22 Comments
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Beth Benjamin's avatar

I would love to say congratulations to Sheryl. There is a lot to life - may the next chapter/s be even more rewarding!

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Sadie Holland's avatar

What a sensitive discussion you evidently had. Food for thought! Beautifully done.

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Eleanor Mills's avatar

Thanks love - was v touched that she reached out to me

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Eleanor Mills's avatar

Thanks for pointing out the problem with the URL where does the wrong one appear please? Can’t find it in my settings

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Eleanor Mills's avatar

Glad you enjoyed the article - and welcome to the Queenager club xx

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Eleanor Mills's avatar

I think next chapters at this stage is what it is all

About! Am so much happier in mine

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ASmith's avatar

Nice article. Facebook died for me during covid. I hardly use it now and have moved away and encouraged others to do so, when it started to censor doctors and others in the scientific field, its call out on misinformation on matters which were not misinformation and definitely needed scientific debate. When you do that to fit a narrative for vested interests, it’s a platform which is done for me. As someone not in the US, or interested in it’s use of division over cult like politics and belief systems, Facebook has now become outdated. The new ‘Metaverse’ also holds no interest, so maybe it was a good time to leave and start something else.

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Karen Skidmore's avatar

Yes agree with a previous comment - a sensitive and gentle conversation allowing us to see that, sometimes, life is a real and genuine reason for making big career changes. I’m sure there is much more to the story, but for now I hope that Sheryl continues to be an influence for women leadership, and all that is needed to change the narrative over the economic, political and social value of midlife and older women.

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Cmac1969's avatar

Good article until you lost me with the “Trump-supporting mobs” line. I’m out.

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Linda Wattier's avatar

As a new member, I just came across this now. So late to the commenting party, but I want to say Bravo and Thank You, Eleanor. 👏 👌

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Carola Moon's avatar

Such a fresh take on life! Thank you for sharing, @Eleanor!

(PS: there's a typo in your URL, it should be https://www.noon.org.uk/, not https://www.noon.co.uk/)

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Wendi Gordon's avatar

I appreciate this peek into the reasons for her decision and love the term “Queenagers.” I’m 54, and walked away from my former career as a pastor to become a freelance writer recently. Scary but liberating!

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Nicholas Gruen's avatar

She seems on extremely good terms with herself.

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Eleanor Mills's avatar

That is very wise. I think she is!

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TC's avatar

I have come back to this to just note my satisfaction that Sheryl left, and left on her own terms. My suspicion had always been that, rather like Voldemort’s snake in the Harry Potter films, Sandberg would be kept close as the final denouement grew closer.

Sometimes the best thing for any number 2 to do is walk away.

PS I find Sheryl a complicated character, but this interview provided a sympathetic but fair impression. One to bookmark.

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Coolerchick's avatar

"Sandberg was famously dubbed middle-aged at the tender stage of 35 when she first started at Facebook. There are vanishingly few older female executives in the tech world. Her departure leaves a very male leadership team behind at Facebook."

So... why didn't she do anything about it? She's had 14 years, talks about it constantly yet done nothing. How many over 40's have been employed in the past 2 years at Meta?

She is one of THE most powerful woman in business today yet the lack of under 40's at Meta is overwhelming! (I say this from experience).

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Kevin Distler's avatar

No reference to post on CNBC?

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Sarah Barguirdjian's avatar

Wonderful article. Thank you

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