Meta Executive Sheryl Sandberg Says Looming Roe Reversal Motivated Her Resignation
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Sheryl Sandberg said her decision to step down as chief operating officer of Facebook’s parent company, Meta, was motivated by the possibility that the Supreme Court could soon overturn Roe v. Wade.
“It’s just not a job that leaves room for a lot of other stuff in your life,” Sandberg told Fortune in explaining her departure. “This is a really important moment for women. This is a really important moment for me to be able to do more with my philanthropy, with my foundation.”
Last month, Politico published a leaked draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization that suggested the Court is poised to return the question of abortion to the states.
Sandberg told Fortune the possibility that Roe could be overturned has added some urgency to advocating for women.
“I’m really focused on what I’m going to do next, philanthropically,” Sandberg said, explaining that she does not plan on joining a c-suite somewhere else.
Sandberg, who has worked at Facebook for 14 years, is known for her 2013 best-selling book Lean In, which encouraged women to assert themselves at work and at home.
She plans to focus on her work with her Lean In foundation, which runs 60,000 circles of women who help each other achieve personal and professional goals.
“There’s never one perfect moment,” she said of the timing of her departure. “You know, there’s no end or beginning of the ads business. There’s no clean. There’s no, you know, distinct or definitive chapters on the metaverse.”
Javier Olivan will take over as Meta CEO in the fall while Sandberg plans to remain on the company’s board.
