Since becoming the COO of Facebook, in 2008, Sheryl Sandberg has managed the social media giant’s complex business operations. More recently she has taken on a second, no less public role outside the company as an outspoken advocate for women aspiring to leadership positions. Her new book, Lean In—which Sandberg describes as “sort of a feminist manifesto”—is a call for women to act in their own behalf to overcome institutional and personal barriers to success. In this edited interview with HBR’s editor in chief, Adi Ignatius, Sandberg explains why the workplace is ready for a revolution.
HBR: What do you mean when you refer to your book as “sort of a feminist manifesto”?
Sandberg: The book is a combination of things. It’s partly stories from my own life and experience, partly data and research about gender issues, and partly a call to action by and for women.
Would you describe yourself as a feminist? That word has taken a beating in recent years.
Had you asked me that when I was in college, I would have said I was not. But I think we need to reclaim the “F word” if it means supporting equal opportunities for men and women.
What’s the big idea in Lean In?
The book is for any woman who wants advice on how to sit at any table she wants to sit at, and for any man who wants to be part of creating a more equal world. If we could get to a place of true equality, where what we do in life is determined not by gender but by our passions and interests, our companies would be more productive and our home lives not just better balanced but happier.
You talk in the book about reigniting a revolution. How would you like to see that happen?
Women are making progress at every level except as leaders. We started accounting for 50% of college degrees 30 years ago, but progress at the top has stalled. For the past decade women in corporate America have held only about 14% of C-suite jobs and 17% of board seats. There aren’t enough women sitting at the tables where decisions are made. Reigniting the revolution means I want us to notice all of this and find ways to encourage more women to step up and more companies to recognize what women bring to the table.
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