23andMe has been included in another “Best” list, this one for its leadership. 
In Inc. magazine’s first annual Best-Led Companies list, 23andMe was included after being evaluated on a 12-point measure of management excellence. The company was one of 250 on <a href="https://www.inc.com/best-led-companies/2021">the list</a> that honors both public and private U.S. companies with revenues that range from $50 million to $2 billion. In total the companies employ more than 35 million people or about one in four workers in the US. 
“This inaugural list of companies represents the remarkable mid-sized companies, both public and private, often founder-led, that are at the vanguard of reinventing American business,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. “With their leadership, all business will benefit from an exciting, competitive future full of possibilities.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-29267 size-large" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1-880x495.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IncBestLedCompanies_SocialImage1.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
To be considered for the list, each company had to fill out an application answering questions about its performance, executive team, and leadership. Applicants were then analyzed via an algorithm that identified the very best companies according to their leadership teams’ superlative accomplishments in four key areas: performance and value creation; market penetration and customer engagement; talent; and leadership team.
To see the complete list, go <a href="https://www.inc.com/best-led-companies/2021">here</a>.
The honorees will be featured in the November issue of Inc. magazine, which is available online at<a href="https://www.inc.com/magazine"> https://www.inc.com/magazine</a> and will be on newsstands beginning November 9, 2021.
 
&nbsp;

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

23andMe Named in Inc.’s First-Annual Best-Led Companies

This week 23andMe made Fast Company’s first annual list of “Brands that Matter,” an award honoring companies and nonprofits with a mission or ideals that have had a cultural impact and are relevant and authentic.
This new award singles out <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/brands-that-matter/2021">95 organizations </a>that, like 23andMe, have inspired people and given them compelling reasons to care about innovation, or social issues, cultural issues, the environment, or their fellow humans. Among those on the list are not just massive multinational conglomerates, but also small companies and nonprofits. All of them have forged an emotional or meaningful connection with people. All were judged on their relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity, and business innovation. 
“Fast Company is excited to highlight companies and organizations that have built brands with deep meaning and connections to the customers they serve,” said Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “At a time when consumers are holding companies to very high standards, businesses have much to learn from these brands that have garnered respect and trust.”<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free-1024x538.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-29242 size-large" width="1024" height="538" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free-300x158.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free-768x403.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free-880x462.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free-1180x620.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BTM_Facebook_Shared-Image_Free.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<h6>Lead with Science</h6>
It’s that trust that is probably most important to 23andMe’s brand, said Tracy Keim, Vice President of Consumer Marketing and Brand at 23andMe. 
“It started with Anne Wojcicki, (23andMe’s CEO and Co-Founder),” Tracy said. “She co-founded 23andMe to help people — to be a brand that made a difference in people’s lives — we were a brand born out of purpose, not profit.” 
23andMe is also a brand driven by science. And Fast Company pointed to two of our more recent very large scientific initiatives in singling out 23andMe for this award. 
The first was a study using genetics to look at the human impact of the <a href="https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(20)30200-7">transatlantic slave trade</a>, as part of the largest study to date of people with African ancestry in the Americas. The second is an ongoing study on the genetics associated with differences among people in <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">susceptibility to and severity from COVID-19</a> that involved more than a million research participants. Several findings from that study have already been published or shared, and our researchers are currently investigating the genetics of COVID-19 “long-haulers.”
“It’s exciting to see this list of brands making a difference,” said Tracy. “We’re all interested in solutions through action, not just advertising. One of 23andMe’s core values is to ‘lead with science.’ DNA data can tell us so much about problems we confront today and in the future — whether it’s studying COVID-19 or our fraught racial history, or important health issues — our team of researchers have big hearts and open minds and go where the science leads them.”
<h6>Mission Driven</h6>
It’s been almost two decades since the mapping of the human genome, the most significant scientific breakthrough of our generation. 23andMe works to bring the power of genetic science to everyone. As a brand, 23andMe has always been mission-driven, focused on helping people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. We created an industry offering people direct access to their genetic information, as well as an opportunity to participate in research if they choose. We share our research findings and ensure that those who participate in research know we’ve done it through solid science and innovation, but also with whimsy and a human touch. 
You can find a complete list of winners<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/brands-that-matter/2021"> here</a>.
23andMe will be featured along with the other honorees in the November issue of Fast Company magazine, which is available online<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/brands-that-matter/2021"> now</a> and will be on newsstands beginning November 2, 2021.
&nbsp;

