Sheryl Sandberg announced yesterday that she would step down from the Meta board -- her final exit from the tech giant, where she held the role of chief operating officer for more than a decade.
She leaves behind a complicated legacy when it comes to women who have reached the top in the business world. As I wrote last March for Bloomberg Opinion, one of the chief questions left to disentangle is why the path for high-achieving women like Sandberg, especially in the tech world, so often requires that they play the role of Adult. It’s a label that implies a certain kind of executive; one who ensures everyone is well-behaved and on schedule, who brings stability and credibility — but not necessarily big vision. For a generation of women, that may have been the only way in the door.
It comes down to this: If the default for men in tech is boy genius, for senior women — particularly at the highest level — it is still way too often office mom. “It’s damaging,” Laura Kray, a professor of leadership at the Haas School of Business told me at the time. “It adds an additional layer of complexity to the job: Make us a bazillion dollars but be nice while you do it, and also make us cookies.”
Am dealing with this myself. By being the “vision” person, CEO, the face and voice who can create, pitch, recruit, sell, write grants, I am not the one who is primarily focused on making the trains run on time internally and need to delegate that role. Wheras I have played that project manager or manager role many times, now, I need the right right-hand person or deputy for that.
Women with my so-called “masculine” strengths, but who might be characterized as “bubbly” instead of “charismatic” then sometimes are not respected as women leaders. Being approachable, affirming, compassionate can be mistaken for “weak” or “pushover” or “easy to manipulate”, especially in certain international (student) groups or people from other cultures used to authoritative, hierarchical, strongman, command-and-control leaders or professors. Deeply flawed male leaders are given far more leeway, especially if they are successful, but definitely if they are brilliant. There are some very, very oddball CEOs, professors, leaders.
Whereas men will often complain women are “controlling”, when I have a flat, non-hierarchical structure, am not authoritative or mean, expect others to be adults, certain behaviors can develop that I then need to go back and address. I do not enjoy projecting angry, controlling dominatrix, nor being the way I see many women in COO or HR or compliance roles may be, and it drains me of energy to be that way. The more I need to be a stern schoolmarm or addressing team dysfunction because trusting others to deliver results over micromanagement can come across as “nice” or “easy”, the more I am pulled into weeds instead writing grants, meeting investors, recruiting the team.
Sheryl Sandberg announced yesterday that she would step down from the Meta board -- her final exit from the tech giant, where she held the role of chief operating officer for more than a decade.
She leaves behind a complicated legacy when it comes to women who have reached the top in the business world. As I wrote last March for Bloomberg Opinion, one of the chief questions left to disentangle is why the path for high-achieving women like Sandberg, especially in the tech world, so often requires that they play the role of Adult. It’s a label that implies a certain kind of executive; one who ensures everyone is well-behaved and on schedule, who brings stability and credibility — but not necessarily big vision. For a generation of women, that may have been the only way in the door.
It comes down to this: If the default for men in tech is boy genius, for senior women — particularly at the highest level — it is still way too often office mom. “It’s damaging,” Laura Kray, a professor of leadership at the Haas School of Business told me at the time. “It adds an additional layer of complexity to the job: Make us a bazillion dollars but be nice while you do it, and also make us cookies.”
Bloomberg Opinion’s Beth Kowitt this week shared an interesting perspective on Sheryl Sandberg’s exit from the Meta board and pointed us back to one of her best columns.
“She {Sandberg} leaves behind a complicated legacy when it comes to women who have reached the top in the business world. As I wrote last March for Bloomberg Opinion, one of the chief questions left to disentangle is why the path for high-achieving women like Sandberg, especially in the tech world, so often requires that they play the role of Adult. It’s a label that implies a certain kind of executive; one who ensures everyone is well-behaved and on schedule, who brings stability and credibility — but not necessarily big vision. For a generation of women, that may have been the only way in the door.
It comes down to this: If the default for men in tech is boy genius, for senior women — particularly at the highest level — it is still way too often office mom. “It’s damaging,” Laura Kray, a professor of leadership at the Haas School of Business told me at the time. “It adds an additional layer of complexity to the job: Make us a bazillion dollars but be nice while you do it, and also make us cookies.”
Women in tech are forever cast as adults but rarely as CEO:
https://lnkd.in/gDyQFZrx#womenintech#womeninmedia#meta#tech#storychangesculture
Sheryl Sandberg's 🚀👩💼journey in the tech industry, particularly in roles traditionally dominated by men, is both inspiring and reflective of the challenges women face in such sectors. Her decision to step down from the Meta board signifies a pivotal moment in her career, one that encapsulates her significant contributions to a major tech company while also highlighting the often complex landscape women navigate in leadership roles.
In male-dominated industries, 👩💼women like Sandberg play a crucial role in breaking barriers and setting precedents for #diversity and #inclusion. 🌏👩🔧 Her advocacy work through LeanIn.org and her influential book 'Lean In' have opened conversations about gender equity in the workplace. 💬📚
As a woman in engineering I can relate to the importance of such advocacy. 💪👩🔬👩🎓 It's crucial to encourage a culture where diverse perspectives are valued and where women are supported and empowered to take on leadership roles.
Sandberg's career trajectory is a testament to the resilience and determination required for women to succeed in these fields. 💼🌟 Her experiences and the challenges she faced, including managing controversies and guiding a company through rapid growth, serve as valuable lessons for women aspiring to leadership positions in any industry. 📈🛡️ Her shift towards focusing on women's empowerment aligns with the growing need for mentorship and support systems that enable women to excel in their careers, particularly in STEM fields. 🌱🔬👩💻
#WomenInTech#Leadership#DiversityInSTEM#SherylSandberg#LeanIn#FemaleEmpowerment#BreakingBarriers#GenderEquality#STEM#WomenInEngineering#Mentorship#Resilience#CareerGrowth#womeninstem
Career advice for humans: "... Consistently present the best version of yourself while being truthful about your strengths and the areas that need improvement to grow and excel in your chosen field."
