Barnard commencement

I loved this speech by Sheryl Sandberg. She really highlights some important aspects of why women still aren't equal in the workforce.  She uses the phrase "Lean In" which I also really liked. One of my favorite quotes is,

"Women almost never make one decision to leave the workforce. It doesn’t happen that way. They make small little decisions along the way that eventually lead them there. Maybe it’s the last year of med school when they say, I’ll take a slightly less interesting specialty because I’m going to want more balance one day....

These women don’t even have relationships, and already they’re finding balance, balance for responsibilities they don’t yet have. And from that moment, they start quietly leaning back. The problem is, often they don’t even realize it. Everyone I know who has voluntarily left a child at home and come back to the workforce—and let’s face it, it’s not an option for most people. But for people in this audience, many of you are going to have this choice. Everyone who makes that choice will tell you the exact same thing: You’re only going to do it if your job is compelling."

How many people do you know who fit into this category? I know plenty. Women who hate their jobs, yet stay. Or even worse: women who think their jobs are OK and stay just because it is secure and their path is set and every 10 months they will get a promotion and a 6% raise. I have heard that Sheryl Sandberg is a super intense woman (and I totally believe it), but I really like what she had to say to Barnard and her speech was incredibly genuine.