“Sit at the table” is now a phrase I think of regularly.
Is reading Lean In a cliche for the modern-day feminist? If so, I accept the stereotype. And I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
For those unfamiliar, Sheryl Sandberg is the current COO of a little company called Facebook. Lean In asks the question: why aren’t there more women in leadership roles? And how can we get them there? The book became an instant hit/cultural phenomenon/feminist catch phrase, and encouraged women to sit at the table and rise to the top.
This book made me remember my Women’s Studies courses in college—it opened my eyes, taught me wisdom, and ultimately changed how I view and interact with the world. And oh boy, do I have a career crush on Sheryl Sandberg.
I read this book before my annual employee review, and felt more confident and empowered in myself to think about what I want (and don’t want) my career to look like. By the end, I felt empowered to take control of my career. I wanted to get my Master’s in Business! (Note: I have never wanted and will never actually want a Master’s in Business.)
I found the chapters on partnership and parenthood to be the most interesting; at this point in my career, those are the roadblocks I see ahead of me that I’ve never been sure how I should tackle. The answer is a mixture of hard work and collaboration.
If you’re cringing at the word “feminist”, don’t let the word scare you—this is an important book to read for anyone of any gender, at any point in their career. The information discussed in this book is too important to ignore.
Ashleigh Reads 