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Comment by lvl102 | Hacker News Reader

I think Sheryl is going out near the top here. She literally rode this generation of SV wave from the beginning. From a Larry Summers’ protege to one of the most influential executives on the planet. Despite all the negatives associated with Facebook, I think she was the best thing to happen to FB and Mark Zuckerberg.

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> She literally rode this generation of SV wave from the beginning.

> she was the best thing to happen to FB and Mark Zuckerberg.

Or -hear me out- the person most influential in current SV business is not the best thing to happen to a (very young, impressionable) founder trying to grow his business. Pre-Sheryl ads were businesses having fb pages and advertising when your friend bought a product (very social-based). Post-Sheryl ads tracked you everywhere and learned about you.

Which version actually worked?

both. Otherwise, was there an overall increase in consumption?

We can never know what could’ve been. Clearly the method in use makes money. A lot of it.

But FB and Marks reputation have never been worse. He probably would be rich-enough either way.

Every free product did that, not just FB.

I think she was simultaneously the best and worst thing to happen to FB. Some of the issues of the company are squarely at her feet. The revenue org is a huge clusterf** of mismanagement and improvisation that should have tamed years ago. When I was there a couple years ago I wasn't impressed at all by how it all worked and was wondering if this "beautiful journey" post was about to happen.

> Despite all the negatives associated with Facebook, I think she was the best thing to happen to FB and Mark Zuckerberg.

Yeah, my impression has been that she has provided cover for FB and Mark Zuckerberg.

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