23andMe Honored in Fast Company’s First Annual List of “Brands That Matter”

Dear 23andMe Community,
Today is an exciting day in the development of our mission to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. We are thrilled to announce that we are taking another step in making personalized healthcare a reality by agreeing to acquire <a href="https://www.lemonaidhealth.com/">Lemonaid Health</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1-1024x536.png" alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-29234 size-large" width="1024" height="536" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1-1024x536.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1-1180x618.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1200x628-LH-23-Banner-1.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Over the years we have asked you, our customers, what more do you want from 23andMe. We heard from many of you that the genetic information you got from 23andMe can change your life — but when you take it to a physician you may meet skepticism or uncertainty about what to do with the information. We want to change that.   
We are acquiring Lemonaid Health so that we can bring true personalized healthcare to 23andMe customers. Personalized healthcare means healthcare that is based on the combination of your genes, your environment, and your lifestyle — with recommendations and plans that are specific to you.
Lemonaid Health is a pioneer in telemedicine and digital pharmacy. In Lemonaid Health we found a team of passionate, patient-obsessed people who want to bring better healthcare to everyone in an affordable, accessible way. Lemonaid Health’s focus on the patient and its philosophy of delivering individualized care fits perfectly with our mission of empowering people to take control of their health.
Twenty years ago Francis Collins, then the Director of National Institutes of Health, said, “Genome science will &#8230;revolutionize the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of most, if not all, human diseases.” With healthcare still being one size fits all, we believe 23andMe will be the leader in using the incredible potential of genetics to enhance every individual’s primary care experience. We want to make that a reality for you — in an affordable, accessible, and meaningful way.
Here’s to being healthy at 100!
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/sig_small_transparent.jpg" alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-23161 size-full" width="318" height="133" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/sig_small_transparent.jpg 318w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/sig_small_transparent-300x125.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px" />

A Letter from Anne: Making Personalized Healthcare a Reality

This month,<a href="https://www.comparably.com/news"> Comparably</a> included 23andMe on its list of businesses with the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/large-companies-best-work-life-balance-comparably-ranking-2021-10">Best Company Work-Life Balance in 2021</a>.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="250" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large-300x250.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29179" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large-300x250.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large-768x639.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large-1024x852.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large-880x732.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large-1180x982.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/work-life-balance-2021-large.png 1238w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



The list was compiled by Comparably using anonymous ratings from 23andMe employees over the last year. The pandemic has heightened many people’s focus on the difficulty of balancing their work obligations with their home responsibilities. Finding that balance was difficult even before the pandemic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-happy-at-work">Happy at Work</h2>



The award highlights companies where employees answered that they were satisfied with their work-life balance. 23andMe was listed as one of the Top 10 companies with the best work-life balance among large-sized companies, with more than 87 percent of employees saying they were <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/happy-together-at-23andme">happy with the work-life balance at 23andMe</a>.



One employee singled out how <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-anne-wojcicki-among-the-best-ceos-for-women">23andMe’s CEO and Co-Founder Anne Wojcicki</a> has made this a top priority.



&#8220;I love that she values work-life balance and treats us as human beings rather than cogs in a machine. I also love her readiness to innovate&#8211;even in things like rethinking the workplace of the future.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-work-life-balance">Work-Life Balance</h2>



Long before COVID-19, 23andMe created a culture that valued getting your work done and having a healthy, vibrant life outside the office.&nbsp;



Family leave, flexible work schedules, and a robust benefits package played a role. And over the last year and a half, since the pandemic has forced most of the 23andMe employees to work from home, the company has added new and creative ways to address this new reality, from virtual movie showings to half days on Fridays to new wellness benefits. Earlier this year, 23andMe made Comparably’s list of the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/23andmes-anne-wojcicki-among-the-best-ceos-for-women/">Best CEOs for Women</a>.



