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Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, on Using Your Voice For Good
33 segments available
At the 2016-2017 Roanak Memorial View From The Top, Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook, talked about finding a mentor, using your voice for good, and planning your career. Read more leadership insights from the Stanford GSB View From The Top talk on Thursday, May 25: http://stanford.io/2rq0WAY
Segments Timeline
The Rocket Ship Career Advice
Sheryl Sandberg shares pivotal career advice she received from Eric Schmidt about seizing opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of not trying to draw a straight line in your career path and encourages finding the 'rocket ship' that resonates with you, highlighting that the most significant innovations are often yet to be discovered.
"I am really excited to be here so thank you all for having me well we're thrilled to have you thank you so much for being here Cheryl so there's a lot to talk about today your a new book option be um ..."
Long-Term Dreams vs. Short-Term Plans
In this segment, Sandberg discusses the balance between having long-term dreams and short-term plans. She stresses that early career accomplishments should focus on helping others and investing in personal growth rather than strictly following a predetermined path, as the most impactful opportunities often arise unexpectedly.
"graduated just saying only one of us finished um but he gets he gets his degree he gets his degree today but I was working on my post and I I'm going to do a post after his graduation uh Speech finish..."
Choosing the Right Opportunities
Sandberg reflects on her decision to join Google despite it not meeting her initial job criteria. She explains the importance of recognizing the potential of opportunities, even if they seem less prestigious at first, and encourages others to embrace roles that align with their passions and the mission of the company.
"short run plan and that short run plan and is important it's not about what you accomplish especially in the early days it's about what you help other people accomplish and about what you learn you in..."
Building Relationships in the Workplace
Sandberg shares insights on how to build lasting relationships in a work environment, comparing it to personal relationships. She emphasizes the importance of caring for colleagues and aligning goals, and recounts advice from her husband about focusing on the process of collaboration rather than just the immediate outcomes.
"the wrong job I had a spreadsheet some of you have those it had my criteria for my jobs and the problem with the Google job is other than loving the company it met none of the criteria I was a busines..."
Navigating Founders' Culture
In this segment, Sandberg discusses how to respect and adapt to the culture established by founders while making a personal impact. She highlights the significance of aligning values and maintaining open communication to foster a productive working relationship, particularly in founder-driven companies.
"Google and the job I took at Facebook were more Junior than every other job offer I had right but they turned out to be much bigger opportunities and so when you're facing that decision of of joining ..."
The Importance of Process Over Substance
Sandberg reflects on her early interactions with Mark Zuckerberg, emphasizing the need to focus on the process of collaboration rather than just the substance of decisions. She shares how establishing a commitment to regular feedback and open dialogue helped her navigate her role at Facebook.
"about the other people you have aligned goals right when you've had friends think about friendships in your life we've all had this where you've had friends that you kind of wanted the same things and..."
Friendship and Support After Loss
Sandberg discusses the evolution of her friendship with Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan following the death of her husband. She highlights how their support helped her rebuild her self-confidence during a challenging time and reflects on the importance of having a strong support system in both personal and professional life.
"really grown into a friend it sounds like he and his wife Priscilla were incredible to you um following Dave's passing can you can you share a little bit more about how that friendship has evolved ove..."
Grief and the Power of Sharing
In this poignant segment, Sandberg shares her experience of grief after losing her husband, Dave. She explains how writing a personal post on Facebook helped her overcome feelings of isolation and encouraged others to connect with her, illustrating the healing power of sharing one's story.
"um as a friend you know when Dave died Mark he didn't just help me um but he really helped build my self-confidence back up and it was one of the most surprising things about losing Dave was that you ..."
Facing Hardships Together
Sandberg discusses the importance of acknowledging hardships in the workplace and supporting colleagues through difficult times. She emphasizes the need for empathy and encouragement, sharing insights on how to uplift others while respecting their challenges, particularly in the context of serious illnesses.
"anything so if every time you interact with them you say oh don't worry that's helpful but throw in a couple of good good things they did as long as they're true and legitimate and that's even more he..."
The Burden of Offering Help
Sandberg explores the common phrase 'Is there anything I can do?' when offering help to those in need. She explains how this can unintentionally shift the burden onto the person suffering, who may not know how to respond. This segment encourages proactive support and suggests that simply being present can be more beneficial than asking for specific requests.
"doesn't mean any everone wants to talk about things all the time they don't but looking at someone and saying I know you're suffering I know this is hard and I'm here when you want to talk when you wa..."
