Women: Equality is up to You

What’s the Latest Development?

In a recent college graduation speech, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg spoke about female underrepresentation at the top ranks of government and business. Andrew McAfee liked what he saw as her diagnosis of the root cause and remedies for it. “She places the responsibility largely on the young women themselves, rather than on external forces such as sexism and unequal burdens.” Do you agree?

What’s the Big Idea?

Rather than have an easy out up their sleeves—the idea that the deck is stacked against them—young women should themselves take responsibility for their career trajectory, claims McAfee. “I also want to echo her advice, and expand it to all graduates this year. The rate of change and uncertainty in the economy is high and getting higher and as I’ve written before, good jobs might well be getting harder to come by. The best way to thrive in this environment is to be excellent at what you do.”