Marian Croak: The Black Woman Whose Tech Genius Powers Zoom, FaceTime, and WhatsApp

When you hop on a Zoom call, FaceTime a loved one, or send a quick WhatsApp voice note, you probably don’t think about the person who made it all possible. But behind the screens and seamless connections is Marian Croak a brilliant Black woman whose groundbreaking work in technology literally changed the way the world communicates.

And now, she’s finally getting her flowers. 🌹

Marian Croak has officially been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a recognition long overdue for someone whose inventions are used by billions daily. With over 200 patents to her name, Croak’s work has laid the foundation for modern internet-based communication systems.

The Woman Who Revolutionized Communication

Croak is best known for her pioneering work on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)—the technology that allows us to transmit audio and video over the internet. Without it, there would be no Zoom meetings, no FaceTime calls, no WhatsApp voice notes, no Google Meet… none of it.

Think about that for a second: during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world shut down, her work kept families connected, classrooms open, and businesses running. That’s legacy.

More Than Just an Inventor

Born in 1955, Croak grew up in New York and later earned her Ph.D. in Quantitative Analysis and Psychology from the University of Southern California. She went on to become a senior executive at AT&T, where she spearheaded advancements in internet technology.

One of her most powerful innovations? Enabling text donations for disaster relief efforts. After Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, her work allowed millions of dollars to be raised through simple text-to-donate campaigns. That tech has since become a standard tool in charitable giving.

Breaking Barriers in Tech

Tech has always been a male-dominated space—especially for Black women. Yet Croak carved out a name for herself and now serves as a VP of Engineering at Google, where she continues to innovate in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

Her induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame isn’t just a personal milestone—it’s a statement. A reminder that Black women have always been at the forefront of innovation, even if the world takes decades to acknowledge it.

Why This Matters

Representation matters. Recognition matters. Stories like Marian Croak’s remind us that the tech we depend on daily isn’t just the result of Silicon Valley “bros” in hoodies—it’s also the legacy of brilliant Black women who fought to be seen and heard in spaces that weren’t built for them.

So yes, let’s give her flowers while she’s here to smell them. Because without Marian Croak, our modern way of communicating simply wouldn’t exist.