Showing Up for Others
Sandberg shares a poignant story from her book 'Option B' about a friend who offered support in a unique way during a difficult time. This segment illustrates the importance of showing up for others, regardless of the depth of the relationship. Sandberg emphasizes that small gestures can have a significant impact on those facing adversity.
"mind every time is can you make Father's Day go away so I don't have to live through it like not going to happen so there's a really nice story in my book about uh Dan and Esther Ley they're community..."
Building Resilience in Children
In this segment, Sandberg discusses the resilience of children and the support they need to navigate trauma and adversity. She highlights the importance of 'mattering'—making children feel valued and heard—as a key factor in building their resilience. Sandberg also addresses the systemic challenges many children face, advocating for better support and resources.
"wherever we work one of the interesting things that you write about in in option b is that children are naturally more resilient than adults are what have you learned from your own children about how ..."
The Importance of Independence
Sandberg stresses the need for young adults to develop independence and resilience by not relying on their parents for opportunities. She warns against the trend of parental involvement in job applications, emphasizing that self-sufficiency is crucial for success in the workplace. This segment encourages young people to take initiative and build their own paths.
"like the people they are another thing I think is really important in building resilience and we wrote about it in the book but I see it a lot in the workplace is don't do too much for your kids and f..."
Contributing to a Greater Purpose
Sandberg reflects on her upbringing and the values instilled in her about hard work and contributing to the community. She shares insights on how focusing on the mission of an organization rather than personal gain can lead to greater success. This segment highlights the importance of serving others and finding fulfillment in contributing to a collective goal.
"work and I think one thing that I see generationally that's happened and I think we can do a better better job on this is we need to remind kids that they're not just doing for them they're contributi..."
Redefining Partnership in Success
In this segment, Sandberg discusses her views on partnerships and their role in women's success, particularly in light of her personal experiences after losing her husband. She reflects on the importance of having a supportive partner and the evolving dynamics of relationships. Sandberg encourages women to choose partners who uplift their careers and aspirations.
"comes from but you can't fake it you can't be like I'm going to pretend to care about everyone else in our mission to get myself ahead that won't work you actually have to care so you have to go work ..."
Choosing the Right Partner
Sandberg emphasizes the importance of selecting the right partner for women who aspire to leadership roles. She discusses the societal pressures that often prioritize men's careers over women's and encourages women to be mindful of their partner's attitudes towards career ambitions, especially when considering marriage.
"continue to do it um I don't have a partner I can no longer say that I don't I never said in lean in you had to have one and I was clear about that um I did say you should pick the right one that if y..."
The Role of Women in Supporting Each Other
Sheryl Sandberg discusses the critical role women play in supporting one another's careers. She challenges the myth that women do not support each other and highlights the importance of peer relationships in professional development. Sandberg advocates for women to seek support from their peers, not just mentors, to enhance their career trajectories.
"deal and it does make me pretty sad the data on your generation is your attitudes are not that much better than mine the data in my generation they're getting better a little bit right the Bas Deb Deb..."
The Myth of Personal Boards of Directors
In this segment, Sandberg critiques the advice of creating a personal board of directors. She argues that mentorship should be based on genuine relationships rather than formal structures. Sandberg shares her experiences with mentorship, emphasizing that real connections are built on mutual investment and support, rather than transactional relationships.
"and and find the ones who are answering the question the right way I'm serious I'm dead serious and you do advocate in the book that your friends date all different types of date whoever you want don'..."
The Complexity of Personal Branding
Sheryl Sandberg discusses the pitfalls of personal branding, arguing that people are complex and cannot be easily packaged like products. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and being true to oneself, rather than conforming to simplified narratives that may not reflect one's true identity.
"my career is more important because you know what his career is going to be more important there's a lot of societal pressure which still exists which is reinforcing that and while we work to change i..."
The Fallacy of 'Having It All'
Sandberg addresses the problematic notion of 'having it all' for women, sharing her perspective on the sacrifices and choices she has made in her career. She highlights the importance of building strong teams and relationships to achieve success, rather than striving for an unrealistic ideal.
"world and so the first thing we could do is change that by all of you um but women have played a a really important important career and I think it's worth really understanding how important it is for..."
Gender Bias in Career Questions
In this segment, Sandberg points out the gender bias in questions about work-life balance, noting that women are often asked how they manage to 'do it all,' while men are rarely subjected to the same scrutiny. She calls for a shift in societal attitudes towards women's careers and the expectations placed upon them.
"mentorships and sponsorships important and you you have to go about it the right way um but peers can be just as important and just as effective lean in circles were founded with the idea that our pee..."
