In a world where women remain underrepresented in corporate leadership positions, Lean In, co-founded by CEO Rachel Thomas and former Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg in 2013, is taking action to change the statistics with their groundbreaking new program, Lean In Girls. The mission of this program, which launched to the public on Thursday, is to encourage girls and young teens to see themselves as future leaders, challenging stereotypes and empowering them to embrace their potential.
According to a 2022 report by Lean In and McKinsey & Company, women make up only 26% of c-suite roles, despite accounting for 48% of entry-level jobs. A separate analysis by USA TODAY revealed that women are outnumbered 5 to 1 in senior leadership roles among the nation’s top 100 publicly traded companies. It is evident that the gender gap in leadership positions persists, underscoring the need for initiatives like Lean In Girls.
The Lean In Girls curriculum, thoughtfully developed in collaboration with experts, including Stanford scholars, is founded on ethnographic and social science research. It comprises 15 one-hour group sessions aimed at girls aged 11 to 15, providing them with essential tools to embrace their unique strengths and reject limiting stereotypes. A critical aspect of the program is to inspire action by breaking down barriers and fostering a supportive environment that encourages girls to lead on their own terms.
Research has shown that many young girls struggle to envision themselves as leaders, with only 21% believing they possess the necessary qualities, as reported by the Girl Scouts Research Institute in 2008. Lean In Girls seeks to address this issue head-on, equipping girls with the confidence and skills to overcome obstacles and succeed as leaders.
“We really want to equip girls to lead on their own terms. And we really want the world to clear a path for them to lead,” says Rachel Thomas, CEO of Lean In. “This is a program for girls to help them avoid a lot of the pitfalls that we women fall into.”
Lean In’s partnership with various organizations, including KIPP Public Charter Schools, Girls Inc., and Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, has seen the program undergo a pilot with around 350 participants. The results have been encouraging, with 100% of facilitators recommending the program and a significant number of girls expressing newfound understanding about their leadership potential.
The curriculum, divided into four parts, is adaptable and can be used separately or combined based on each class’s unique needs. Lean In Girls aims to create an attractive form of leadership that resonates with young girls, inspiring them to step into leadership roles and drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
The first half of the Lean In Girls curriculum is now available for free on the Lean In website, with the second half accessible to partner organizations. The foundation’s goal is to expand the reach of the program, making it accessible to numerous schools, after-school programs, and athletic programs, thereby fostering a generation of confident and empowered female leaders.
Lean In Girls represents a significant step towards gender equality in leadership roles, instilling a sense of belief and determination in young girls that they too can become the leaders the world needs. By nurturing the potential of girls from an early age, Lean In is paving the way for a brighter and more inclusive future, where women take their rightful place in leadership positions across all sectors of society.
