Sheryl Sandberg to leave Meta board of directors

Sandberg previously worked as an executive at Meta for 14 years
She led the company through several controversies
She was also criticized for her 'girlboss' model of feminism

Updated: Jan 18, 2024 / 10:43 PM CST

FILE- In this Sept. 5, 2018, file photo, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sandberg, the No. 2 exec at Facebook owner Meta, is stepping down, according to a post Wednesday, June 1, 2022 on her Facebook page. Sandberg has served as chief operating officer at the social media giant for 14 years. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

(NewsNation) — Sheryl Sandberg is leaving her role on the Meta board of directors and will become a consultant for the Facebook parent company.

Sandberg took the position on the board after leaving her job as an executive at Meta, where she had worked as chief operations officer for 14 years.

She announced her departure in a Facebook post, saying she would focus on philanthropic work.

Sandberg was with the company through some turbulent periods, including controversy over misinformation during the 2016 election, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and social media’s role in the Jan. 6 riots.

She also faced personal criticism over her ‘girlboss’ model of feminism, encouraging women to lean in and believe in themselves. Critics accused her of putting the burden on women to market themselves rather than working to change workplace cultures that limit women’s advancement.

Sandberg reportedly has a net worth of $1.9 billion.