Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In finds more women leaning out for the first time since the promotion survey began a decade ago: ‘Major moment of backsliding’

Sheryl Sandberg points with one hand as he sits in front of a light blue background during an interview. (Credit: John Lamparski—Getty Images)

The prophet of leaning in has found that, at least in 2025, women are leaning out. 

According to nonprofit Lean In and McKinsey & Co.’s latest Women in the Workplace report, for the first time since the report began a decade ago, significantly fewer women than men are interested in getting a promotion at work. Compared with 80% of men in entry-level career stages, 86% in mid-career, and 92% of senior executives, only 69% of entry-level women, 82% in their mid-career, and 84% of female senior executives reported a desire to advance in their careers. The data was taken from 124 companies with 3 million workers, as well as interviews with 62 human resources executives.