Women in Leadership | Sheryl Sandberg
I came across TED Talk of Sheryl Sandberg on YouTube a while ago. Witnessing another woman at the pinnacle of her career is particularly inspiring for me.
This effort is primarily a personal initiative to educate myself about women in leadership and to gain valuable insights from their experiences. Today, we embark on the first series featuring Sheryl Sandberg who has helped Facebook to become profitable. Join me as we delve into some intriguing facts, key learnings, and the thought processes that define her remarkable journey. Before we jump into Sheryl Sandberg story of success, let’s understand few statistics of leadership position across the world.
Women hold 20% of CEO positions.
Interestingly, women hold 74.2 % of human resource positions.
Only 4.9% of Fortune 500 CEOs and 2% of S&P 500 CEOs are women.
Let’s now deep dive into the journey of Sheryl Sandberg :
Advocate for yourself, be assertive. Embrace your ambition. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. — Advice from Sheryl Sandberg
- Sheryl Sandberg served as Chief Operating Officer ( COO ) of Facebook, now Meta, from 2008 until the fall of 2022; she still sits on its board.
- In a June 2022 Facebook post, Sandberg announced she was stepping down to focus on her philanthropic work.
- Sandberg is the author of the bestsellers Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead and Lean In for Graduates.
- Sheryl is now worth $1.8B
- Sandberg has campaigned against using the word “bossy,” arguing that it damages women’s confidence and desire to pursue leadership roles.
- Sheryl made history by being the eighth member and the first woman of Facebook’s board of directors in the year 2012
- In addition to her corporate roles, Sheryl Sandberg is also known for her advocacy for women’s empowerment and gender equality
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“Being Confident and believing in yourself is important to achieve what you truly want to achieve” — Sheryl Sandberg.
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Let’s deep dive into journey of Sheryl Sandberg :
/In 2007, Mark Zuckerberg encountered Sheryl Sandberg, even though he wasn’t actively seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the time. Despite the absence of a formal search for the role, Zuckerberg recognized Sandberg as the ideal fit for the position.
/Subsequently, Sheryl Sandberg played a pivotal role in devising strategies to make Facebook a profitable venture. By 2010, her efforts had contributed to Facebook’s transformation into a profitable entity. Her close partnership with Zuckerberg was seen as a crucial ingredient in Facebook’s success.
/In 2009, Sheryl Sandberg extended her influence beyond Facebook by joining the board of The Walt Disney Company.
/ Her remarkable contributions did not go unnoticed, as she was acknowledged as one of the most influential individuals globally, earning a place in Time 100’s annual list in the year 2012.
/ She founded the non-profit organization LeanIn.Org.
/ She confronted the unexpected loss of her husband, Dave Goldberg.She wrote about his death in Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy (2017; cowritten with Adam Grant), which offers guidance on overcoming various hardships.
/ Sandberg married Tom Bernthal in a ceremony in August 2022 in Wyoming after three years together.
/ In 2001, Sandberg became a part of the search engine company Google, Inc., taking on the role of general manager for its business unit, despite the absence of such a unit at that time. Rapidly advancing in her career, she soon ascended to the position of vice president of global online sales and operations.
/ In this capacity, she led the development of AdWords, responsible for placing text advertisements on search result pages, and AdSense, which facilitated relevant advertisements on the websites of individuals and companies partnering with Google. The success of both AdWords and AdSense significantly contributed to Google’s profitability and constituted a substantial portion of the company’s earning
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“The seeds of resilience are planted in the way we process the negative events in our lives.” : Sheryl Sandberg
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Sheryl Sandberg is an American business executive and author, best known for her roles at Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.). Born on August 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C., she has played a significant role in shaping the tech industry.
Prior to her time at Facebook, she held various high-profile positions, including serving as Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google. Sandberg is widely credited with helping Facebook expand its business and revenue, playing a crucial role in the company’s growth and success.
Sheryl Sandberg has been recognized for her leadership and influence in the tech industry and beyond. Her career and contributions have made her a prominent figure in discussions about gender diversity and leadership in corporate America.
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There are thought process which aligned with me really well, especially something which I didn’t realise during my school or college days.
The thought process has been taken from her ted talk on Youtube which was published on 22 Dec 2010. It made me think and rethink a lot of things. Please find the few snippets below :
/ Women systematically underestimate their own abilities. ( how many times I have seen this happening, and also once my mentor told me this as well — ‘why do you underestimate yourself so much when you are so much better’. That thought process remained with me. )
/ If you ask men, and women questions objectively like GPA’s etc — Men get it wrong slightly high, and women get it wrong slightly low. Women do not negotiate for themselves in the workforce.
/ Interestingly, women attribute their success stories to external factors whereas men attribute their success stories to themselves. Why does this matter? It does matter my friend, because no one gets promotion if they think they do not deserve it. ( What I have seen around men demand what they really want where else women request for what they need)
/ As Sheryl Sandberg wrote: “maybe someday shedding tears in the workplace will no longer be viewed as embarrassing or weak, but as a simple display of authentic emotion. And maybe the compassion and sensitivity that have historically held some women back will make them more natural leaders in the future.” | I’ve often pondered on the negative connotation we attach to tears. Emotions are subjective, and each individual ascribes unique meanings to their feelings.
One notable insight that strongly resonates with me lately is her observation about the differing pressures placed on girls and boys to succeed. Emphasizing the necessity to shift this conversation is crucial. There is a crucial need to encourage women to venture out, explore, and learn. Engaging in meaningful conversations with others plays a pivotal role in personal growth.
If you can, take this important learning/advice from her :
Raise your hand always.
Sit on the table.
Find yourself the right partner.
Do not lean back, you got this women
