My daughters attended Harvard, Yale, and Stanford; they then became the CEOs of YouTube and 23andMe. Letting them fail helped them grow into leaders.

Anne Wojcicki and Susan Wojcicki

Andrew Harnik/ Getty Images; Eric Gaillard/ Reuters

• Esther Wojcicki taught her three daughters that it was OK to fail and try again.
• She said emphasizing independence from toddlerhood helped them succeed.
• Esther's belief in independent thinking is rooted in the death of her baby brother, she says.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Esther Wojcicki, creator of the Parenting TRICK app. It has been edited for length and clarity.