Anne Wojcicki Quotes

Powerful Anne Wojcicki for Daily Growth

About Anne Wojcicki

Anne Wojcicki, born on August 28, 1973, is an American entrepreneur, geneticist, and co-founder of 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company. Raised in California by Polish immigrant parents, her upbringing significantly influenced her interest in science and technology. Wojcicki earned her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Yale University in 1996, followed by a Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2000. Her educational journey was not linear; she took a break to work as a research associate at Stanford University and teach high school biology before completing her Master's. In 2006, along with Linda Avey, Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe, aiming to make personal genetic information accessible to individuals worldwide. The company offers DNA testing kits that provide customers with insights about their ancestry and potential health risks. As CEO, Wojcicki has navigated numerous challenges, including regulatory scrutiny and financial instability. However, she has consistently advocated for the democratization of genetic information, stating, "Knowledge is power." Wojcicki's work with 23andMe has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of Time magazine's '100 Most Influential People' in 2015. Her life story and the evolution of 23andMe are chronicled in the HBO documentary 'The Gene: An Intimate History,' which premiered in 2016. Wojcicki's personal life is also noteworthy. She was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin and has two children with him. Her sister, Susan Wojcicki, is the CEO of YouTube. Despite her high-profile relationships and career, Anne Wojcicki remains dedicated to the mission of 23andMe, revolutionizing the field of genetics one DNA test at a time.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Science is not just a way of knowing about the world; it's a way of being in the world."

Anne Wojcicki's quote emphasizes that science is more than just acquiring knowledge about the world; it embodies a philosophy or mindset for living. Science, as a methodical approach to understanding the universe, encourages curiosity, questioning, observation, experimentation, and skepticism. This mindset, when applied to everyday life, fosters critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a deep appreciation for evidence-based decision making. In essence, science is not merely an academic pursuit, but a way of approaching the world with a sense of wonder, questioning, and a commitment to uncovering truth.


"I think we've learned that every person's genome is unique and there are many complexities in our genomes that make us who we are."

This quote highlights Anne Wojcicki's perspective on the complexity of human genetics. In essence, she emphasizes that every individual has a distinct genetic makeup (genome), which contributes significantly to their unique identity and characteristics. The intricacies within our genomes are numerous, suggesting that there isn't a simple one-to-one correlation between genes and traits, making each person a fascinating combination of inherited information. This understanding underscores the importance of personalized healthcare approaches, recognizing the uniqueness of every individual's genetic profile.


"It's important to have the right team around you, people who support you and are invested in your mission."

This quote by Anne Wojcicki emphasizes the significance of surrounding oneself with a strong, supportive network that shares one's vision or goals. Having the "right team" implies having individuals who not only offer emotional support but also invest time, energy, and resources in helping you achieve your mission. In essence, she is stressing the importance of fostering relationships where mutual trust, understanding, and commitment are vital for personal and professional growth.


"The best things in life often come from the most unexpected places."

This quote emphasizes the notion that remarkable experiences, opportunities, or discoveries can originate from unforeseen sources. It encourages us to remain open-minded and receptive to unexpected possibilities as they might lead to some of life's greatest rewards. It also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the best things in our lives are not what we initially planned for or anticipated, but rather the serendipitous outcomes that make life richer and more meaningful.


"When I started 23andMe, I didn't know anything about genomics or business. But I learned quickly that you don't have to be an expert at everything; you just have to be willing to learn and surround yourself with people who can help you along the way."

Anne Wojcicki's quote emphasizes the importance of determination, adaptability, and teamwork in achieving success. Despite having no prior expertise in genomics or business when starting 23andMe, she recognized that proficiency in every area is not essential. Instead, her eagerness to learn and assemble a competent team were key factors in her journey. This statement underscores the idea that passion, resilience, and a collaborative mindset can often surpass the need for immediate mastery in all fields.


I was brought up with a scientific outlook on life. It's the way my father deciphers the world - whether it's football, politics or hairstyles. So I don't get anxious about the future, because I was raised to believe and accept that nothing stays the same, and the best way to survive is to adapt.

- Anne Wojcicki

Politics, Brought, Best Way

I spend a lot of my spare time with my family. My sisters, parents, and in-laws all live nearby.

- Anne Wojcicki

In-Laws, Sisters, Nearby, Spare Time

A few small changes in your DNA can turn your eyes blue, make you lactose intolerant or put some curl in your hair.

- Anne Wojcicki

Changes, Small, Some, Curl

If health care is a $2.7 trillion industry, and a huge percentage is paid by the government, then you have to be involved in politics to make a difference.

- Anne Wojcicki

Health, Politics, Industry, Percentage

Making personalized medicine a reality will require a strong partnership between 23andMe and the physician and medical communities.

