Lean In launching program for young girls.

Lean In launching program for young girls.

Lean In Launches Program for Girls to Build Confidence and Leadership Skills

Sheryl Sandberg

For the past decade, Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In has been inspiring women to become leaders in the workplace. Now, the organization is taking a step further by targeting a younger audience to cultivate leadership skills and boost confidence in girls aged 11 to 15.

The newly announced Lean In Girls program is designed to empower girls to become leaders in various domains, whether it’s the workplace, politics, or their own communities. While the program adopts a different approach from its career-focused counterpart, it still draws on the valuable lessons and research from Lean In’s workplace expertise.

Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes the importance of informing girls about the biases they may encounter. By addressing these challenges early on, girls can learn to identify and counteract them. Sandberg highlights the issue of girls speaking less than boys in class and their ideas often being attributed to others. It is through these frank conversations that girls can develop the skills needed to navigate these situations when they enter the workforce.

Research has shown that confidence in girls starts to decline around the age of 11 compared to boys and never fully recovers. Moreover, the pandemic has taken a toll on girls’ mental health. Taking these factors into consideration, Lean In decided to focus on this age range to provide support and help girls develop confidence, leadership, and resilience.

Lean In’s program aims to redefine leadership for girls, making it less about a “thirst for power” and more inclusive and empathetic. By expanding the definition of leadership, Lean In hopes that more girls will be inspired to pursue leadership roles in whatever path they choose.

While the ultimate goal is to see these girls become leaders in influential institutions, the program also aims for immediate impact. Lean In hopes that the girls who participate in their program will run for student government and confidently express their opinions among their peers and family.

Over the past two years, Lean In has collaborated with organizations like the Girl Scouts and Girls Inc. to pilot the program, testing and refining the curriculum. As they continue to expand, Lean In aims to reach even more girls and have a lasting positive impact on their lives.

The Lean In Girls program consists of 15 one-hour sessions, packed with interactive activities and games to help girls build confidence and develop leadership skills. The curriculum draws on the expertise and research that Lean In has accumulated over the years, tailored specifically for this younger audience.

With the launch of Lean In Girls, Sheryl Sandberg and Rachel Thomas, the co-founder of LeanIn.org, envision a future where girls grow up knowing their worth and the possibilities that lie ahead. By instilling confidence and leadership skills at an early age, Lean In is empowering girls to become the next generation of leaders who will shape the world and make a difference in their communities.

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Parting Words

“I have a Nobel Prize, and he’s just Ken.” – Malala Yousafzai, reflecting on the Barbie movie.

Source: Emma Hinchliffe [email protected] (_@_emmahinchliffe)