Haute 100: Sheryl Sandberg to Deliver Commencement Speech at UC Berkeley

Facebook’s chief operating officer as well as Haute 100 lister Sheryl Sandberg is slated to give the spring commencement speech at UC Berkeley on Saturday, May 14, the university announced.

The graduating class of 2016 voted Sandberg as their top pick for commencement speaker. In a statement released by UC Berkeley, Marie Lim, vice president of Senior Events, said, “She is a leader of her generation. She’s ambitious, outspoken and confident. She has a success story that I hope will leave graduates feeling positive, thoughtful and poised to do some trailblazing of their own.” Lim was responsible for polling the senior class.

Internationally renowned historian and 10th chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley Nicholas Dirks is pleased Sandberg agreed to speak at the university. He said, “Not only has Sandberg been an exceptionally important leader and thinker at several of the Bay Area’s most groundbreaking technology companies. She has also been a crucial advocate for women leaders in the workplace and a central figure in the public discourse about gender equality more broadly. It is an honor to welcome Sandberg to the Berkeley campus.”

In addition, Chancellor Dirks will feature an address by Chancellor Dirks and a speech from the soon-to-be-named University Medalist, the top graduating senior from the Class of 2016.

The university’s commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will take place at the California Memorial Stadium.

Most recently, a number of celebs, including Sandberg, and influencers are donating money via DonorsChoose.org, an organization that helps fund projects educators hope to plan with their students. Sandberg pledged money to “10 challenged communities in California.” The 46-year-old isn’t the only person to donate to Bay Area public schools. Seth and Lauren Miller Rogen are donating to Sonoma County schools. In total, $14 million dollars have been donated.