Making Comparably’s list of Best Company Work-Life Balance is validation that 23andMe&#8217;s work is helping our employees navigate the new realities of the workplace.&nbsp;

Work-Life Balance at 23andMe

We know you care about privacy, and we’ve been working hard to deliver on our promises of transparency and choice, even beyond your experience at 23andMe. 
This is why we’re excited to share that California recently enacted a new law to protect consumers’ genetic data privacy. We have worked hard with the <a href="https://geneticdataprotection.com/">Coalition for Genetic Data Protection</a> to make this happen in California, as well as <a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title13/Chapter60/13-60.html?v=C13-60_2021050520210505">Utah</a> and <a href="https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/44/08001.htm">Arizona</a> earlier this year, and we hope to see this legislation become a model for genetic privacy legislation nationally.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg" alt="" class="alignright wp-image-28236 size-medium" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 270w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 192w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 32w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-23ANDME-LOGO.jpg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
“We fundamentally believe that it&#8217;s our responsibility to protect our customers&#8217; data and ensure their privacy,” said Jacquie Cooke Haggarty, deputy general counsel, and privacy officer at 23andMe.  
We believe every consumer deserves the same level of genetic data privacy, and California’s new<a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB41#:~:text=SB%2041%2C%20Umberg.,Privacy%3A%20genetic%20testing%20companies.&#038;text=This%20bill%20would%20require%20a,days%20of%20revocation%20of%20consent."> Genetic Information Privacy Act</a> (“GIPA”), signed by Governor Newsom on October 6, 2021, builds on industry best practices and existing consumer privacy protections adopted by the state two years ago under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). GIPA requires genetic testing services to provide consumers with transparency and choice, which are 23andMe’s core privacy principles that have guided our privacy program from the beginning. 
“That trust is built on a foundation of transparency and choice — our customers know that they are always in control of their data,” Jacquie said.
In 2018, 23andMe joined forces with the non-profit <a href="https://fpf.org/about/">Future of Privacy Forum</a> and worked alongside other personal genetic testing companies, including Ancestry.com and Helix, to develop the <a href="https://fpf.org/blog/privacy-best-practices-for-consumer-genetic-testing-services/">Privacy Best Practices for Consumer Genetic Testing Services</a>. The best practices offer a framework for protecting consumer genetic data, as well as guidelines for the collection, protection, sharing, and use of genetic data generated from consumer genetic testing. 
Now all consumers in California, Utah, and Arizona will be afforded the same level of privacy protection regardless of whether the genetic testing company with which they tested adheres to the best practices or not. Importantly, genetic testing companies include those that provide genetic interpretation services, too.   
The California, Utah, and Arizona laws include many of the same protections that 23andMe has long offered its customers, including:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Requiring separate express consent for genetic data to be: </li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">used for scientific research purposes</li>
<li aria-level="2">shared with a third party</li>
<li aria-level="2">used for marketing purposes</li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">If a customer opts in to research, offering a simple way to opt-out of research at any time</li>
<li aria-level="1">Giving customers a clear and easy way to close their accounts and delete their data, if they choose</li>
<li aria-level="1">Requiring destruction of a customer’s biological sample within 30 days of the customer’s request </li>
<li aria-level="1">Prohibiting genetic testing companies from sharing genetic data with employers or providers of insurance for any reason</li>
<li aria-level="1">Requiring genetic testing companies to provide clear and complete information about their privacy practices and protocols</li>
</ul>
You can learn more about 23andMe’s privacy policies<a href="https://www.23andme.com/privacy/"> here</a>.

California Expands Consumer Protections for Genetic Testing

This week, Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe’s CEO, and Co-Founder signed a letter, along with dozens of CEOs, making a commitment toward advancing equity and inclusion for employees and customers with disabilities. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-30848 size-larger" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DEI-Blog-1024x536-1-880x461.png" alt="" width="880" height="461" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DEI-Blog-1024x536-1-880x461.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DEI-Blog-1024x536-1-300x157.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DEI-Blog-1024x536-1-768x402.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DEI-Blog-1024x536-1.png 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" />
The move deepened the company’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through participating in the Disability Equality Index. The index offers a way to gauge the company’s policies and practices for employees and customers with disabilities in the coming years.
Administered by the non-profit group, <a href="https://www.aapd.com/about/">American Association of People with Disabilities</a> and <a href="https://disabilityin.org/who-we-are/about/">Disability:IN</a>, the index will offer the company — and those outside the company — a benchmark assessment for measures of inclusivity for those with disabilities. It will allow 23andMe to better see how inclusive our products and working environment are for people with disabilities. The benchmarking will begin next year.
As a company that prides itself in celebrating the shared humanity of all people, diversity, equity and inclusion are at 23andMe’s core. People who feel empowered to be their authentic selves make better employees and bring broader perspectives to the work they do. That, in turn, helps the kinds of products we make and ensures that what we do serves all our customers, no matter their ability.
“The world really can change. But the world changes because there are individuals who drive forward that change,” Anne Wojcicki said in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctMLKTXqsmM&amp;t=194s">a discussion recently</a> about why making and following through with commitments toward diversity, equity, and inclusion are so important for the company.
“And so that’s the responsibility of 23andMe as an activist brand,” she said. “We have an opportunity, and frankly a responsibility, to lead. And there is absolutely this opportunity to drive forward a different, better, and more inclusive world &#8230;we’re going to try and lead by example.”
While 23andMe has made diversity, inclusion, and equity a priority, using the index in the coming years will allow 23andMe to deepen that commitment and it will offer ways of measuring our success and identifying areas for improvement.
For more information about the Disability Equity Index go <a href="https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/disability-equality-index/">here</a>.

