Late on Wednesday evening Meta chief operations officer, Sheryl Sandberg, announced that she would be leaving Meta after 14 years at the firm.

Despite Sandberg’s recent controversies – which a spokesperson told Al Jazeera has nothing to do with her decision – the COO has left a monumental mark on the firm.

The COO is often cited as instrumental in helping Facebook reach the heights it has grown to. Of course, Sandberg’s tenure has not been without its controversies but we cannot deny that she is an unstoppable force in the realm of business.

In a post announcing her decision, Sandberg acknowledged that at times, working in social media has been tough.

“To say it hasn’t always been easy is an understatement. But it should be hard. The products we make have a huge impact, so we have the responsibility to build them in a way that protects privacy and keeps people safe. Just as I believe wholeheartedly in our mission, our industry, and the overwhelmingly positive power of connecting people, I and the dedicated people of Meta have felt our responsibilities deeply. I know that the extraordinary team at Meta will continue to work tirelessly to rise to these challenges and keep making our company and our community better,” wrote the outgoing COO.

Over the next few months, Sandberg will be transitioning her direct reports and she will leave the firm in the Northern Hemisphere’s Autumn.

The outgoing COO says she intends to get married in the North’s Summer and plans to work on advocacy for women’s issues and other philanthropic pursuits.

While Sandberg says she isn’t taking a job in politics or business, she also says that, “I learned a long time ago: Never make any predictions about the future.”

It truly is the end of an era for Meta and whoever replaces Sandberg has massive shoes to fill.