Lean In Review

After reading Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” only one phrase seems to run through my mind.

“Who Run The World? Girls.”

Beyonce was on a hunch. Like the famous singer’s lyric, Sandberg is on a mission with a message of her own. In fact, it is a message that continues to be repeated like a broken record. It is a message public figures exalt from their higher positions hoping a change will finally be prominent enough to make a lasting affect. So what’s the big deal?

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and after her many years of going through what she calls the “jungle gym” of the work force, she writes that she has noticed women are not filling the shoes of higher leadership roles.

Well gosh it’s nothing we haven’t heard before. What was that thing women strained over for years and basically got pushed to the backburner? Oh yeah, equality – especially in the workforce.

In Lean In, Sandberg goes to the core and explores the possibilities as to why women’s leadership roles have stalled. She gives insight how to overcome these issues, and writes that her goal is to empower women to achieve their fullest potential- no matter what their career path or their background. She also has a message to men everywhere. Throughout the entire book there are paragraphs dedicated to enlightening men (whether they be women’s bosses, husbands, brothers, co-workers) to take a stand at their companies, in their homes, and then some to help support women in their careers and home lives.

This is Sheryl Sandberg, who wrote Lean In. In her book she encourages women to reach for their goals by leading in the workforce.

This is Sheryl Sandberg, who wrote Lean In. In her book she encourages women to reach for their goals by leading in the workforce.

Speaking of homes lives, Sandberg writes about her own experiences working for Google and Facebook while trying to start and raise a family. She brings the realistic image of a life where a woman can indeed have a successful career, raise children, and meet the love of your life. When I personally read that specific chapter I was skeptical. Can women in today’s society really have it all?

With Sandberg’s guidance, some personal insight, and the will to lead, this book gives the illusion that the idea is not  far-fetched.

After reading it over the first weeks of summer this book brought a lot of interesting and beneficial statistics about women in the workforce from all eras to my attention. Some of the factual information made me proud of my generation while others made me squirm. At this day and age, there is so much potential out there, regardless of one’s race, gender, background, sexual preference, religion, etc.

All I know is this book made me want to rule the world after I completed the last page. It sounds overdramatic and cliché, but in my case, very true. I highly recommend this read for anyone who needs a good book this summer. I’ll bet you a quarter this book is entirely more beneficial and entertaining than your summer school homework. You’ll never know until you “lean in” and read it yourself.

You can also look at the Lean In website, here to learn more about Sheryl Sandberg’s movement and the book in general.

About Lauren Estlinbaum

Entertainment Director    —    Journalism major, Class of 2014
Lauren Estlinbaum grew up in Pearland, Texas, south of Houston (go Texans). She is a journalism major with a minor in apparel design. Lauren would like to work for either a fashion or lifestyle publication post-graduation. As she likes to say, she considers fashion magazines survival guides.