Equity and Inclusion at 23andMe for People with Disabilities

23andMe’s internship program provides a diverse array of people with valuable experience and room to grow personally and professionally. The 2021 class of interns was the first to operate remotely, which allowed interns to contribute their talents and insights to the Gene Pool from every corner of the country. 
Read what some of our interns shared about what they accomplished, enjoyed, and experienced during their ten weeks with 23andMe. 
&nbsp;

<h6>Marcos Sandoval, IT Help Desk Intern &#8211; IT <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29086" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marcos-S-1-372x372.jpg 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
In this internship, I’ve learned how to use and provision various enterprise-level tools to help triage any and all IT-related issues. I have also been managing user permissions and troubleshooting problems! Something exciting I have been working on is helping prepare our Sunnyvale IT inventory for the move into a new location. Working at 23andMe has been an exciting opportunity so far, and I’ve learned much in the brief time I’ve spent here.
&nbsp;

<h6>Enyonam Odoom, Healthcare Operations Intern &#8211; Healthcare Operations <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-150x150.png" alt="Photo of Enyonam Odoom" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28974" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Enyonam-O.png 499w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
I&#8217;ve really enjoyed meeting with all the researchers at the company during my time here. Everyone, including researchers outside of my direct team, opened their calendars to me. It&#8217;s been a great opportunity to learn about what work is being done here, get career advice and mentorship, and just understand what working at 23andMe full time is like. I really appreciated that part of the internship. I&#8217;ve also loved learning more about how we can use genetics to help improve health, as that&#8217;s not something that was really emphasized while I was in school.
&nbsp;

<h6>Taylor Cavazos, Computational Biology Intern &#8211; Therapeutics<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29009" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Taylor-Cavazos_Headshot-980x980.jpg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
As a computational biology intern with 23andMe’s Therapeutics team, I’m working on an exciting project that incorporates ancestry to identify variants in the human genome that alter our gene expression. It has been amazing to have the opportunity to conduct research at 23andMe that prioritizes the inclusion of diverse participants and has the potential to drive the development of new therapies. I not only enjoy working with the incredible researchers at 23andMe, but also the overall culture and environment that encourages creativity! 
&nbsp;

<h6>Mark McAdam, Secure Amazon Web Services Intern &#8211; Security <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mark-McAdams-e1628805752795-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29087" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mark-McAdams-e1628805752795-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Mark-McAdams-e1628805752795-271x271.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
If Terraform feels like a superpower when it comes to provisioning resources in AWS, running Terragrunt on top of Terraform feels like managing a team of superheroes. It&#8217;s literally that powerful. I am on a team that is building an application stack that allows people to provision resources to use in AWS without having to worry if they are building it securely, the safeguards are in place. 
Every day I come to work, I get to rub shoulders with a team of brilliant individuals as I try to match their skill and enthusiasm. I get to work on solving problems that have real-world implications. 
&nbsp;

<h6>Cailyn Schiltz, Internal Communications Intern &#8211; Communications<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-150x150.png" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28969" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cailyn-S.png 499w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
Working in Internal Comms has taught me just how important every facet of a company is. I planned a Customer Panel for National Sisters&#8217; Day, and getting to see the real-world impacts of 23andMe was so powerful. People find families and can learn life-changing information from their genetic reports, and none of that would be possible without everyone at the company doing their part. Internal Comms is the glue holding the whole operation together. 
This internship has challenged not only my writing skills, but my creativity and leadership skills. I was responsible for weekly newsletters, DEI initiatives, and redesigning the company intranet. What made it truly special was the culture at 23andMe and the incredible team I got to work with. I felt like my thoughts were valued and had an impact, and I was comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone. Interning with 23andMe gave me experience in a new field, a broader perspective on what it means to be a communicator, and the confidence to push myself to learn.
&nbsp;