~Lori Laub, CEO and founder of TruCentive
#career#leadership
From former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg to OpenAI’s current CTO Mira Murati, to Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, women in tech are making their mark and becoming household names.🌟
Here’s how you can navigate a career in tech, according to a female founder: https://lnkd.in/gBKGzcPGJobbio#Partner
Based on self-reported company figures, women employees make up less than 30% at Microsoft and 45% at Amazon, two of America’s largest tech companies.
However, when considering true tech jobs within those companies, the number drops significantly. Fewer than 1 in 4 technical roles are women.
#mtgthepodcast#womenintech#creatives
Although Women's History Month is ending, our commitment to Women in Tech initiatives remains steadfast! As we celebrate the end of March, we are thrilled to shine our last spotlight on Nyla Beth Gawel. Nyla Beth is a seasoned tech leader whose career journey spans from her early days at the US Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of 9/11, to a top-level executive in Fortune 500 companies, and now as the founder of her own consulting firm and the US Chapter Director of WOMEN IN TECH ® Global Movement. Her trajectory is a testament to the transformative influence of female leadership in the tech industry.
Some challenges that she faced include receiving gendered feedback and balancing returns today with investments for tomorrow, but she offers specific advice, including establishing your own personal Board of Advisors "who will give you true feedback and recommendations, not just pat you on the back."
Join us as we spotlight her career and get inspired as a Woman in Tech.
Read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/dSeetbSx
Don't worry; this is far from our last Women in Tech initiative here at Meta IT. Can you guess what we'll bring next? Leave it down in the comments!
#WomenInTech#TechLeadership#DiversityAndInclusion#Empowerment#MetaIT#Innovation#LeadershipJourney#MetaWomenInTech
Hello Ladies,
Navigating the tech world as a woman has challenges, but it's also immensely rewarding! Despite facing gender bias and underrepresentation, women in tech are leading change and fostering innovation.
Diverse women in tech are reshaping the narrative, and you can too! Inspire others by sharing your unique perspective and experiences.
Support and empower young women entering tech careers to challenge gender stereotypes and advocate for inclusivity.
Women in tech can overcome obstacles, shatter down boundaries, and become Tech Changemakers who will shape the direction of technology.
Let's do this together.
Video Credit: Women Techmakers
👩💻✨ Women in Tech Features: Celebrating Leadership and Innovation
Today, we shine a spotlight on the remarkable women leaders who are making significant strides in the tech industry. Their contributions are reshaping innovation, diversity, and inclusivity. Here are just a few inspiring stories:
- Susan Wojcicki: CEO of YouTube, who has played a pivotal role in expanding the platform's global reach and fostering content diversity.
- Ruchi Sanghvi: Facebook's first female engineer and a pioneer in building News Feed, laying the foundation for one of the platform's most iconic features.
- Ursula Burns: Former CEO of Xerox Corporation, a trailblazer who became the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
- Reshma Saujani: Founder of Girls Who Code, dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology and inspiring young women to pursue careers in STEM fields.
- Fei-Fei Li: Co-Director of Stanford University's Human-Centered AI Institute, renowned for her groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence and computer vision.
- Arlan Hamilton: Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, investing in underrepresented founders in tech and striving for equity and inclusivity.
These visionary women are not only breaking barriers but also paving the way for future generations of women in tech. Their leadership, innovation, and advocacy are transforming industries and shaping a more diverse and equitable tech landscape.
Let’s celebrate their achievements, amplify their voices, and continue championing diversity and inclusion in technology. 🌟🌐
🌟 3 girls on a mission 🌟
We are on a mission to bridge the gap between US companies and the best LATAM tech talent, while championing diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Did you know? According to recent studies:
🔹 Women make up only 28.8% of the global tech workforce.
🔹 Companies with more gender diversity are 15% more likely to outperform their competitors.
🔹 Women are crushing it in data science with a near 50/50 representation!
🔹 Only 17% of tech CEOs are women.
Diversity isn't just about representation; it's about driving innovation and fostering creativity
At Lean, we're fortunate to have amazing women leading innovation every day.
What are your thoughts on the importance of women in tech? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments!
Champion for women empowerment and inclusion in Tech | GirlCode CEO | Mail and Guardian Women of Power '22 | Telkom Top 10 phenomenal women ‘23 | Sunday World Heroic Women ‘24 |
Excited to unveil something truly impactful: this powerful film campaign by WOMEN IN TECH ® Global and UN Women to shatter the glass ceiling. #BeyondCeilings!
From classrooms to boardrooms, women encounter invisible barriers hindering their progress. Despite strides forward, statistics show the stark reality: only 28.2% of management positions worldwide are held by women, and a mere 5.8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are female.
I can resonate with this campaign because at GirlCode ZA, our mission is clear: to ignite a passion for technology in girls as young as 9 years old. We believe in empowering them with the knowledge that they're not just users of technology, but can also be creators of technology. Through our tireless efforts, we're breaking down barriers and ensuring that every girl knows she has a place in the tech world as a maker and innovator.
This movement is about rewriting the narrative and unleashing the full potential of women! #EmpowerWomen#GenderEquality#TechForGood#WomenInSTEM#LeadershipDevelopment#UNWomen