- Anne Wojcicki

Strong, Medical, Making, Personalized

As the knowledge around personalized medicine continues to grow, consumers should expect their healthcare providers to begin to incorporate genetic information into their treatments and preventative care.

- Anne Wojcicki

Medicine, Grow, Genetic, Personalized

The challenge in a startup is you hit a lot of turbulence, and you want people who understand that it's just turbulence and not a crisis.

- Anne Wojcicki

Want, Understand, Crisis, Turbulence

It's worth knowing more about the complicated environmental and genetic factors that could explain why traumatic brain injuries lead to long-term disabilities in some people and not in others.

- Anne Wojcicki

Some, Explain, Genetic, Traumatic

It's not just professional athletes and soldiers who are at risk from traumatic brain injury. More than 1.7 million people a year sustain a traumatic brain injury, and about 50,000 of them die each year, according the Centers for Disease Control. There are both emotional and financial costs from these injuries.

- Anne Wojcicki

Die, Injuries, Year, Traumatic

Just as computer technology and the Internet created whole new industries and extraordinary benefits for people that extend into almost every realm of human endeavor from education to transportation to medicine, genetics will undoubtedly benefit people everywhere in ways we can't even imagine but know will surely occur.

- Anne Wojcicki

Education, Benefits, Surely, Extend

I tried to minimize exposure to technology before two. After that, I've taught the kids to use devices in moderation. It's important for them to learn how to control their behaviour themselves. Simply restricting access makes them want it more.

- Anne Wojcicki

Access, Before, Use, Restricting

I think the biggest problem in clinical trials is that they are underpowered. And that fundamentally, the studies are just too small.

- Anne Wojcicki

Small, Think, I Think, Trials

The pharma industry is one of the few industries that comes up every year and brags about how much worse they got - like, now it costs $2 billion to make a drug, and it was a billion 5 years ago.

- Anne Wojcicki

Year, Industry, About, Brag

My perfect weekend is going for a walk with my family in the park. I don't think there's anything better.

- Anne Wojcicki

Think, Perfect, Going, Park

We care a lot more about not having the disease than treating it.

- Anne Wojcicki

Disease, Lot, Having, Treating

Our approach to medicine is very 19th-century. We are still in the dark ages. We really need to get to the molecular level so that we are no longer groping about in the dark.

- Anne Wojcicki

Need, Very, Still, Molecular

Employment and health insurance are now protected by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

- Anne Wojcicki

Insurance, Act, Genetic, Employment

There's going to be space travel at some point.

- Anne Wojcicki

Travel, Some, Going, Space Travel

All the kids from my nursery school are still in touch.

- Anne Wojcicki

School, Touch, Still, Nursery

Most important about what Ashoka is doing is that they make people believe that change is possible. That belief can go viral.

- Anne Wojcicki

Change, Doing, About, Viral

I did a lot of fun things before I had kids - I traveled a lot. Now, I just really love being with my kids.

- Anne Wojcicki

Love, Before, Had, Traveled

We should revel in tons and tons and tons of ideas. Some of them will manifest and lead to a drug discovery, and some will not.

- Anne Wojcicki

Manifest, Will, Some, Tons

I'm not going to change; I'm very stubborn in this way. I am what I am.

- Anne Wojcicki

I Am, Stubborn, Very, I Am What I Am

I think being on a constraint with money makes you much more creative.

- Anne Wojcicki

Money, Think, I Think, Constraint

I think it's important to have flexibility to work wherever is best for you. I actually encourage people to work at the cafe - or from home or wherever works best for them.

- Anne Wojcicki

Think, I Think, Works, Wherever

People are used to dealing with risk. You are told if you smoke, you are at higher risk of lung cancer. And I think people are able to also understand, when they are told they are a carrier for a genetic disease, that is not a risk to them personally but something that they could pass on to children.

- Anne Wojcicki

Children, Used, I Think, Lung

Every couple of weeks, someone writes in and says, '23andMe saved my life.'

- Anne Wojcicki

My Life, Couple, Weeks, Writes

It's crazy to me that in this world of electronic medical records Walmart has so much information about how we shop, but no one has that information about our health. Why can't my doctor say, 'Wow, Anne, based on your lifestyle and behavior, you're five years from being diabetic.' But I can go to Target, and they know exactly what I'm going to buy.

- Anne Wojcicki

Medical, Records, Shop, Diabetic

When Amazon emerged, people had these debates about whether people would put their credit cards online.

- Anne Wojcicki

Cards, About, Had, Debates

I think that the idea of people wanting to steal your genome remains a little bit in the world of science fiction. It's a new technology, and it's new science that people are becoming familiar with. It's critical for us to do everything we can to enable the privacy level that people want.

- Anne Wojcicki

Wanting, I Think, Becoming, Science Fiction

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