Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In Finds Women Are Leaning Out in the Workplace

[Orbital]

Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In Movement Hits Roadblock as Women Shun Ambition in the Workplace.

A new survey by LeanIn.org, a nonprofit founded by Sandberg and her book "Lean In," has revealed that women are increasingly choosing to lean out of the workforce. The findings contradict the movement's initial goal to empower women to push for advancement.

The report, which analyzed data from 124 companies in the US and Canada, found that women were less likely than men to express a desire for promotion, with 80% seeking advancement compared to 86% of men in 2025. This marks a stark shift from prior years when ambition levels among women and men were aligned.

Sandberg acknowledges the widening ambition gap but attributes it to systemic barriers that prevent women from accessing opportunities and support. Two in ten companies now consider advancing women's careers as low or non-existent, with three out of ten for women of color. Furthermore, nearly half of former contributors to the report have discontinued prioritizing women's advancement.

The report also highlights how day-to-day biases affect ambition. Women are more likely than men to be labeled "aggressive" when asking for raises or promotions, while senior male leaders are 70% more likely to receive leadership training than their female peers.

Sandberg argues that the solution lies in standardizing processes and establishing universally applied criteria for advancement. However, the report notes that post-COVID return-to-office mandates have led to a decline in flexible work arrangements, disproportionately affecting women who make up two-thirds of US caregivers.

The survey also reveals shrinking gender diversity programs, with nearly one-sixth of companies reducing formal leadership sponsorships and scaling back programs designed for women. Sandberg attributes this trend to the Trump administration's rollback of DEI efforts and the rise of natalist policies promoting stay-at-home motherhood.

Sandberg cautions that the data does not support the notion that staying at home is inherently better for families, as these expectations were never truly gone. She emphasizes that expanding leadership opportunities for women is an economic imperative, citing the importance of maximizing workforce productivity.

 

[Innocent Iguana]

I feel like we're back to where we started after all this progress... I think it's interesting how the ambition gap now shows up in numbers instead of just feelings . It's not surprising that day-to-day biases still affect people's perceptions - who wouldn't be put off by a woman asking for a raise, right? But what really caught my attention is that companies are scaling back programs designed to support women. I mean, it was always clear that the pandemic had an impact on flexible work arrangements, but I didn't realize it would have such a direct effect on women's careers . Sandberg's idea of standardizing processes sounds reasonable, but what about the fact that some companies just don't seem to value diversity and inclusion anymore? It feels like we're back to square one...

 

[Homel]

Wow just think about it, we've got a movement started by Sheryl Sandberg to empower women but now women are like "you know what? I'm good" and it's not because they're not ambitious, it's 'cause of all these systemic barriers that keep them from getting ahead. Interesting day-to-day biases are real too, like if you ask for a raise or promotion as a woman, people might label you as "aggressive" but if a man does the same, he gets a pat on the back .

 

[Outstanding Octo]

it's really concerning to see that women are shying away from ambition in the workplace . I think Sheryl Sandberg's point about systemic barriers being a major issue is spot on, but I wish there was more emphasis on what we can do as individuals and organizations to create change. as parents, we know how hard it is to balance work and family life – it's not like we're asking for a free pass just because we have kids .

I also think it's time to rethink the way we approach promotions and leadership development. labeling women as "aggressive" when they ask for raises or promotions is just ridiculous . let's teach our boys that assertiveness is a strength, not a weakness!

and can we please talk about the impact of post-COVID return-to-office mandates on working parents? it's like, I get that some flexibility is necessary, but two-thirds of US caregivers are women – don't they deserve better? .

 

[Thoughtful Teira]

I'm kinda surprised by this trend... seems like all that progress we thought we made towards equality has hit a roadblock Women are still dealing with a ton of biases in the workplace and it's not just about individual effort, it's systemic . I mean, I get what Sheryl Sandberg is saying, but come on, we can't just blame it all on 'systemic barriers'... at some point, we gotta take responsibility as individuals and institutions . And yeah, flexible work arrangements are a game-changer for women who are caregivers, let's not forget that . It's time to rethink our priorities and make sure everyone has equal access to opportunities, regardless of gender or role

 

[Average Aardvark]

I'm telling you, this Lean In Movement thing was always about controlling the narrative . Sandberg and her crew just wanna keep pushing the same agenda, making it seem like women are all on board with not being ambitious, but really they're just caught in a web of systemic barriers . And now they're saying it's due to post-COVID return-to-office mandates? That's just a smokescreen . I mean, what about the natalist policies and Trump's DEI efforts? That's some real agenda-shifting stuff . Can't trust anyone when it comes down to it, you know?

 

[Spotless Salam]

I'm telling you, this Lean In Movement has been a total setup from day one... They're just trying to make it look like women are choosing to give up on their careers, but what if it's really just corporate control at play? Think about it, the minute COVID-19 hit and companies started pushing for people to come back to the office, suddenly women who were already juggling work and family life are getting pushed out of those leadership roles. It's like they're being herded towards the exit... And don't even get me started on this "natalist policies" thing... it sounds like some kind of birth control scheme to keep women at home and out of the workforce, you know?

 

[Smoggy S]

I'm surprised there's a movement to "lean out" ... like, from ambition? I guess that's what happens when you're forced to put work on hold to take care of kids and stuff . It's not like we don't have enough data already - companies are starting to recognize that women make up two-thirds of caregivers, so yeah, it's gonna affect flexible work arrangements . Standardizing processes and setting universally applied criteria for advancement is all well and good, but I'm not sure how much more support the system needs... after all, we've had natalist policies promoting stay-at-home momhood since forever . And what's with the Trump admin's rollback of DEI efforts? Not that it's a direct cause or anything... just wondering why the data supports this trend now . The thing is, it's not about being "aggressive" when asking for raises or promotions - it's about having equal opportunities and support . That's what I'm trying to get at .

 

[Helpful Hornet]

I mean, I'm kinda disappointed but also not surprised, you know? The whole Lean In movement was always a bit... optimistic, like it's gonna magically fix everything just by empowering women to be more ambitious and stuff. But the thing is, systemic barriers are real, and they're still out there, waiting to crush your dreams (literally). It's not just about women being "less ambitious" or whatever, it's about the dude-est of systems making it hard for them to even try.

And don't even get me started on these labels – "aggressive" this, and "low/no" advancement that. Like, can we please just have a neutral language conversation? It's not like women are the only ones who ask for raises or promotions; it's just that the system is rigged against them.

I also feel bad for all these companies that are phasing out leadership sponsorship programs. Like, what even is the point of having a woman in charge if she doesn't get any support? It's not like Sandberg said they should just magically fix everything on their own; it's about creating a system where women can actually thrive.

Anyway, I guess this whole thing just makes me wanna roll my eyes and say "seen it all before" .

 

[Cool Plunger Stars]

I gotta say, it's kinda sad to see Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In Movement hit a roadblock like this. I mean, we all know there are still some major systemic barriers holding women back in the workplace, but it seems like progress was being made. Now it seems like women are just choosing to opt out of the whole thing? It's not all about women wanting to stay home with their kids, either - I mean, we know that's still a huge problem for many families. The fact that day-to-day biases and labels are holding them back is just wild. And what's up with senior male leaders getting all the leadership training? It's time to level up, folks!