You have probably seen her a million times in the news...her speech at Barnard, her work at Google, and then her work at Facebook. Now her book. I know of her and was touched by her speech on "having it all." I didn't read up about all the backlash that came afterward and her lack of duty to feminism. I may or may not read her book.
This weekend, my best friend spoke about Sheryl Sandberg's talk at a CEO conference. My best friend said a ton of amazing things that I cannot re-articulate because I am not NEARLY as well spoken as the bf but the one thing that stuck with me was the idea that young women should not have to reach a point in their life and choose between having a successful career and having a great family. When the family happens, then.... you figure out how to mesh the professional life with the personal life. Sandberg mentioned that one of her younger colleagues at Facebook was asking for advice on how to start planning her professional life for her future family. This younger woman was just out of college and I think she didn't have a steady boyfriend at the time but she was already planning on this life event that hasn't even happened yet. Sandberg encourages young women to pursue the career, don't hold back (our male counterparts aren't), find a partner to support you on your path and worry about the family when the time comes.
I confess that I have this imaginary child and family in the back of my mind when I think of where I want to work when I graduate. But after speaking with my girlfriend, I am reminded that its ok to go where the most exciting opportunity is (or whatever opportunity that I have access to! ha!). And when it comes time to start that family, it will be a joint conversation and effort with my partner.
Picture from Businessinsider.
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