My curation of top career advice from Sheryl Sandberg

In 2007, Mark Zuckerberg met Sheryl Sandberg at a Christmas party.

While Zuck had no formal search for a Chief Operating Officer (COO), but thought Sandberg as "a perfect fit" for this role.

Back then, FaceBook was interested in building a really cool site for people to hang out. Profits, they assumed, would "follow".

After joining Sheryl began to figure out how to make Facebook profitable. By 2010, Facebook had become profitable.

Sheryl is now worth $1.8B.

Here is my breakdown of her key career moments and top career lessons.

1969: Sheryl Sandberg was born in Washington DC
1991: Earns her Bachelor's in Economics from Harvard.
1995: MBA from Harvard Business School.
1996: Management consultant for McKinsey.
2001: Joined Google as Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations. Gains reputation as a tech luminary.
2007: Mark Zuckerberg convinced her to join FaceBook.
2008: Becomes COO at Facebook. Takes on the goal of making Facebook profitable.
2009: Joins the board of The Walt Disney Company.
2012: Sheryl made history by being the eighth member and the first woman of Facebook's board of directors
2012: Recognized as one of the most influential people in the world, in Time 100's annual list.
2013: Released her first book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.
Quote from her book "..we're failing to encourage women to aspire to leadership. It is time to cheer on girls and women who want to sit at the table, seek challenges, and lean in to their careers."
2013: Creates the non-profit - LeanIn.Org.
2015: Lost her husband Dave Goldberg unexpectedly.
2017: Sandberg released her second book, Option B. The book puts emphasis on grief and resilience in challenges within life.
2022: Step down as Meta COO. Continues to serve on its board.

Here is my curation of top career advice from Sheryl Sandberg.

Q: Can you share your most significant career challenge and how you overcame it?
My most significant challenge was dealing with the sudden loss of my husband. It was incredibly tough. I overcame it by leaning on my support network, being open about my struggles, and seeking help when needed. This experience taught me the importance of resilience and the value of compassionate workplaces.

Q: What's the most important piece of career advice?
Lean in. Don't be afraid to take on challenges, raise your hand for opportunities, and believe in yourself. Embrace your ambition. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Advocate for yourself, be assertive.

Q: Can you share your perspective on achieving work-life balance?
Work-life balance is a constant challenge, especially for women. Set boundaries and prioritize what matters most to you. Communicate openly with your family, partner, and employer about your needs. Remember that it's okay to ask for help when needed.

Follow along for more Career Breakdowns.
My Deliberate Career Design workshop starts tomorrow.