Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

work by Sandberg

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead is a 2013 book by Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Facebook. The book encourages women to be more assertive in pursuing career advancement and leadership roles. Sandberg advocates for women to "sit at the table" and actively contribute to be heard and considered for promotions.123

The book became a bestseller and sparked discussions about work-life balance for women in corporate America. While widely influential, it also faced criticism for not fully addressing the challenges faced by women in less privileged positions, such as single mothers. The phrase "lean in" has become a widely recognized term for women asserting themselves in the workplace.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Sheryl Sandberg
Sandberg articulated her philosophy in Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (2013); the book was published in concert with the launch of Lean In, an education and community-building organization for women in business. Though Sandberg’s advocacy was generally well received, some critics noted that her experience and…
Read More
Sandberg articulated her philosophy in Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (2013); the book was published in concert with the launch of Lean In, an education and community-building organization for women in business. Though Sandberg’s advocacy was generally well received, some critics noted that her experience and…
Read More