<h6>Bhairavi Swaminathan, Statistical Genetics Intern &#8211; Research<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bhairavi-S-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-29008" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bhairavi-S-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bhairavi-S-271x271.jpg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
My internship goal was to replicate and test a publicly available fine-mapping tool with publicly available GWAS data. I definitely learned a lot both in aspects of science and skill sets &#8211; I got to process large datasets and code in a new language. Working at 23andMe has been an amazing experience: I learned a lot about different roles in different departments. People are approachable, friendly, and excited about what they do. I especially enjoyed working with my mentor, Karl, and the discussions with my colleague, Pierre. 
&nbsp;

<h6>April Orozco, Environmental Health &amp; Safety Specialist Intern &#8211; Workplace <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-150x150.png" alt="A photo of April Orozco" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28968" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/April-O-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
I am most proud of seeing the South San Francisco lab flourish even amidst a global pandemic! With EH&amp;S programs being more thoroughly developed as 23andMe&#8217;s Therapeutics department grows, I feel like I truly have been granted a one-of-a-kind opportunity to identify, develop, and mature EH&amp;S programs that can have a lasting effect. Also, everyone I have met in the office and virtually  have been remarkably open to filling in any gaps in my knowledge. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to dive into the field with a company fueled by such an amazing mission.
&nbsp;

<h6>Alix Henderson, Archives Intern &#8211; Office of the CEO<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-150x150.png" alt="A photo of Alix Henderson" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28976" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Alix-H-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
Learning about the 15 year history of 23andMe through its internal archive has been a unique experience within itself. I am most proud of the improvements I have made in organizing and formatting our archived documents for more successful search and retrieval by the 23andMe team. Advancing the accessibility of these documents promotes the efficiency and education of the company&#8217;s growing success. In partnership with the other Archives Intern, Christina Li, we have developed a written account of the history of 23andMe for onboarding team members to potentially utilize in the future. 
Being able to express the milestones that 23andMe has achieved through the years testifies to the culture of the company itself and why I have enjoyed working here through the summer. I have been challenged in developing my archival knowledge and promoted to connect with multiple departments to continue my growth as a student and young professional.
&nbsp;

<h6>Ayanna Ajilore, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Intern- People Team <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-150x150.png" alt="A photo of Ayanna Ajilore" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-28964" width="150" height="150" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ayanna-A-372x372.png 372w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></h6>
This was my first time working full-time in DEI, so this summer, I really wanted to learn not just about 23andMe but also if this is the type of work I really want to do every day. Fortunately, not only did I affirm that I love this work, but I also found a place that welcomes me to do it to my heart&#8217;s content.
My work involves having a lot of fingers in a lot of different pots, which gave me the chance to see different sides of the job. I  spent the summer actively working on projects to improve our company and our product which was really refreshing. Some companies and people shy away from confronting their issues in DEI, but here, I spend so much time just helping people figure out how to get past a hurdle on a current project or get started on a new one.
While we still have a long way to go, I believe that 23andMe is really a company to watch in this field and I hope that I am able to continue to contribute to its journey.

Intern-al Perspectives

23andMe added eight new regions within North America reflecting Indigenous genetic ancestry. The addition is in response not just to requests from thousands of customers, but also as part of an ongoing effort to create a 23andMe Ancestry Service that better reflects the diverse genetic ancestries of our customers.
With guidance from experts including Indigenous scientists, our team worked to provide some customers who have Indigenous ancestry from what is now the United States and Canada with more detailed ancestry results. In parallel, we created an experience that is both educational and transparent, in which we explain why genetic ancestry results cannot be used to seek or confirm any form of Indigenous belonging such as membership in a Tribe or Nation.
In 2019, we added a feature called “<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/caribbean-latin-american/">Recent Ancestry in the Americas</a>,” which offers clues about our customers’ <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-indigenous-mexican-ancestry">ancestry from Mexico</a>, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. With this update in North America, we are now able to offer more detail about some customers’ Indigenous ancestry from what is now the U.S. and Canada, as well. Some customers will be seeing this update over the next several weeks as it is rolled out.
Customers can view their Ancestry Composition <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ancestry_composition_hd/">here</a>.
<h3>What are the new regions?</h3>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="536" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28905" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1.png 700w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Regions-1-300x230.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></figure>
 
