Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg advises women to 'marry the nerds'

Sandberg says someone at a workplace would do better if they had a supportive partner

In order to succeed one has to make good professional choices as well as choosing the right partner, says Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg.

In her interview with Hannal Kuchler of the Financial Times, she said that the success you felt as an individual was often best achieved in a context where all parts of life were stable. She compared it to a child's education - a child would find it easier to succeed in school if he or she were from a supportive family background -  and the same rules applied to someone at a workplace who would do better if they had a supportive partner.

Sandberg suggested: "You can date whoever you want, but you should marry the nerds and the good guys."

On her response on how to know who the "good guys" are, she said: "You ask, and you ask early, and you are not afraid of offending. If they're going to be offended by the answer, you don't want to date them anyway."



After the death of her husband Dave Goldberg in 2015, Sandberg finds solace through spending time with her children and at work, by doing meaningful work which helped her cope with the loss of her husband. Sandberg said one should opt for "the guys who want an equal relationship. Guys who want to support your career".

Along with being the COO of Facebook, Sandberg has also recently co-authored a book called "Option B" with Wharton professor Adam Grant.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also discussed the importance and value of her "dear Marty", in her personal and professional life, whom she spent 50 years of marriage with before his passing in 2010.

Ginsburg was all praise for her late husband. "Marty coached me through the birth of our son, he was the first reader and critic of articles, speeches and briefs I drafted, and he was at my side constantly, in and out of the hospital, during two long bouts with cancer," she said. "I betray no secret in reporting that, without him, I would not have gained a seat on the Supreme Court," she added.



At the same time Ginsburg said there were many advantages of being solo such as increased independence and flexibility. She named various high-achievers who were solo including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth I and the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Ginsburg advised that if one decided to choose a partner, they should choose wisely and opt for the "good guys", ones who would encourage you and be supportive of your dreams and not be put off by them. She also advised not to overlook the nerds.

 

This article originally appeared on CNBC.