Susan Wojcicki, a trailblazing tech executive instrumental in shaping Google and YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56, according to her husband.

Wojcicki was a pivotal figure in Google’s early days, playing a crucial role in its development. She also served as YouTube’s CEO for nine years before stepping down last year to focus on her family, health, and personal projects. Wojcicki was widely recognized as one of the most influential women in the predominantly male tech industry.

Her journey with Google began in 1998 when she rented out the garage of her Menlo Park, California home to the company’s co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The duo refined their search engine in her garage for five months before moving to a formal office. Wojcicki soon joined the company as its marketing manager in 1999. She played a significant role in the company’s growth, overseeing key acquisitions like YouTube in 2006 and DoubleClick in 2008. She held various senior positions within Google, including Senior Vice President of Advertising and Commerce, before becoming YouTube’s CEO in 2014, a role she held until 2023.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, expressed deep sorrow over her loss, calling it devastating for everyone who knew and admired her. Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook and a colleague from Wojcicki’s early days at Google, also paid tribute, crediting Wojcicki for guiding her through the early stages of her tech career.

Her husband, Dennis Troper, shared the news of her passing on social media, revealing that she had been battling non-small cell lung cancer for two years. Troper described Wojcicki as not only his best friend and life partner but also a brilliant thinker, loving mother, and cherished friend to many.

The family had already faced tragedy earlier this year with the loss of their 19-year-old son, Marco Troper, who passed away in February while attending UC Berkeley as a freshman.

Wojcicki’s legacy will be remembered through her significant contributions to the tech industry and the countless lives she impacted along the way.