5 Lessons I Learned at Facebook

This week is my last week at Facebook. As I said my goodbyes, colleagues asked what advice I would give them as someone's who's been a Facebook APAC veteran.

I’m far from qualified to offer any advice, so I put together something short and sweet from what I’d learned from friends and mentors at Facebook. I hope this blesses others too.

1. Be Kind, Humble & Gracious

Work at Facebook is tough. The standards are exacting and what we do has real world impact. At the same time, we are humans and we make mistakes, so let’s be kind, humble and gracious whenever and where ever we can to whomever we can. Once, a colleague made a mistake that had big PR and policy implications. She felt terrible. In that high pressure situation, a word of encouragement went a long way. Our teams work hard and an encouraging word and gratitude mean a lot. Take time to thank our admins, our security teams, our cleaners – everyone and anyone around you.

2. Walk With Integrity & Care for Your People

Say what you mean and mean what you say. Walk with integrity even when it costs. Eschew short term benefits, and call out unfair or unjust practices. For People Managers, honour and credit those whose walk beats their talk. Stand with the weak or soft-spoken even if it means standing up to a senior colleague. Care for your people. For Individual Contributors, you can lead with influence and integrity even without authority, by being an exemplar to those around you.

3. Keep Learning

There’s so much to learn at Facebook. Learn from your colleagues, ask them about their roles, and how you can help. Be coachable and teachable.

4. Be Competent; Be Confident

We hired you because you were the best for the job. In the Asia Pacific, being culturally sensitive is paramount. I’ve said more “NOs” than “YESes” to senior policymakers. But how you say NO in APAC matters. Make sure that you know your stuff, then be confident enough to execute in a way that is respectful, firm and culturally sensitive.

5. Build a Life Outside of Facebook

Facebook work can take alot out of you. Build a life outside. Spend time with friends and your loved ones, and. build a community around your passions. Working at Facebook is a privilege so consider how to use that to bless others and give back to your community. Serve others.

“People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel”

-Maya Angelou