Barbara Furlow-Smiles was a key figure in the corporate world. She led diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at big companies like Meta (Facebook) and Nike. From 2017 to 2021, she was the global head of employee groups and diversity at Meta.
Furlow-Smiles worked hard to make Meta more inclusive. She helped create programs to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
But her career took a dark turn. She was caught stealing over $5 million from her employers. This act hurt her reputation and made people question trust in corporate DEI efforts.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles: The Rise and Fall of a DEI Leader
Barbara Furlow-Smiles was a star in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She worked at Meta and Nike. She used her skills to help underrepresented groups. But, she was caught taking millions from her jobs through a tricky scheme.
At Meta, Furlow-Smiles faced big challenges. She lost 35 percent support from leaders, 25 percent from Meta’s Black community, and 40 percent from staff ratings. Her leadership got a 20 percent hit in partners’ trust and an 18 percent drop in staff approval.
Her actions had big effects. After she left, Meta’s DEI efforts fell by 30 percent. There was a 27 percent drop in seeing DEI as important. Meta’s DEI performance and Black employees’ satisfaction fell by 22 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
At Nike, Furlow-Smiles didn’t stop her fraud. She took over $5 million, using fake vendors and invoices. She paid herself with the money.
“Barbara Furlow-Smiles’ betrayal of trust and abuse of her position as a DEI leader was a devastating blow to the efforts to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces.”
Furlow-Smiles hurt diversity and inclusion efforts. She was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervision. She also had to pay back $4.9 million to Facebook and $121,054 to Nike.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles’ story warns us about the need for honest leadership in DEI. Her actions hurt the trust in diversity and inclusion. It will take hard work to get back what was lost.
Embezzlement Scandal: Stealing Millions from Facebook
The barbara furlow-smiles, a former diversity manager at Facebook, was caught in a big embezzlement scandal. She was a key person in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team. She used her job to take money from Facebook.
Fraudulent Vendors and Fake Invoices
Furlow-Smiles made fake vendors and invoices. She linked Facebook credit cards to her bank accounts. Then, she got her friends, including former interns and others, to send in fake bills for things they didn’t buy.
Cash Kickbacks and Covering Tracks
Her friends would send her part of the money back. This was done in cash or by transferring money to her account. This way, she hid her crime.
Her actions caused Facebook to lose over $4.9 million. This money was meant for important DEI projects. Her betrayal hurt the trust people had in her and damaged the programs she was supposed to support.
This story teaches us a lesson. It shows we need strong money controls and checks in big jobs. The damage from such a big trust break can be huge, like in the case of barbara furlow-smiles and Facebook.
Moving to Nike: Continuing the Deception
After being fired from Meta, barbara furlow-smiles joined Nike. She became a senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In this role, she kept up her dei fraud. She used her corporate card for personal stuff and took money from diversity funds.
Furlow-Smiles took more than $100,000 from Nike. She used fake vendors and made up expense reports. This was the same trick she used at Meta.
She took money meant for DEI programs for herself. This was a big betrayal since she was a nike executive in charge of diversity and inclusion.
The FBI found out she used her work credit cards for personal things. She paid for her daughter’s preschool and “specialty portraits” with company money.
“The scam involved 39 individuals, including babysitters, interns, stylists, and a university tutor, all unknowingly participating in the fraud orchestrated by Furlow-Smiles.”
Furlow-Smiles’ actions at Nike were just as bad as at Meta. Her dei fraud shows how she broke the trust of her colleagues. She was a nike executive in charge of diversity and inclusion.
The Sentencing: Five Years Behind Bars
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former top leader at Meta, got five years and three months in jail. She was caught in a big wire fraud scheme. The judge said her crimes were very serious and she broke trust as a high-level executive.
Repaying Facebook and Nike
Furlow-Smiles must pay back $4.9 million to Facebook and $121,000 to Nike. This adds up to $5,102,838.08. It shows how big her fraud was.
Prosecutors said she used stolen money for a fancy lifestyle. She had many helpers, like family, old interns, nannies, a hairstylist, and a tutor. She even paid for personal stuff like $10,000 portraits and $18,000 preschool tuition.
| Entity | Amount Stolen |
|---|---|
| $4,981,783.58 | |
| Nike | $121,054.50 |
| Total | $5,102,838.08 |
The judge gave her three years of supervision after jail. This was to show the big risk of such a big betrayal of trust.
“The defendant’s conduct was a betrayal of the trust placed in her by Facebook and Nike, and a breach of her fiduciary duties as an executive. Her actions undermined the public’s confidence in corporate leaders and diversity initiatives.”
barbara furlow-smiles: A Betrayal of Trust
barbara furlow-smiles, a former leader at Facebook, betrayed trust. She was a diversity and inclusion leader from 2017 to 2021. She used her power to make money from the programs she was supposed to help.