<h3></h3>
<h3>How was this analysis done?</h3>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">To determine our reference groups, we selected customers with Indigenous American genetic ancestry who consented to participate in research and indicated in their <a href="https://you.23andme.com/research/surveys/family_origins_v2/">Family Origins survey</a> that at least one of their grandparents was affiliated with one North American Indigenous Tribe, Band, Sovereignty, First Nation, or other community. We excluded from the analysis any DNA predicted by our Ancestry Composition analysis to be inherited from a European, Asian, or African ancestor. In this way, we can ensure that the shared ancestry we are identifying was inherited from an Indigenous American ancestor.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Next, to uncover geographic patterns of Indigenous ancestry in what is now the US and Canada, we removed individuals from the analysis who shared large amounts of DNA with people whose grandparents were born in Mexico, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Then, we used a technique called genetic clustering to identify potential groups of individuals who share higher levels of DNA with each other than they do with others in the analysis. These genetic groups became our reference groups for this feature, and we then are able to compare customers’ DNA to the DNA of individuals within these reference groups.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Finally, we generated maps based on where the individuals in these groups told us their grandparents who identified as Indigenous American were born.</li>
</ol>
For a more detailed explanation of the methods used in this analysis, visit our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">Indigenous American ancestry FAQ page</a>.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="501" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28904" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster.png 512w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Genetic-Cluster-300x294.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
 
<h3>Will customers’ percentages update?</h3>
No. For a given Indigenous North American region match we indicate our confidence in the result, reported as &#8220;likely match,&#8221; or &#8220;highly likely match.&#8221; This works the same way as our Recent Ancestor Locations feature. If we are not able to detect a genetic match to a region with confidence, we report this as &#8220;not detected.&#8221;
This update will only affect customers who already have Indigenous American genetic ancestry as estimated by 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition algorithm. In other words, if you did not already have some percentage of DNA predicted to match our Indigenous American reference population, then you cannot receive a match to one of these eight new regions. 
Furthermore, not everyone with Indigenous American ancestry will receive a match to a region at this time.
<h3>How many customers can expect to get a match to one of the new regions?</h3>
Fewer than 10 percent of customers with some Indigenous American genetic ancestry will receive a match at this time, though this number may be higher for customers with known Indigenous ancestry from North America. The science behind this update is both rigorous and conservative, meaning we focused on ensuring that there were as few false matches as possible. As a result of this approach, there will be some individuals with known Indigenous American ancestry from North America who do not receive a match to any region at this time. We understand that not seeing an expected match can be confusing, but our ability to match someone to a region based on DNA is only as good as the size and diversity of the reference groups and algorithms used to predict them. Over time, as more people with Indigenous American ancestors join 23andMe, customers’ results may change.  More information about unexpected results can be found in our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">FAQs</a>.
<h3>What are the new regions?</h3>

