100,000 reasons to celebrate ??

Welcome to The Lead, Lean In’s newsletter connecting you with the latest news and insights to help you advance in your career and achieve your ambitions. Do you have a workplace-related question that you’d like to ask an expert? Or do you need advice on how to handle a challenging situation at work? Email us at [email protected] . Let’s dive right in.?

When Lean In Circles launched in 2013, co-founders Sheryl Sandberg and Rachel Schall Thomas set out with an ambitious goal: inspire 1,000 women around the world to start their very own Circle by the end of the year. Their hope was that these small groups of women would regularly get together and, through peer support, encourage each other to go after their dreams.?

Eleven years later, we’ve just hit an even more significant milestone: 100,000 women have started Lean In Circles in over 180 countries.?

“My Circle made me realize how important it is to find our voice as women,” said Deepali, a Circle leader from British Columbia. “I'm trying to make sure that I sit at the table with confidence and help other women do the same.”

The growth of Lean In Circles is a testament to the ongoing need women have for workplace support. Despite notable gains, women remain underrepresented across the corporate pipeline. And women—in particular women of color—face biases and barriers that their men colleagues don’t.?

Peer mentorship is a proven way for women to build professional skills and feel more empowered to take risks: 85% of members credit their Circle with a positive change in their life, almost two-thirds of women in Circles have taken on a new challenge, and 81% of members said being in a Circle helped their career.?

Lean In Argentina

“When I go to meet these wonderful women, I get super inspired.” —Marina, Lean In Buenos Aires.

Lean In Tokyo

“[My Lean In Circle] brings me confidence, makes me feel empowered, and I have been able to love myself more.” —Wakaba, Lean In Tokyo

Join us in celebrating?

In the coming months, we will be sharing stories and photos from the Lean In community. Are you in a Lean In Circle? We want to hear from you.??

Send us your Circle photo and favorite Circle story and we’ll randomly draw one Circle where Sheryl Sandberg (founder, Lean In) and Rachel Thomas (CEO and co-founder, Lean In) will join virtually in one of your upcoming meetings! Learn more and submit your story here .

?? ? ? —Caroline Fairchild, Lean In Editor-in-Chief

Another first. Last week at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris achieved another milestone: she is now the first woman of color to be a major party’s presidential nominee. As her achievements grow, there are signs the biases she is facing are growing as well. Former president Donald Trump continues to suggest in his remarks that Harris is unqualified to be president. [Fortune ]?

• Hear That?/Say This: When people question a candidate’s experience, probe for more information, by saying something like, “What experience do you think she’s missing?” This can help highlight the different standards we sometimes have for women and men. [Lean In ]

The side-hustle gender pay gap. Roughly the same number of women and men are making additional income from “side hustles,” or gigs outside of their primary job. However, women on average bring in $735 per month compared to men's $1,034. A Bankrate survey suggests this could result from factors like women having less time to spend on side projects and setting their rates lower than men. [CNBC ]

Back to school means back to work. As schools across the country get back into session, so will a significant number of working moms. Every summer, women’s employment drops about 1.5%, and the majority of the women who quit working in the summer have children aged six to 12, according to a recent study. [Bloomberg ]?

Rising legislation against DEI. So far this year, at least 37 federal lawsuits targeting DEI programming have been filed, according to the NYU School of Law’s Meltzer Center. Last year, 40 were filed in total, with only 11 in 2021. [WorkLife ]

Advancing equity on the field. The National Women’s Soccer League just eliminated the draft, which means players can choose whom they play for. Team salary caps and minimums are also on the rise: the cap went from $2.75 million to $3.3 million, and the minimum salary was upped to $48,500 from $35,000. [Fortune ]

Open Circle for Latinas (75 minutes)

Ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be hosting an Open Circle meeting specifically for Latina women. Come experience the power of Lean In Circles while connecting with others.

September 9 ?

Circle Leader Training (60 minutes)?

How to get your Circle started, from deciding on your Circle’s purpose and recruiting members to join, right up to hosting your first meeting.

September 3 , September 9

Research shows that at least three-quarters of women routinely face biased comments and actions at work. That’s not surprising. But what is surprising is that only about a third of women say they’ve seen bias against other women in their workplace.?

So how can you get better at recognizing these microaggressions against all women? And how can you push back?

• Realize that microaggressions are just one part of a much bigger problem. They reflect deeply ingrained and incredibly harmful biases.?
• Get familiar with the specific types of microaggressions that women with traditionally marginalized identities face at work. For example, women of color often have their skills and authority unfairly questioned.?
• Direct attention back to objective facts. For example, if someone questions another woman’s competence, you can offer specific evidence of her skills.
• Follow up privately to explain why a colleague’s actions were harmful.?
• Take steps to prevent microaggressions from happening in the first place. That starts with pausing regularly to reflect on your own words and actions.

For more, watch our “5 ways to intervene when other women face disrespect” video and download the discussion guide from the Women at Work Collection.

This week, we’re “Leading with” Melody Mitchell , a founder and leader for Lean In Network Kuwait and a senior military advisor.?

What is one challenge you’ve faced at work specific to being a woman, and how have you overcome it?

Being in the military, in law enforcement, and spending most of my career in the Middle East, I deal with being “the only” woman a lot. It can be intimidating in certain situations, but I always walk into any situation like that without hesitation. I know I’m there for a reason, and that I belong. I approach any conversation and meeting knowing my contributions matter and that being a woman is bringing a needed diversity and dynamic to the mix. I thrive in those environments and yet am thrilled when another woman is in that space with me. It’s fulfilling to then support her success.?

What’s a “work hack” that has made you more productive or efficient either inside or outside of the workplace?

In 2016, I discovered the Bullet Journal (Bujo) planner method . Now I have stacks of the same notebook journal. I love the flexibility it allows to maintain my “to do” lists and meeting notes.?

When I retired I tried to go paperless and keep a digital Bujo version, but realized I love keeping a paper journal. I now maintain a weekly spread and it really works for me. I’m able to juggle multiple work projects and accomplish my volunteer tasks. I love the ritual of planning the pages and week, and it’s very satisfying to fill that task box!?

What is one piece of advice you would give to other working women??

Support other women and be willing to share and ask for help. I kept challenges to myself thinking I was the only person facing them and being frustrated I hadn’t figured out the answers yet. But every time I finally opened up and shared with those I trusted, I got great advice and insight.?

When have you felt most powerful?

When I’ve earned the trust of those more senior to me and they take my strategic guidance and advice.?

What are you most proud of??

Serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and also making the decision to retire in a foreign country and create a new position for myself. Almost a decade of Lean In Circles gave me the aptitude to understand and pursue the best path for me and my happiness, the confidence to take the risk for a new twist to my career.?

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be??

Three things:

1. Make sure you get enough sleep! Sleep is glorious, and four to five hours is NOT enough!
2. Be gentle to yourself, have your back, and don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s a waste of energy, and life is so much easier and better when you’re nice to yourself.?
3. Really painful menstrual cramps are not normal. Don’t let the doctors just give you ibuprofen for the pain. It might be endometriosis, and the sooner you address it, the better.

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