Who / What
Sheryl Sandberg is an American technology executive, philanthropist, and writer. She served as the chief operating officer of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) from 2008 to 2022 and is the founder of the women's empowerment nonprofit LeanIn.Org.
Background & History
Sheryl Sandberg was born in 1969 and graduated from Harvard University. Her career included roles as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Treasury Department and Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. She joined Facebook as COO in 2008, a key period in the company's rapid growth.
Why Notable
Sandberg is notable for being the first woman elected to Facebook's board of directors and for her influential role in scaling the company's business operations and advertising platform. She gained further recognition for authoring the bestselling book "Lean In," which sparked global conversations about women in leadership. Her work through LeanIn.Org has promoted workplace equality and mentorship for women.
In the News
Sheryl Sandberg stepped down from her role as COO of Meta Platforms in 2022, marking a significant transition after 14 years with the company. Her departure was widely covered as a major shift in the tech industry's leadership landscape, and she continues to be a prominent voice on gender equality issues.