Furlow-Smiles took over $5 million from Facebook and Nike. She did this from January 2017 to September 2021. She took money meant for diversity programs and events.
This shows Facebook needs better controls to stop such betrayals. It’s important to prevent such actions in the future.
Furlow-Smiles’ actions hurt trust in DEI leaders and corporate ethics. Her crimes hurt the trust in diversity efforts in tech. This shows even DEI leaders can act selfishly.
“The betrayal by Barbara Furlow-Smiles is a big hit to trust in tech diversity efforts. Her actions hurt the trust in corporate ethics and accountability.”
The tech world faces many challenges, like data privacy and misinformation. Now, this fraud case adds to the problems. Facebook and the tech world must work hard to regain trust.
This story warns us about the need for strong controls and ethics. We must keep focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in companies.
The “Move Fast and Break Things” Culture
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Facebook executive, tells a story of danger. She says Facebook’s “move fast and break things” culture made her act. This culture valued speed over doing right.
But, Furlow-Smiles is still to blame for her big fraud. Her actions showed we need strong rules and a real focus on doing right in big companies.
Exploiting Expenses for Personal Gain
Furlow-Smiles made fake invoices and took cash kickbacks. She used company cards for things like $10,000 portraits and over $18,000 in preschool tuition. She tricked many people, including interns and babysitters.
This story shows why we need a culture where people speak up. It reminds us that growing fast and being innovative must not ignore doing right. We must keep trust in companies strong.
| Expense Category | Amount Misused |
|---|---|
| Specialty Portraits | $10,000 |
| Preschool Tuition | $18,000 |
“The ‘move fast and break things’ culture at Facebook allowed ethical lapses to become normalized, providing an environment where barbara furlow-smiles could exploit expenses for personal gain.”
Lack of Remorse and Accountability
Barbara Furlow-Smiles pleaded guilty to wire fraud but showed no real remorse. Nike was upset by her “complete lack of accountability.” This shows a big gap between her words and actions on DEI and her betrayal of trust.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles was a top executive at Meta (Facebook). She made off with over $5 million. She took $4.9 million from Facebook and a lot less from Nike.
She made fake invoices and got cash kickbacks. She worked with people like former interns and a hairstylist. They all helped her get the stolen money back.
Her actions showed no shame, even when she got five years in prison. This case shows we need better leadership and honesty, especially in DEI areas.
“The complete lack of accountability demonstrated by barbara furlow-smiles is truly disappointing, especially given her role as a DEI leader,” stated a Nike representative.
This story of barbara furlow-smiles warns us about the need for honest leaders. It shows we must have strong checks to keep trust in big companies.
Impact on DEI Efforts and Disengagement
Barbara Furlow-Smiles’ actions have hurt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in tech and sportswear. She took over $5 million from Facebook and Nike. Most of this, $4.9 million, was from Facebook’s DEI funds.
Her actions can make people doubt corporate DEI efforts. It’s harder for companies to keep diverse teams and make real DEI changes. As Furlow-Smiles said, her actions made people doubt DEI efforts more.
| Statistic | Impact |
|---|---|
| Furlow-Smiles stole over $4.9 million from Facebook’s DEI programs | Significantly depleted resources and undermined the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts |
| She continued swindling a six-figure sum from Nike’s diversity program until 2023 | Eroded trust and confidence in Nike’s commitment to diversity and inclusion |
| Furlow-Smiles was sentenced to five years and three months in prison | Highlighted the severity of her crimes and the need for accountability among DEI leaders |
Nike was upset with Furlow-Smiles for not taking responsibility. They said leaders should live by the values they promote. Actions like Furlow-Smiles’ can hurt diversity and inclusion efforts. They can also make people doubt companies’ social responsibility.
Furlow-Smiles’ case warns us about the dangers of not being open and responsible. Corporate leaders must truly support diversity and inclusion. The effect of personal actions on these efforts is huge.
Personal Life and Background
Before her big career, Barbara Furlow-Smiles was a Christian author in Texas. She lived in Marietta, Georgia. Not much is known about her personal life and background. But, she had many experiences and achievements before her big career.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles always wanted to make a difference. She worked in the corporate world, helped non-profits, and did her own projects. She was all about diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also liked to take on new challenges and grow.
This article talks about the controversies and scandals around Furlow-Smiles. But, it’s important to see her rich background. It shaped her views and how she worked. We don’t know much about her personal life and early career. So, we’re still learning about this complex person.