National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO®) Partners With LeanIn.org and Sheryl Sandberg To Support Women

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National Association of Women Business Owners

Mar 11, 2013, 03:32 ET

"LEANING IN" TO THEIR AMBITIONS
Women Are Starting Businesses at Record Numbers and Responsible for Employing More Than 13 Million People and Generating $1.9 Trillion in Sales

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is announcing today its partnership with Sheryl Sandberg and LeanIn.Org, an organization dedicated to combining practical education and focused discussion to give women—at all levels of their careers—the tools they need to realize their goals.

"Since 1975, NAWBO has been the unified voice of America's women-owned businesses representing the fastest growing segment of the economy and the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries," said Diane Tomb, President & CEO of NAWBO. "NAWBO is leaning in because we know how much female entrepreneurs have to offer one another. We support Sheryl Sandberg and LeanIn's mission to connect and support women in all areas and stages of their professional development and are excited to have the opportunity to work with them to encourage and motivate them to reach their full potential."

Lean In Education is a growing series of educational materials, jointly developed with The Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University, on topics critical to success for women entrepreneurs, ranging from negotiation skills to team dynamics.

"For years, women have represented an important part of the workforce, earning 57 percent of undergraduate and 63 percent of masters degrees in the United States today," said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, author of Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead and co-founder of LeanIn.Org. "For over 30 years, women have represented half of middle management in a number of industries, yet many organizations struggle to attract and retain high-potential women, especially in the most senior roles."

Sparked by the book "Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead," LeanIn.Org consists of three integrated programs: 1) Lean In Community brings women and men together to share stories and have daily conversations around topics that will help them achieve their goals; 2) Lean In Education offers access to free online lectures, produced in collaboration with the Clayman Institute for Gender Studies at Stanford University, on topics including creating successful teams, combating gender bias, negotiating, and advocating for your ideas; 3) Lean In Circles are small groups that meet monthly to learn together and share experiences in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust. For more information, visit www.LeanIn.Org or facebook.com/leaninorg.

About NAWBO®
Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by: strengthening the wealth creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community; creating innovative and effective change in the business culture; building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers. Learn more at www.nawbo.org.

Media Contact:
Christina Jorgensen
NAWBO Communications
(818) 772-9555, ext. 103

SOURCE National Association of Women Business Owners