.
Matilda Fletcher
What else do you want to tell middle school girls?
Susan Wojcicki
There are so many great opportunities for you. I encourage you all to think big, work hard, and you will make a difference in your own way.
In memory of Susan Wojcicki
11/17/2020
