In 2004, after 43 years running Golden West Financial Corporation, she was described by the Columbia School of Journalism as "the first and longest-serving woman chief executive officer in the United States."
Under the Sandlers' management, Golden West generated a 19 percent average annual compound growth in earnings per share over a 39-year period.
[8] The Sandlers were also named "2004 CEOs of the Year" by Morningstar, Inc. Golden West was sold in October 2006 for $24 billion to Wachovia Bank.
[9] The Sandlers helped found and are among the largest benefactors of the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization fighting predatory mortgage lending, payday loans, and other products that prey on consumers;[10] the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank; ProPublica, an investigative reporting newsroom; and the American Asthma Foundation.
In addition, the Sandlers or their foundation support organizations involved in medical research, the environment, human rights, and civil liberties.