Anne Wojcicki is more than just Sergey Brin’s ex-wife. She is also a successful businesswoman, innovative leader and pioneer in the area of personal genomics. She is the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, a company that has changed how people view their health as well as origins through direct consumer DNA tests. But who is Anne Wojcicki and what motivates her? In this article, we will dive into her story to life, accomplishments and passions.
Early Life and Education
Anne Wojcicki was born on July 28, 1973, in San Mateo County, California. She comes from a scholarly and successful family. Her father Stanley Wojcicki was a physics professor at Stanford University; her mother Esther Wojcicki Is a c journalist and an educator. She has two elder sisters, Susan and Janet who excel in their respective professions. Janet is an anthropologist and epidemiologist while Susan is chief executive officer of YouTube.
Anne Wojcicki was a student at Gunn High School in Palo Alto where she performed well in both academics and sports. She was the school newspaper’s editor and received a scholarship for her sports articles. She also played ice hockey and figure skate. She graduated in 1991 and attended Yale University studying biology. She was interested in genetics and molecular biology, did research at the National Institutes of Health as well as University of California San Diego. 1996, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
Career and Entrepreneurship
After college, Anne worked as a health care consultant at Passport Capital before becoming an investment analyst with Investor AB , which is the biggest holding company in Sweden. She worked in biotechnology and health care investments, where she learned a lot about the industry roles and its challenges. Due to the culture of Wall Street and its attitude towards health care, she became disillusioned with everything. She changed her mind about working for someone else again after deciding that it was time to do something on her own in personal genomics.
2006 she co founded 23andMe along with Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza to give layman access to their genetic information. 23 pairs of chromosomes human cells are, therefore the company’s name. The company provided a DNA testing kit based on saliva which could be used to indicate information about one’s ancestry, health and traits. Online the test results were available and client could participate in research by connecting with other users who shared their DNA.
Anne Wojcicki dreamed that people would be able to empower themselves by being in charge of their health, thus preventing diseases using personalized medicine will power inspired from genetic insights. She also wanted to make scientific discoveries quicker and more democratic by creating a large database of genetic information which could be used in research and innovation. On her way also, she encountered many challenges and controversies like the regulatory hurdles, privacy concerns to name but a few ethical issues then. 23andMe became one of the leading companies in industry personal genomics, she pushed on and overcame the challenges.
In 2008, Time magazine named 23andMe’s DNA test as the Invention of the Year. In 2015, the company received the go ahead from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell a genetic test that could detect more than 30 autosomal recessive disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. In 2017, the company received approval to sell a genetic test that could report on a person’s risk of developing certain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In 2018, the company launched a new feature that could estimate a person’s genetic weight and help them achieve their wellness goals. In 2021, the company went public in a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Virgin Group, valuing the company at $3.5 billion.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Anne Wojcicki married Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, in 2007. They had a simple wedding in the Bahamas and later gave birth to two children, a son and daughter. Their marriage was popular in the media since they were regarded as one of the most influential pairs of individuals in Silicon Valley. However, their relationship turned sour over the years and they separated in 2013. 2015 they got their divorce finalized and agreed to co-parent their children in a friendly manner.
Anne Wojcicki has also participated in different philanthropic activities personally and professionally. She is one of the founders and serves on the board for Breakthrough Prize, an annual award celebrating scientific achievements in life sciences physics ,and mathematics. She also supports the X Prize Foundation a non-profit organization that funds competitions to address global issues. She has made contributions to various causes including education, health care and environment protection. She is also an ambassador for women empowerment and diversity in the technology field.
Anne Wojcicki is a woman of many interests and desires. She enjoys travelling to new locations and immersing herself in different cultures. 50 She has been to more than countries and also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Fuji. She likes skiing, surfboarding and sailboating as well. She is into sports and music, enjoys watching games of hockey and soccer, goes to concert or festival. She is the vegetarian who has a keen interest in cooking and experimenting with foods of different kinds. She also likes dogs and owns a Labrador retriever Luna.
Trivia
| Name | Anne E. Wojcicki |
| Age | 50 |
| Height | 5’5″ |
| Partner(s) | Sergey Brin (ex-husband), Alex Rodriguez (ex-boyfriend) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Yale University (B.S. in Biology) |
| Favorite Food | Thai food |
| Net Worth | $1 billion |
| Sex | Female |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Sibling | Susan Wojcicki (sister), Janet Wojcicki (sister) |
| Favorite TV Show | Game of Thrones |
| Pet | Luna (dog) |
Conclusion
Anne Wojcicki is a remarkable woman who has made a significant impact in the tech industry and beyond. As the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, she has revolutionized the way people understand their health and ancestry through direct-to-consumer DNA testing. She is also a successful entrepreneur, a visionary leader, and a trailblazer in the field of personal genomics. She is an inspiration to many, and a role model for women in STEM. She is not just the ex-wife of Sergey Brin, she is the DNA diva who changed the world.