Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama, moderates a 2011 women and technology panel discussion at Facebook Headquarters. Panelists include:
Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric sat down with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to discuss her book and movement “Lean In,” as well as her thoughts on the choices women must make. Sandberg says women should go after big jobs and big challenges—and that doing so may be good for their careers and their families.
Sandberg advises women “Don’t leave before you leave.” She tells Couric how women tend to do just that—planning for the conflicts they fear will arise when raising a family, often before children or family life are even on the horizon. By anticipating problems rather than “leaning in” to big jobs and challenges early in their carers, Sandberg says, women not only hinder their careers but may be bypassing the very opportunities that can help work-life balance in years to come.
Until women are facing conflicts between work and family life, Sandberg says, “you should lean in. Keep your foot on the gas pedal. Beacuse it turns out, if you do that, you might get promoted. You might make enough money to afford child care. You might have a more interesting job. You might get promoted to a level where there’s more flexibility.”
Sandberg also believes workplaces can and should initiate conversations about the choices women face in their careers.
Join the community and learn more about encouraging women to pursue their ambitions at Lean In.