COO, Facebook/Meta – 2008-2022 | Google – 2001-2008
Despite being one of only four vendor leaders in this countdown not to hold, or have held, CEO status, Sheryl Sandberg has arguably had a bigger impact on business culture than any of her peers.
The former Facebook COO was a top-five pick for four of the 60 channel leaders we sounded out, with one person putting her top.
Credited with helping to make Facebook profitable as Mark Zuckerberg’s number two, Sandberg in 2013 released Lean In, a book aimed at professional women that went on to sell 4.2 million copies. She also launched LeanIn.Org, a non-profit designed to “help women achieve their ambitions and work to create an equal world”.
Leadership style
Sandberg reportedly focused on fostering a more transparent culture at Facebook, with collaboration, resilience and compassion among the other leadership traits commonly attributed to her.
Low points
Facebook’s role in Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election is among the more controversial episodes of Sandberg’s tenure.
Killer quote
“Women need to shift from thinking ‘I’m not ready to do that’ to thinking ‘I want to do that – and I’ll learn by doing it’.” (taken from Lean In)
What our panellists said about Sandberg
Yvonne Matzk, Founder, Coachere
“Whether it be through her book Lean In, or paying it forward and supporting other women such as Kim Scott [author of Radical Candor], Sheryl is one of the most inspirational female role models of her time.”
Dave Stevinson, CEO, QBS Technology Group
“I am proposing Sheryl Sandberg as the greatest female tech leader ever. She has held senior leadership roles in two of Silicon Valley’s most exciting companies – Google and META – and is the author of “Lean In”, arguably one of the most important books written to empower female employees. She was the first woman to serve on the board of directors at Facebook and has demonstrated her ability to guide founder(s) and navigate new industries where regulations are emerging. She helped to take both Google and META organisations global and ensure that even today they are two of the most valuable tech companies in the world. Whilst doing this she was able to bring up a family and maintain an impeccable reputation. There are many great leaders, but few inspire me as much as Sheryl Sandberg does.”
How did IT Channel Oxygen compile The Century’s Greatest Vendor Leaders? See here
