Behind the scenes at 23andMe, questions about a star CEO

In October 2024, the entire board of 23andMe resigned amidst growing concerns about CEO Anne Wojcicki's leadership style. Some former employees described her approach as overly controlling and suggested it contributed to the company's significant decline. Wojcicki, who holds nearly half of the company's voting rights, turned to her network in Silicon Valley for solutions rather than empowering her senior leaders. Despite the company’s impressive past accomplishments, including selling test kits to 15 million customers and having a market valuation exceeding $6 billion, the resignation of all seven board members has raised serious questions about its leadership structure and future direction. Wojcicki's insistence on maintaining a tight grip on decision-making may hinder the ability to navigate this crisis effectively and attract new directors. As the company faces these internal challenges, it becomes vital to assess whether it can realign its strategy to regain momentum in the competitive genomics market.