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29044" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-880x495.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001-1180x664.jpeg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Indigenous-Region-Maps.001.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<ul>
<li>Alaska: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Alaska, as well as some parts of western Canada.</li>
<li>Columbia River Basin: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Washington, as well as some parts of southwestern Canada, Idaho, and Oregon.</li>
<li>Great Basin &amp; Colorado River Basin: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Nevada and California, as well as parts of Arizona and southern Idaho.</li>
<li>Great Lakes and Canada: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as the Upper Midwest of the U.S., including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as some parts of North Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, and central and southern Canada.</li>
<li>Northeast: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as New York, as well as other U.S. states in the Northeast, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine. Some individuals’ grandparents were born in parts of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oklahoma.</li>
<li>Plains: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as South Dakota, as well as some parts of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, southern Minnesota, and Nebraska.</li>
<li>South Central: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as Oklahoma, as well as parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and Mississippi.</li>
<li>Southwest: Grandparents of individuals within this genetic reference group were primarily born in what is now known as New Mexico, as well as parts of Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. 
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Here’s why we took our time getting this right</h3>
There are a few reasons we’ve been unable to provide additional geographic clues about our customers’ Indigenous American ancestry through DNA to date, including:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">There has been a centuries-long eradication of Indigenous peoples by the settler-colonist societies of North America (including cultural assimilation and forced resettlements). This history makes it difficult for geneticists to distinguish biogeographic ancestry from different parts of North America.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Having observed decades of exploitation of Indigenous peoples at the hands of researchers from a host of biomedical disciplines, many Indigenous American leaders, activists, and scientists have advocated for greater community involvement in research, and cautioned their communities to require reassurances from scientists who seek to work with them, such as through collaboration, data sharing, and education about consent. In an effort to protect their communities, some Indigenous scientists and Tribal leaders have even called for outright moratoriums on genetic research.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Furthermore, as explored in greater detail in <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/native-american-dna/">this blog post</a>, many Indigenous scientists and activists are concerned about how the genetic ancestry testing industry creates an environment that implicitly allows and sometimes encourages consumers to misunderstand their DNA results and use those results to claim belonging or kinship with an Indigenous group. In large part, these concerns are centered on the potential for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetic ancestry</a> tests to impact the sovereignties of North American First Nations and Tribes, such as when consumers attempt to access tangible or intangible benefits of membership through their DNA results, undermining an Indigenous Nation’s sovereign right to determine membership in the manner they choose.</li>
</ol>
<h3>What steps did our team take to mitigate potential harm to Indigenous sovereignties while providing additional geographic detail?</h3>
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">With guidance from experts including Indigenous scientists, we created an <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/indigenous-american-faqs/">educational page</a> with answers to common questions about this update, and information about how 23andMe defines Indigenous American genetic ancestry. This page is easily discoverable to customers through their results, and it is also viewable by the public.</li>
<li aria-level="1">In providing these new regions, and following recommendations by advisors, we did not use information about Tribe or Indigenous Nation affiliation to curate the genetic groups. Furthermore, because cultural, Tribe, Nation, or ethnic affiliation was not used to curate these groups — and because Indigenous peoples are not discrete genetic groups — each of the eight regions likely reflect ancestry from many Tribes or First Nations.</li>
<li aria-level="1">To create the region maps, we used only the customers’ reported grandparent birth locations, minimizing biased data curation.</li>
<li aria-level="1">We are transparent about the methods that were used to determine these regions as well as the methods used to provide customers with matches to these regions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">We have published educational material available to the public about how genetic ancestry testing can impact Indigenous sovereignties and peoples, including <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/native-american-dna/">this recent blog post</a>.</li>
</ol>
We hope that this update will inspire many to learn more about the complex histories and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in North America in a manner that respects the ways in which Indigenous Peoples define themselves.

A map of the bio-geographic ancestral regions that include the Columbia River Basin, the Great Basin & Colorado River Basin, Great Lakes& Canada, the Northeast, South Central, the Plains and Southwest.

A new analysis sheds light on some customers’ Indigenous genetic ancestry from North America

Mission-driven, innovative, and able to inspire employees, 23andMe&#8217;s CEO and Co-Founder Anne Wojcicki, has always been central to what makes this a great place to work.
This week <a href="https://www.comparably.com/news/best-ceos-for-women-2021/">Comparably</a> released its list of the Best CEOs for Women in 2021, and Anne was prominently listed. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="859" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-859x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26375" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-859x1024.jpeg 859w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-990x1180.jpeg 990w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-252x300.jpeg 252w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-768x915.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anne-headshot_2018-e1532470981667-739x880.jpeg 739w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 859px) 100vw, 859px" /></figure>
 
The list was compiled through ratings from female employees on Comparably.com over the last year. The award highlights leaders whose female employees consistently rated them at the top. The awards were categorized by company size. 23andMe was in the large size category with 500 or more employees. 

This isn&#8217;t the first time that Anne has been singled out over the years for her leadership and her ability to inspire employees. The recognition now affirmed her leadership during the challenges of the pandemic faced by workers over the last year. Anne did it all while also guiding the business through its transition to a publicly-traded company. 

As one employee said about Anne in the anonymous rating:
&#8220;I love that she values work-life balance and treats us as human beings rather than cogs in a machine. I also love her readiness to innovate&#8211;even in things like rethinking the workplace of the future.&#8221;
You can find out more about work-life at 23andMe, and careers by going <a href="https://www.23andme.com/careers/">here</a>.

News — Page 7