Meet Esther Wojcicki
Journalist, educator, and the woman who raised three extraordinary daughters: the CEO of YouTube, the CEO of 23andMe, and a professor of pediatrics at UCSF.
Her Story
Esther Wojcicki is a legendary educator, journalist, and bestselling author who has dedicated her life to understanding what makes great parenting work.
As a high school journalism teacher at Palo Alto High School for over 35 years, she built one of the largest and most acclaimed student journalism programs in the United States. Her students have gone on to become leaders in media, technology, and public service.
But her most famous achievement? Raising three daughters who became some of the most successful women in Silicon Valley: Susan Wojcicki (former CEO of YouTube), Anne Wojcicki (CEO of 23andMe), and Janet Wojcicki (professor of pediatrics at UCSF).
Esther distilled her decades of parenting and teaching wisdom into the TRICK method — five principles that any parent can apply to raise confident, independent, and kind children.
Every child has the potential to be great. Our job as parents is to get out of their way and believe in them unconditionally.
— Esther Wojcicki
The TRICK Method
Five principles that transformed Esther's family — and can transform yours.
Trust is the foundation of every healthy relationship. When you trust your child, you communicate belief in their abilities. This doesn't mean blind faith — it means creating an environment where children feel safe to try, fail, and try again. Trust teaches children to trust themselves.
Put it into practice
Give your child age-appropriate responsibilities. Let them make decisions about their own life, from choosing their clothes to managing their homework schedule.
Respect means treating your child as a whole person whose thoughts, feelings, and opinions matter. It's listening without immediately correcting. It's asking for their input on family decisions. When children feel respected, they develop self-respect and learn to respect others.
Put it into practice
Ask your child's opinion on family decisions. Listen fully before responding. Acknowledge their feelings even when you disagree.
Independence is the courage to let your child figure things out on their own. Helicopter parenting, while well-intentioned, robs children of the opportunity to develop resilience. Independence doesn't mean abandonment — it means gradually expanding the boundaries of freedom.
Put it into practice
Resist the urge to solve every problem. Ask "What do you think you should do?" instead of immediately providing the answer.
Collaboration means working WITH your child, not dictating TO them. It's the difference between "do your homework" and "let's figure out a homework schedule that works for you." When children collaborate, they develop teamwork skills, empathy, and the ability to negotiate.
Put it into practice
Create family projects together. Involve children in meal planning, vacation decisions, and household responsibilities through shared planning.
Kindness is the thread that ties everything together. It's modeling empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence. Children learn kindness by watching their parents practice it — toward them, toward others, and toward themselves. A kind home creates kind humans.
Put it into practice
Model kindness in everyday interactions. Volunteer together as a family. Practice self-compassion out loud so your children hear it.
Ready to start your TRICK journey?
Join thousands of parents building stronger, more connected families.
Get Started Free