The book Facebook doesn't want the world to read.
The Rebel Reader x Careless People – A Story of Where I Used to Work
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Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Quick Take:
A former Facebook executive exposes the inner workings of the tech giant, revealing a culture of unchecked power, ethical lapses, and personal betrayals.
Headline Insight:
Behind Facebook's mission to "connect the world" lies a troubling narrative of ambition overriding ethics, where the pursuit of growth eclipses accountability.
150-Word Review:
In Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams peels back the curtain on her years inside Meta (then Facebook), revealing a culture of “move fast” at all costs, where ethical red flags were often dismissed in favour of global growth.
She shares moments that shook her—from internal discussions about entering China, to the platform’s growing influence on elections and human rights crises. Her personal journey, including being urged to work while recovering from surgery, lays bare the human toll of corporate carelessness.
This memoir isn’t just a corporate takedown—it’s a compelling reflection on modern leadership: what we tolerate, what we prioritise, and what we ignore. Wynn-Williams calls for a new kind of leadership—rooted in responsibility, not just vision. If you care about the future of tech, power, and how leaders shape the world, this book is essential.
Further Insights:
Leadership Blind Spots: When vision outpaces ethics, organisations risk losing their soul—and causing real-world harm.
Tech’s Global Reach: Decisions made in Silicon Valley can destabilise democracies, economies, and communities across the globe.
The Cost of Silence: Cultures that discourage questioning often protect power, not people.
Action Stations – leading in a tech-driven world:
Redefine success: Ask yourself (and your organisation), What does responsible growth look like? Make values a core metric.
Psychological safety: Create teams where speaking up isn’t punished, but encouraged—ethical leadership depends on it.
Build digital literacy in leadership: Understand how algorithms, AI, and platforms impact society—not just productivity.
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