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Feminism Quote by Sheryl Sandberg

“As an associate at McKinsey & Company, my first assignment was on a team that consisted of a male senior engagement manager (SEM) and two other male associates, Abe Wu and Derek Holley. When the SEM wanted to talk to Abe or Derek, he would walk over to their desks. When he wanted to talk to me, he…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg
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““As an associate at McKinsey & Company, my first assignment was on a team that consisted of a male senior engagement manager (SEM) and two other male associates, Abe Wu and Derek Holley. When the SEM wanted to talk to Abe or Derek, he would walk over to their desks. When he wanted to talk to me, he would sit at his desk and shout, "Sandberg, get over here!" with the tone one might use to call a child or, even worse, a dog. It made me cringe every time. I never said anything, but one day Abe and Derek started calling each other "Sandberg" in that same loud voice. The self-absorbed SEM never seemed to notice. They kept it up. When having too many Sandbergs got confusing, they decided we needed to differentiate. Abe started calling himself "Asian Sandberg," Derek dubbed himself "good-looking Sandberg," and I became "Sandberg Sandberg." My colleagues turned an awful situation into one where I felt protected. They stood up for me and made me laugh. They were the best mentors I could have had.””

Sheryl Sandberg

About This Quote

Source Article: Harvard Business Review, 2018

A senior manager used demeaning language, but teammates turned it into a supportive joke, creating solidarity and mentorship.

In simple terms: Colleagues turned harassment into camaraderie.

Key Takeaway

Foster inclusive, respectful workplace culture.

Themes

workplace gender leadership bullying

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

leadership culture

When to use this quote

  • team meetings
  • performance reviews
  • training sessions
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

micro‑aggressions team dynamics mentorship

Questions to Reflect On

  • What policies can prevent demeaning language at work?
  • How can allies effectively intervene without reinforcing jokes?
A Different Perspective

Humor can mask underlying power imbalances and may not address root causes.

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