Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg in Conversation at Cannes Lion

Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg in Conversation at Cannes Lion

Bloomberg’s Caroline Hyde held a conversation with Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, around the challenges facing Facebook. The audience also got the opportunity to learn about Sheryl the person, and an insight into the leader, who is clearly admired and popular.

Sheryl strongly believes in the purpose and vision of Facebook, and it is this belief and loyalty that keeps her motivated to stick it out, even with the recent and ongoing controversy.  She sees the platform as an amazing way to give people a voice, a way to share stories, and come to together as a community for good.  She shared stories about how it has saved and enriched lives. While she understands that Facebook has a lot to fix and do better, she continues to believe in the fundamental power of it to do good.

However,  the not so good, and ultimate firestorm over Facebook’s potential privacy and data breach violations has been personally difficult for her. “Look this has been hard. As anyone who wakes up in the morning, working hard and trying to do the best they can, being attacked and being attacked personally is not something I experienced before, and it’s definitely hard,” Sheryl said.

She spoke about the backlash, in particular the Russian interference with the US election, hideous threats, and the posting of hate and racist doctrine.

They are working with governments around the world to safeguard and put regulations in place. They take down over 1 million accounts a day, and aim to halt the spread of fake news, and any content that is hateful, discriminatory or of a bullying nature. There is no place on Facebook for any of that, said Sheryl.

When asked about what people are using Facebook for these days, she mentioned that people are moving more towards individual and inspiration personal stories, and experiences from a select group (friends, family and community) and more on-to-one messaging.  Basically, Facebook realised that people should be sharing minimal information

When asked about what she has learnt in recent years that influenced her as a leader, she spoke candidly about the challenging times dealing with the grief following the sudden death of her husband 4 years ago.  Working through this pain, and the learning that comes from that has changed her dramatically, she said. She celebrates her 50thbirthday this year and sees growing old as a gift. She believes this personal development and high levels of resilience is also helping her navigate the troubled times Facebook has experienced of late.   She feels an enormous responsibility, to make things better problems, ensure people are protected and re-gain trust from the consumers.  We are ushering in a new era – and very much part of writing the new rules, said Sheryl.

Sheryl was also asked how things have changed from a diversity perspective, especially since her book “Lean in” was launched 6 years ago.   She feels that while progress has been made with the ‘me too’ movement to help stop the harassment of women, she said we also need to make sure we don’t ignore women.  An alarming statistic she learned recently is that 60% of business men in the US were afraid of meeting with women individually, whether that be for a business dinner or lunch, or travelling with women on their own. This can be deferential to women’s careers and it’s important to champion women’s careers and engage in conversation with them, and mentor women professionally.  Sheryl is active in supporting women through the Leanin. Org and recently in conjunction with Cannes Lions announced the launch of the Glass Lion: The Lion for Change; an award which specifically recognises work that challenges gender bias and shatters stereotypical images of men and women which remain rooted in marketing messages.

The conversation with Sheryl ended with her reaffirming that there is so much good to come from Facebook, and that people really want to help each other.  Let’s make the invisible, visible and put people together online.

 




Please login with linkedin to comment

Cannes 2019 Facebook Sheryl Sandberg

Latest News

It’s Friday Quiz Time Again!
  • Media

It’s Friday Quiz Time Again!

Take B&T's trivia quiz for your chance to win a $100 booze voucher and possible cirrhosis of a major internal organ.

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Big data technology and data science illustration. Data flow concept. Querying, analysing, visualizing complex information. Neural network for artificial intelligence. Data mining. Business analytics.
  • Marketing

SenateSHJ Launches New Trans-Tasman Practices

SenateSHJ has launched a new digital, data and insights capability designed to help clients tackle the growing complexity of communication challenges. SenateSHJ Digital, Data and Insights (DDI) will combine the firm’s existing Digital and Insights functions to create a Trans-Tasman capability focused on digital communication, and the generation and use of data to improve communication. […]

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile
  • Media

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile

Creative technology platform Bonzai has announced the launch of BrandStory – a new premium mobile ad format. BrandStory offers triple the ad space and 2.8 times greater time in view than single scroll ad formats, addressing the surging demand from brands worldwide for more real estate to drive real results by seamlessly intertwining awareness, exploration […]

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7
  • Advertising

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7

B&T went through the looking glass this morning, with editor-in-chief David Hovenden (above) appearing on Channel 7’s The Morning Show to get the general public involved in our search for Australia’s Greatest Ad. Hovenden chatted with Kylie Gillies and stand-in host Matt Doran about what makes a great ad and showcasing some of our favourites […]

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma
  • Opinion

Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma

The science is not in question – smarter people than I, with far more data, have codified it. The logic is not up for grabs…it makes sense that creating mental shortcuts to your brand keeps you at the top of your mind. Lead image: Kate Smither – Owner, The Tall Planner I wouldn’t even take […]

Opinion

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
African woman using a cellphone in an office alone
  • Marketing

Ortto & Tall Bob Partner To Deliver Better SMS & MMS For Australian & NZ Businesses

Two Australian-born technology providers have joined forces to bring more power and choice to marketers in Australia and New Zealand with mobile messaging that is more local, cost-effective, and integrated. It’s a partnership that sees two Australian software companies come together to deliver a world-class mobile-first solution for marketers building data-driven, personalised, omnichannel campaigns. While […]

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.
  • Media

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.

Snap Inc. has announced a number of new recruits. B&T unaware if it positively impacted SEEK's share price.

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh
  • Technology

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh

This will be of interest to any Reddit fans, graphic designers or lovers of an orange so bright it burns the retinas.

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market
  • Advertising

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market

Zitcha and Broadsign have teamed up to integrate the Broadsign out-of-home (OOH) advertising platform with Zitcha’s retail media platform. The collaboration empowers retailers to maximise and monetise in-store digital display networks and enables advertising partners to easily view and book available in-store inventory and review campaign performance alongside the retailer’s other media channels. With the […]

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label
  • Marketing

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label

Today, 7-Eleven has announced a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the popular Sydney-based anti-resort wear label Double Rainbouu. Dropping tomorrow, December 1, just in time for summer, this limited-edition capsule will infuse the fashion brand’s rebellious spirit with a distinctly iconic 7-Eleven flavour. The unisex collection features five must-have styles comprising two signature Hawaiian shirts, a peaked cap, a bucket hat […]