History of Sheryl Sandberg in Timeline
Sheryl Sandberg is an American tech executive and philanthropist widely recognized for her role as Meta Platforms' COO until August 2022. During her tenure, she spearheaded Facebook's advertising business, leading it to profitability and holding the second-highest position. Sandberg's career includes significant roles at Google, where she led global online sales and operations, and at the World Bank. She is also an advocate for women's leadership, founding LeanIn.Org. Her impactful career and advocacy have solidified her as a prominent figure in technology and beyond.
August 28, 1969: Birth of Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Kara Sandberg was born on August 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C.
1969: Early Life and Family Background
Sheryl Sandberg was born in 1969 in Washington, D.C. to Adele and Joel Sandberg. She is the eldest of their three children.
1987: High School Years and Graduation
In 1987, Sheryl Sandberg graduated ninth in her class from North Miami Beach High School. During her time there, she was actively involved in various leadership roles and even taught aerobics.
1987: Sandberg Enrolls at Harvard College
Sheryl Sandberg began her undergraduate studies at Harvard College in 1987, pursuing a degree in economics.
1991: Harvard Graduation and Early Career
Sheryl Sandberg graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. She received the John H. Williams Prize for her outstanding performance as an economics student.
1993: Sandberg Attends Harvard Business School
Sheryl Sandberg continued her academic journey by enrolling at Harvard Business School in 1993.
1993: Marriage to Brian Kraff
Sheryl Sandberg married Brian Kraff in 1993.
1995: Start of Sandberg's Career as a Management Consultant
After completing her MBA in 1995, Sheryl Sandberg began her professional career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
1995: Sandberg Earns MBA with High Distinction
In 1995, Sheryl Sandberg graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA, earning the highest distinction for her academic achievements.
1996: Sandberg Joins the U.S. Treasury Department
Sheryl Sandberg joined the United States Treasury Department in 1996, working under Lawrence Summers, then-Secretary of the Treasury, as his chief of staff.
2001: End of Sandberg's Tenure at the U.S. Treasury
In 2001, Sheryl Sandberg concluded her role at the U.S. Treasury Department, where she made significant contributions during the Asian financial crisis.
2001: Sandberg's Tenure at Google Begins
Sheryl Sandberg started working at Google in 2001, taking charge of online sales for advertising and publishing products. Her role also included overseeing sales operations for consumer products and Google Book Search.
2004: Marriage to Dave Goldberg
Sheryl Sandberg married Dave Goldberg, then a Yahoo! executive and later CEO of SurveyMonkey, in 2004.
2007: Sandberg and Zuckerberg's Initial Meeting
Sheryl Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, crossed paths at a Christmas party hosted by Dan Rosensweig in 2007. This encounter proved pivotal in shaping Facebook's future.
March 2008: Facebook Announces Hiring of Sandberg as COO
In a significant move, Facebook announced the appointment of Sheryl Sandberg as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) in March 2008.
2008: Sandberg Becomes COO of Facebook
Sheryl Sandberg joined Facebook as its chief operating officer (COO) in 2008, marking a pivotal moment in her career and the company's trajectory.
2008: Support for Larry Summers
In 2008, Sheryl Sandberg publicly supported her mentor, Larry Summers, amidst criticism regarding his comments about women.
2009: Sandberg Joins The Walt Disney Company Board
In 2009, Sheryl Sandberg joined the board of The Walt Disney Company, adding to her portfolio of board memberships.
December 2010: TED Talk: "Why we have too few women leaders"
Sheryl Sandberg gave a TED speech titled "Why we have too few women leaders" in December 2010, sparking conversations about gender disparity in leadership roles.
2010: Facebook Achieves Profitability
By 2010, Facebook achieved profitability, a significant milestone attributed in part to Sheryl Sandberg's strategic direction.
May 2011: Commencement Address at Barnard College
In May 2011, Sheryl Sandberg delivered the Commencement Address at the Barnard College graduation ceremony.
May 2012: Keynote Speaker at Harvard Business School
Sheryl Sandberg served as the keynote speaker at the Class Day ceremony at the Harvard Business School in May 2012.
June 2012: Sandberg Joins Facebook's Board of Directors
In June 2012, Sheryl Sandberg was elected to Facebook's board of directors, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
2012: Sandberg's Expanding Role at Facebook
By 2012, Sheryl Sandberg's responsibilities at Facebook encompassed overseeing various business operations, including sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy, and communications.
2012: Sandberg Becomes First Woman on Facebook's Board
Making history, Sheryl Sandberg became the first woman to serve on Facebook's board of directors in 2012.
2012: Sandberg Named to Time 100
Sheryl Sandberg's influence was recognized in 2012 when she was named one of the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine.
March 11, 2013: Publication of "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead"
Sheryl Sandberg's first book, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead", co-authored with Nell Scovell, was published by Knopf on March 11, 2013.
April 2013: Keynote Speaker at Colgate University's Entrepreneur Weekend
In April 2013, Sheryl Sandberg was the keynote speaker during the second annual Entrepreneur Weekend at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
2013: "Lean In" Tops Bestseller Lists
By the fall of 2013, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" had sold over a million copies and achieved bestseller status, solidifying its impact on discussions about women in leadership.
