At the end of the day, both men and women who become CEOs have showed tenacity and hard work to succeed in their careers. It takes not just skills but also extreme dedication and commitment. And regardless of gender, CEOs are measured by the same criteria - the growth and success of the business.

Results matter more than the climb

The thing about this observation is that it cuts through a lot of noise without pretending the noise doesn't exist. Yes, CEOs of any gender have to demonstrate real capability and drive to get there—that's just true. But what's interesting is what Wojcicki isn't saying. She's not claiming the playing field is level or that everyone faces identical obstacles. She's simply grounding the conversation in something measurable: once you're at the top, your results speak for themselves.

This matters because it points to a real tension in how we talk about career success. We simultaneously need to acknowledge that the path isn't the same for everyone, and also refuse to diminish what it takes for anyone to reach that level. It's easy to either dismiss someone's achievement as "lucky" or to ignore the structural barriers they might have navigated. Neither captures the full picture.

The practical takeaway? When evaluating anyone's success—including your own—it helps to separate two things: what it took to get there, and what they're actually delivering now. Both matter, but they're different questions. Conflating them usually leads to either false equivalence or unnecessary resentment. Real credibility, regardless of background, comes from both the hustle and the results.