Sheryl Sandberg Makes Technology Her Life’s Work

Few women, even men, can say that technology is their life’s work but Sheryl Kara Sandberg can say it for herself. Her impressive resume says it all – technology executive as well as author and activist.

Born 28 August 1969, Sandberg was an academic achiever, class president, and member of the National Honor Society during her high school years. In 1991, she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. Economics degree from Harvard College and recognized with the John H. Williams Prize. She worked with Larry Summers, her mentor and thesis adviser, as his research assistant for a year at the World Bank.

In 1995, she earned her MBA at the Harvard Business School where she once again gained the highest distinction. Her advanced education certainly serves her well in her many capacities as technology executive in global companies like Facebook and Google.

Sandberg was worked as the chief of staff for the United States Secretary of Treasury. She then transitioned as Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations for the global giant, Google, where she was instrumental in the launching of its philanthropic arm (Google.org).

She has another distinction to be proud of. In June 2012, she was elected into Facebook’s board of directors, thus, becoming the first woman to do so. Since September 2014, she was appointed as the social media giant’s chief operating officer (COO), thus, continuing her streak of influence in the technology industry.

But Sandberg is not just another uber-successful technology executive either. She is also an author and an activist with her most notable work being as co-author of “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead”, which was co-written with Nell Scovell. Her book inspired the so-called Lean In movement that assists women in the achievement of their professional and personal goals.

For her work, Sandberg has been recognized by various bodies, such as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine; one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune Magazine; and one of the 25 Most Influential People on the Web by BusinessWeek.