Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is an American business executive, author, and philanthropist best known for serving as the chief operating officer of Facebook, later renamed Meta, where she built one of the most lucrative advertising businesses in history. She is also widely recognized for her advocacy on behalf of women in the workplace, especially through her bestselling book Lean In.

Early Life and Education

Sandberg was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Florida. She was an outstanding student, earning a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University, where she was recognized for top academic achievement. After graduation she worked at the World Bank under the economist Lawrence Summers, who became a mentor. She returned to Harvard to complete a master of business administration before beginning a career that would span government, technology, and public advocacy.

From Government to Google

Early in her career, Sandberg worked as a management consultant and then served as chief of staff to Summers during his tenure as United States Secretary of the Treasury. This experience in public service gave her insight into large organizations and policy, but her path soon turned toward Silicon Valley.

She joined Google in the early 2000s, where she played a central role in building and scaling the company's online advertising and sales operations. Under her leadership, Google's automated advertising systems grew into a major source of revenue, and she developed a reputation as an exceptionally capable operator who could turn ambitious technology into sustainable business.

Building Facebook's Business

In 2008, Sandberg was recruited by Mark Zuckerberg to become chief operating officer of Facebook, then a fast-growing but commercially immature social network. She is credited with creating the company's advertising-driven business model, transforming Facebook into a highly profitable enterprise and helping guide it through its initial public offering. As the seasoned executive complementing a younger founder, she became one of the most powerful women in technology.

Her tenure was not without controversy. Facebook faced intense scrutiny over privacy, misinformation, and the handling of user data, and Sandberg was a central figure in the company's responses to these challenges. After more than fourteen years in the role, she stepped down as COO in 2022, remaining on the company's board for a period before fully departing.

Lean In and Advocacy

Beyond her corporate work, Sandberg became a prominent voice on gender equality in the workplace. Her 2013 book Lean In encouraged women to pursue leadership ambitions and sparked a broad public conversation about the obstacles women face in their careers. The book led to the creation of the LeanIn.Org organization, which supports peer networks and resources for women.

Following the sudden death of her husband, Dave Goldberg, Sandberg wrote Option B, co-authored with the psychologist Adam Grant, exploring resilience and recovery from grief and adversity. The work reflected a more personal dimension of her public life and resonated with readers facing their own hardships.

Philanthropy and Legacy

Sandberg has devoted significant energy to philanthropy through the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, supporting causes related to women's empowerment, grief support, and combating prejudice. Recognized repeatedly among the world's most influential and powerful women, she occupies a notable place in modern business history as both a builder of one of technology's dominant companies and a public advocate whose ideas reached well beyond the corporate world.