Kamala’s path to making history

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.?

With Vice President Kamala Harris all but securing the Democratic nomination for president, it’s shaping up to be a historic election year for women.?

Harris could become the first Black woman and the first South Asian woman to be elected president. No matter your politics, that makes her a barrier-breaking candidate. And Harris already knows a thing or two about trailblazing. Before becoming the first woman vice president, she was:?

• The first South Asian woman and only the second Black woman in the U.S. Senate
• The third woman senator from California, following Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer
• The first South Asian American to hold the office of attorney general in California's history?
• The first person of color elected as district attorney of San Francisco

Prior to Harris, several other women crashed through political glass ceilings of their own, including:

• Hillary Clinton, the first woman to represent a major party in a presidential election (2016)?
• Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate (1992)
• Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman VP candidate on a major party ticket (1984)
• Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress (1968)
• Patsy Mink, the first woman of color and Asian American woman elected to Congress (1964)

Like Harris, all of these trailblazers faced pushback because of deep-rooted bias. Sexism leads women candidates to be more likely to be questioned for their qualifications, criticized for how they look and talk, and disliked for speaking up and asserting themselves. All of these barriers loom larger for women of color, who face racism-based biases as well. This challenging path to the top may even dissuade at least some women from running for public office entirely: new data released this week shows fewer women across the country are running for Congress after hitting record highs in 2020 and 2022.?

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

DOJ to investigate Sonya Massey killing. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman and mother who was fatally shot inside her home by an Illinois sheriff's deputy on July 6. Massey called 911 about a potential intruder outside her home and was shot while handling a pot of hot water in her kitchen. [The 19th]

Nearing gender equality at the Olympics. As the Summer Olympics kick off in Paris, it will be the first time that there will be close to an equal number of women and men athletes competing: 5,416 women athletes and 5,630 men athletes. Starting in 2018, the International Olympic Committee began setting benchmarks for achieving gender parity, a decision that was a critical part of achieving this milestone. Pervasive myths about the limits of women’s physical capabilities held back their participation for decades. [WSJ, Fortune]

High-profile work for all. Research shows that roughly 85% of white men report fair access to desirable assignments at work, compared to just 50% for women of color. Quality bias training and policies around fair distribution of high-profile work are two solutions that show signs of making a difference. [HBR]?

A persistent pay gap. The narrowing of the gender pay gap between the mid-1970s and early 2000s is due in large part to the retiring of older workers with large pay gaps. The problem? This narrowing is not expected to continue, meaning the gender pay gap may never disappear, according to a recent study from the Centre for Economic Policy Research. [Bloomberg]

Assumptions over advancement. Corporate women’s advancement programs often center on teaching women a set of skills to empower them in their careers. But this programming fails to take into account bias and assumptions around leadership skills and traits. The result: companies may unintentionally communicate a culture of conformity that is not inclusive of women's leadership styles. [HBR]

Teaming up. After spending a lot of time advocating for abortion rights and paid leave in separate messaging, Paid Leave for All Action and Reproductive Freedom for All are launching a joint $1 million media campaign to reach voters on these issues. [Axios]

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.

August 5, August 6

Allyship at Work Moderator Training (90 minutes)

Learn how to bring this free digital program—designed to empower employees to take meaningful action as allies—to your organization.?

August 13

This week, we’re “Leading with” Samantha Van Hoof Flores, a senior director at Nike and a Lean In Network leader.?

What’s the first thing you do every morning??

Get moving. I recently started doing this, and by starting my day with movement, I not only get my exercise first thing in the morning, but it grounds and centers me by spending 30 minutes with myself before the demands of the day start.?

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

Plan, plan, plan. I am very clear on my goals, both inside and outside of the workplace. I start every week with the goals I want to accomplish and relentlessly prioritize those. It's so easy to get distracted and end up spending all the time being busy with little to show for it. In addition, whenever I can, I organize my day according to my energy levels. I am most productive in the mornings, so I save these for deep, uninterrupted work; afternoons I prefer meetings, one-on-one, when I collaborate with others.?

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

Get out of your own way. So many of us grow up carrying so many expectations of others (our parents, society, etc.) that we should be nice, we should wait for our turn, we should be sensitive to others. When women let go of all those expectations, let go of limiting beliefs, and stop worrying about being judged, a beautiful shift happens. Stepping into your power requires being fully authentic.?

When have you felt most powerful?

I turned 40 in June and I have never felt this powerful. I know what I want, I am clear on my goals, I am confident and don't let limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome get in my way. After years of fitting in I have come to realize that my power lies in my authenticity and showing up as my whole self. Also, having less attachment to outcomes gives so much freedom, and freedom is power. I always give my best in anything. If I don't get the results I desire, I draw from the learnings and lessons of my experience.??

Who is a mentor or sponsor that has influenced your career in a positive way??

I once had a male manager who saw my potential when I didn't realize it myself. He really advocated for me and helped me get the needed visibility and exposure that led to a promotion. The promotion was a process of a year, but he gave me the confidence and belief I didn't have at the time. Looking back I realize that everything starts with mindset; if you don't believe in yourself, how will others believe in you?

Dear Lean In,?

My primary concern is how to deal with a difficult and dishonest boss. He is about a year into working with our team and has started being very verbose and arrogant … he doesn't listen and overtalks all the time. He has begun to accuse me of undermining him if I don't involve him in some of my ideas. How do you suggest I handle this?

—Dealing with a Tricky Boss

Dear Dealing with a Tricky Boss,

Having an unsupportive manager can be one of the biggest workplace challenges women can face. Indeed, managers have just as much of an impact on people’s mental health as their spouse—and even more of an impact than their doctor or therapist. Also—as you experienced—our research shows that women are more likely than men to be interrupted or spoken over and have others get credit for their ideas.

In our Women at Work Collection, we recommend talking to a coworker you trust who is more senior than you and asking for their advice and support. They may be able to give advice specific to the situation, advocate for you, or even join you for the next challenging meeting. If you have access to a workplace ERG, you should also share this situation with other ERG members and ask for their support.

—The Lean In Team

Do you have a career question that you’d like to ask an expert? Or do you need advice on how to handle a challenging situation at work? Send us an email with your question. We’ll keep your identity anonymous and find the right person within the Lean In network to give you an actionable answer.?Email [email protected] with your questions.