⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

With 4 Kids and Counting, YouTube CEO Explains How Motherhood Heightened Her Productivity Susan Wojcicki says that work and motherhood aren't mutually exclusive.

By Geoff Weiss

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Imagine being at the helm of a multibillion dollar empire that is the third most-visited website on Earth. Then imagine doing so as the mother of four with a fifth on the way -- due on Christmas Day, no less. But for Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, there isn't a shred of doubt: motherhood has made her an exponentially better leader.

"Actually having the limitations of needing to be home have really forced me to prioritize," Wojcicki, 46, said in a recent interview on the Today show. She added that she aims to be home at 6:00 every evening -- an unthinkable feat for many executives. "I found that if I'm home for dinner, I can get the scoop from my kids on the day. After [they] go to bed, I check email."

As Google's 16th employee, and its first-ever staffer to have gotten pregnant, Wojcicki joined the search giant soon after Larry Page and Sergey Brin rented the garage of her Menlo Park, Calif. home -- out of which Google was ultimately launched.

Related: 10 Single Mom Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Business Advice

And as one of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley (today, she joined the board of directors of Salesforce), the tech community will likely be tallying Wojcicki's forthcoming maternity leave with a watchful eye. Marissa Mayer notably received flak for taking a two-week break after her son was born in 2012.

While Wojcicki declined to disclose the exact length of her leave, she noted that YouTube is particularly accommodating for working mothers, with flexible work hours, special parking for the expectant and a paid maternity leave of 18 weeks.

Rather than clashing priorities, however, Wojcicki says that she ultimately sees work and motherhood as mutually beneficial proficiencies: "Your kids get something from your career, and your career gets something from your kids," she said.

Related: YouTube to Open Free Production Facility for NYC-Based Creators

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.