Lean In

Summary:

Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, igniting global conversations about women and ambition. Sandberg packed theatres, dominated opinion pages, appeared on every major television show and on the cover of “Time” magazine, and sparked ferocious debate about women and leadership. Ask most women whether they have the right to equality at work and the answer will be a resounding yes, but ask the same women whether they'd feel confident asking for a raise, a promotion, or equal pay, and some reticence creeps in. The statistics, although an improvement on previous decades, are certainly not in women's favour – of 197 heads of state, only twenty-two are women. Women hold just 20 percent of seats in parliaments globally, and in the world of big business, a meagre eighteen of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women. In “Lean In”, Sheryl Sandberg – Facebook COO and one of “Fortune” magazine's Most Powerful Women in Business – draws on her own experience of working in some of the world's most successful businesses and looks at what women can do to help themselves, and make the small changes in their life that can effect change on a more universal scale. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

“Lean In” is essential reading for any female in the workforce.  I think the best thing about the book is that it’s written by a successful woman who has had kids and understands what it’s like to juggle all the balls.  There are many elements of the book that I was already familiar with through my MBA studies, but it was still well worth the time.  It was interesting to hear Sandberg’s reference to studies and I appreciated that she supported her arguments with real findings rather than just personal examples.

There were certainly aspects of her book that I was not 100% in agreement with, but that’s ok.  As far as I’m concerned “Lean In” is a solid read that brought many aspects to being a female business leader into mainstream conversations.  You may argue with her or disagree with her, but one thing that is clear is that she jump-started the conversation in a lot of board rooms and helped many women take one step closer towards equality in the workplace.

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Women in business who haven’t already and men who want to understand the perspectives women come from.