March 2014: Launch of the "Ban Bossy" Campaign
Sheryl Sandberg and Lean In launched the "Ban Bossy" campaign in March 2014, aiming to eliminate the word "bossy" from common usage due to its perceived negative impact on young girls' self-perception.
April 2014: Sandberg Sells a Portion of Facebook Shares
In April 2014, it was reported that Sheryl Sandberg had sold more than half of her Facebook shares since the company went public.
2014: Restraining Order Against Bobby Kotick
A former girlfriend of Bobby Kotick filed a temporary restraining order against him in 2014.
May 1, 2015: Death of Dave Goldberg
On May 1, 2015, Sheryl Sandberg's husband, Dave Goldberg, passed away unexpectedly due to an arrhythmia while the couple was on vacation.
September 2015: Open Letter for Gender Equality in Development Funding
Sheryl Sandberg joined other influential figures in signing an open letter advocating for women's empowerment in development funding, addressed to Angela Merkel and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, leaders of the G7 and AU respectively, in September 2015.
November 2016: Establishment of the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation
Sheryl Sandberg renamed her Lean In Foundation to the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation in November 2016, expanding its scope to encompass both LeanIn.Org and initiatives related to her book "Option B".
2016: Russian Interference in US Election and Cambridge Analytica Scandal
Facebook faced significant scrutiny in 2016 due to Russian interference in the US election and the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, posing considerable public relations challenges for the company.
2016: Relationship with Bobby Kotick Begins
Sheryl Sandberg began dating Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in 2016.
2016: Commencement Address at UC Berkeley
Sheryl Sandberg delivered the Commencement Address at the University of California, Berkeley, graduation ceremony in 2016, marking the first time she publicly addressed her husband's death and emphasizing resilience.
2016: Support for Hillary Clinton
Sheryl Sandberg supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
April 2017: Publication of "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy"
In April 2017, Sheryl Sandberg released her second book, "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy," co-written with Wharton School professor Adam Grant, focusing on coping with grief and building resilience.
2017: Commencement Address at Virginia Tech
Sheryl Sandberg delivered the Commencement Address to Virginia Tech's Class of 2017.
June 8, 2018: Commencement Address at MIT
On June 8, 2018, Sheryl Sandberg delivered the Commencement Address for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.
November 29, 2018: Report on Sandberg's Request for Research on George Soros
The New York Times reported on November 29, 2018, that Sheryl Sandberg had personally requested Facebook's communications team to investigate George Soros's finances.
2018: Sandberg's Role in Facebook's Public Relations Challenges
A 2018 report in The New York Times highlighted Sheryl Sandberg's role in navigating Facebook's public image following the revelations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections and the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
2019: Relationship with Bobby Kotick Ends
Sheryl Sandberg's relationship with Bobby Kotick ended in 2019.
February 3, 2020: Engagement to Tom Bernthal
Sheryl Sandberg announced her engagement to Kelton Global CEO Tom Bernthal on February 3, 2020.
2020: Declined to Endorse Elizabeth Warren
During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Sheryl Sandberg declined to endorse Elizabeth Warren, a critic of Facebook, but expressed her intention to support the Democratic nominee.
2021: Sandberg's Net Worth Reaches $1.7 Billion
In 2021, Forbes Magazine estimated Sheryl Sandberg's net worth to be US$1.7 billion, primarily due to her stock holdings in Facebook and other companies.
April 21, 2022: Wall Street Journal Report on Efforts to Suppress News Coverage
On April 21, 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that Sheryl Sandberg had been involved in efforts to prevent the Daily Mail from publishing an article about a restraining order against her then-boyfriend, Bobby Kotick.
June 1, 2022: Sandberg Announces Departure from Meta as COO
On June 1, 2022, Sheryl Sandberg announced her decision to step down as COO of Meta, marking a significant turning point in her career.
August 2022: Sheryl Sandberg Steps Down as COO of Meta
In August 2022, Sheryl Sandberg stepped down from her position as chief operating officer (COO) of Meta Platforms.
August 2022: Marriage to Tom Bernthal
Sheryl Sandberg and Tom Bernthal married in August 2022.
2022: Sandberg Announces Intention to Step Down as Meta COO
In 2022, Sheryl Sandberg shared her decision to step down as Meta's COO in the fall, signaling a significant change in her role at the company.
January 2024: Sandberg to Step Down from Meta Board
Sheryl Sandberg announced in January 2024 her intention to step down from Meta's board in May, further separating herself from the company.
January 2024: Sandberg Announces Departure from Meta Board
Sheryl Sandberg announced in January 2024 that she would not seek re-election to Meta's board and would be stepping down in May 2024.
April 2024: Release of "Screams Before Silence" Documentary
In April 2024, "Screams Before Silence," a documentary spearheaded by Sheryl Sandberg addressing sexual violence committed by Hamas during the October 7th attack on Israel, premiered on YouTube.
May 2024: Sandberg to Leave Meta Board
Sheryl Sandberg is expected to step down from Meta's board in May 2024.