The Power of Teamwork
Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes the importance of hiring well and building strong teams at Facebook. She shares how her success is not just about her individual efforts but about the incredible people she works with, highlighting the collaborative nature of leadership in a large organization.
"choices have you made to do all that you have founding leanin and opst be and and and leading one of the biggest tech companies in the world well the most important thing I do is I hire really well I ..."
The Gender Bias in Career Choices
Sandberg discusses the societal pressures women face regarding their career choices, particularly the question of whether they should work. She points out the disparity in how men and women are questioned about their career ambitions, shedding light on the biases that affect women's professional lives.
"having it all concept is so problematic um you know you were all a little young so I'll try to do the younger thing the subject but for for the men who are older and so let me do this for men in the r..."
Leaning Back vs. Leaning In
In this segment, Sandberg addresses the phenomenon of women 'leaning back' in their careers due to societal expectations about family and work. She encourages women to stay engaged in their careers, emphasizing that they often have more control over their schedules as they advance.
"in the United States without someone asking you if you should work okay 70% of mothers are in the workplace most women have to work we never ask men how they have it all I get asked that by reporters ..."
Making Choices from Strength
Sandberg advocates for women to make career decisions from a place of strength rather than fear. She stresses the importance of having supportive partners and making informed choices about work and family, encouraging women to pursue their ambitions without feeling pressured to conform.
"watching woman after woman after woman lean back because they're going to have kids one day I've given a lot of talks at a lot of companies and I'll say to room fulls of people like this stand up if y..."
Transforming Grief into Good
Sheryl shares her personal journey of writing about her husband's death and how she aims to honor his legacy through her work. She discusses the importance of resilience and helping others through shared experiences of loss, illustrating how personal tragedy can lead to positive change.
"are doing their share in the home and then make those decisions in lean in you write and encourage the readers to make decisions as if you were unafraid what is one thing that you're afraid of that yo..."
Taking Risks for Meaningful Impact
In this segment, Sandberg reflects on the importance of taking risks that lead to meaningful outcomes. She encourages the audience to consider what they would do if they weren't afraid, emphasizing that true courage involves pursuing challenging goals that can create positive change.
"feel like I'm trying to do some good my favorite story in the book the book is um my story a lot of really good research and a lot of stories of other people who have faced resilience and some pretty ..."
The Need for Women in Leadership
Sandberg discusses her observations about gender representation in leadership roles. She highlights the need for more women in top positions and addresses the cultural biases that hinder women's advancement, urging the audience to recognize and challenge these stereotypes.
"why for most of this many of us are graduating next month as you think back on your own graduation from from Harvard Business School what's something that you know just in your gut that you're capable..."
Becoming a Leader by Speaking Up
In this concluding segment, Sandberg reflects on her journey as a leader and the importance of voicing unspoken truths. She encourages aspiring leaders to focus on what they want to say and the impact they want to make, reinforcing the idea that leadership is about serving others and addressing critical issues.
"still run the world and that's not okay like put a stake in the ground that it's not okay when I got on that t stage and I said men still run the world everyone gasped as if that was a surprise and to..."
Navigating Career Paths
In response to a question about career advice, Sandberg shares her perspective on blending public service and private sector work. She emphasizes the importance of passion and belief in one's work, and encourages students to consider various paths, including running for office.
"serve and that's how you become the kind of leader you are if that makes sense I'm Paul I'm a seconde student and I'm not trying to ask you if you're going to run for president um which means that I a..."
The Role of Business Leaders in Government
Sandberg advocates for more business leaders to enter government roles, citing her own experiences and the value of practical business knowledge in public service. She believes that having leaders with business acumen can significantly impact policy and governance.
"out look there's two paths in the US government there's civil servant where you really go in and you move up the ladder and there's going in and out I think being open to doing that thinking about run..."
Finding Meaning in Your Work
In this segment, Sandberg reflects on her journey at Facebook and the importance of doing work that aligns with personal values. She encourages students to seek out roles that resonate with their passions and to build meaningful relationships in their careers.
"companies I believe that we need global voice I believe there are four billion people who aren't connected to data that we can help connect but it's because I believe that that I stay as my name is Kr..."
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Sandberg emphasizes the value of practical experience and being willing to take on challenging roles. She shares her belief that success comes from hard work and dedication, encouraging students to embrace opportunities that allow them to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully.
"it's the exact same thing for your jobs whatever you're about to go do if you haven't figured it out or you are figuring out do something you care about with people you believe and focus on what you c..."