Do you heart Facebook?  Many women do it seems – with 58 per cent of its users being women.  That’s no small number when you consider the 800million users on Facebook.

Apparently women spend more time than men making status and profile updates and commenting on others’ posts (I know that’s certainly true of my two sisters and their daughters!!)… and women are running businesses, generating advertising revenue and sharing information on Facebook every second of every minute of every day…

But does Facebook heart women?

Not if its Board of Directors is anything to go by.  In the lead up to its IPO, which will raise an initial $5bn in capital, there’s one glaring omission on its board: women.

There is not one single woman on the Facebook board.  Not one.  None.

For this, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg receives my Ass Of The Week Award. 

But seriously, what is Facebook thinking?  Or isn’t it’s all-male, investor-community board thinking at all?

In a letter submitted with the IPO filing, Zuckerberg said that the company’s goal is ” to give everyone a voice and to help transform society for the future.” One wonders how it can do this without engaging with women, and including women on the board??

When it becomes a public company, with the reporting and performance scrutiny that brings, you’d think a gender balanced board would be top of Facebook’s pre-listing prerequisites.  Especially given the Catalyst research findings that Fortune 500 companies with three or more female directors outperformed those with fewer between 2005 and 2009 with on average 43 percent better return on equity.

This oversight, if that's what it is, is unusual for a company that see itself as a visionary.  In fact it shows some archaic thinking on the part of the Board.

Only 11.3 percent of Fortune 500 companies don't have a woman on their board. And why didn’t Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s COO and advocate for women in leadership, make it onto the board?  Apart from being Facebook’s highest paid executive, she’s also a Director of Walt Disney Co – a USD75billion company – and recent Co-Chair at Davos, and you’d think she’d have been a good candidate for the Facebook board too.

But Sandberg aside, if Facebook wants women to like it, it needs to show how much it values women, all the way from the top down.

This is bad news.  I’m disappointed and – on behalf of its 464 million female users – I expected more.  If you do too then I suggest you boycott Facebook this Valentines Day and take your love offline… 

I’d lead the charge myself but I’ve already closed my Facebook account…

Your thoughts?

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Catherine H commented on 07-Feb-2012 06:17 PM

Hi Jen, That is astounding. Would you consider writing to them and offering your services (for an appropriate fee)?

Heidi Alexandra Pollard commented on 07-Feb-2012 06:38 PM

What a shocker - it amazes me that in 2012 this still is the reality in so many companies. Women lets drag them out of the industrialised century and into the modern world!

Steven O commented on 07-Feb-2012 06:44 PM

The guy is sheltered at 32 - as he has only collaborated with males for projects, this will not change. He is also foreward thinking and realises this, but has succeeded with the current status quo. An better alternative for a stronger feminine presence
on the board will be with LinkedIn over the long run - in todsys terms - 1 year

Helen Robinett commented on 07-Feb-2012 08:56 PM

I've just shared your blog link to my 1200 friends on facebook. let's see how long it takes before my post is deleted .......

TheSheEO commented on 07-Feb-2012 09:54 PM

Hey Helen - would they REALLY delete a post on Facebook? Is that ethical? Steven O - I think you're right - I believe LinkedIn currently has one female director - is that right? Jen

Alison commented on 08-Feb-2012 09:26 AM

Social media is so all-consuming these days, I think we need to use Facebook to fight Facebook. Better to start a conversation among 800 million users as to why the maker of their beloved product has no women on its board. Enough comments and it's bound
to get noticed. And good timing when Facebook is about to go public. I think these are the types of guys that have been afraid of women all their lives. Time to show them that they can't hide behind a computer screen any more.

Babette commented on 08-Feb-2012 10:19 AM

Good one Jen. Thanks for raising this one as well.

TheSheEO commented on 10-Feb-2012 11:16 AM

Alison you are right - I need to figure out Facebook quick smart to get it up there... bear with me I have a call out to the Social Rabbit!! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, let's see where we can go with this...

Steve F. commented on 14-Feb-2012 08:57 AM

I know many women for whom the composition of Facebook's board won't make a difference. I quit FB months ago because of their moral (ethical) ambiguity but 800,000,000 or more obviously couldn't care less. The question isn't whether Zuckerberg and his
minions give a damn about anyone (obviously they don't, as long as they're making money). The question is, "How do you get everyone - not just women - to stop being sheep?"

Andy commented on 14-Feb-2012 09:05 AM

I may be mistaken, but Facebook seems to be going pretty strong under the guidance of Zuckerberg. I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on the decision making process that he went through, as you were clearly present when the board was selected to be able
to comment with such impunity. Who cares about who is best for the job. Just chuck a woman in there! And why stop there? There probably aren't any Africans or transgenders, nor homosexuals. Heck, let's just put a poll up on Facebook and let the people decide...

TheSheEO commented on 23-Feb-2012 07:36 AM

That's an interesting perspective, Steve, from someone who's been on the inside of the company culture. It's just a shame - with a young organisation like Facebook it was a real chance to create the kind of organisation today's workforce is looking for...
As to users and sheepish behaviour - who knows? It seems most users are more concerned when their favorite Facebook feature is altered than the profile of leadership, that's for sure.