Mark Zuckerberg is “world-class” at giving feedback, said one of his top execs.
On Wednesday’s episode of the “Cheeky Pint” podcast hosted by Stripe cofounder John Collison, Meta’s chief financial officer, Susan Li said that Zuckerberg has refined his ability to give constructive feedback over the years they’ve worked together. The Meta CEO has also become a great public speaker, Li said.
She said that the feedback Zuckerberg gives is timely, direct, and respectful.
“But the sort of direct and respectful — it’s never mean, it’s never belaboring some point, but you could not be mistaken after you have received the feedback,” she said.
“He walks that line between being direct but kind in an extremely good way,” she added.
Li, who has spent nearly two decades rising through the ranks at Meta, says being open to feedback has been key to her success. She joined the company, then called Facebook, in 2008 as part of the finance team and was named CFO in November 2022.
Whenever people ask her what it takes to stay at a company for so long, she always gives the same answer, she said: “Just be a person who’s good at receiving feedback.”
While Zuckerberg may excel at giving feedback, receiving it might not be his strongest suit. Meta’s tech chief, Andrew Bosworth, said last year that Zuckerberg often pushes back at first when presented with feedback.
“He’ll most often tell you that you’re wrong,” Bosworth said during a 2024 appearance on “Lenny’s Podcast.”
However, Bosworth added that the Meta CEO will typically come around and, after reflection, start implementing the suggestions he previously dismissed.
A representative for Li, contacted through Meta, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.
