Empower Your Journey with Sheryl Sandberg Quotes
What does it take for a woman to shatter Silicon Valley’s glass ceiling and reshape how we think about leadership?
As Facebook’s former COO and author of “Lean In,” Sheryl Sandberg emerged as one of tech’s most influential voices, challenging workplace inequality and inspiring millions to pursue their ambitions without apology.
I’ve gathered her 20 most powerful quotes that capture her razor-sharp insights on leadership, success, and gender equality – words that have sparked real change in boardrooms and beyond.
From raw truths about workplace dynamics to bold calls for action, these quotes will make you rethink what’s possible in your own career and life.
20 Inspiring Sheryl Sandberg Quotes on Leadership and Success
We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.
Sheryl Sandberg
Change begins with presence, not just policy. When women rise to the top, they redefine the rules and amplify voices that have been hushed for too long. Your role? Ensure these voices echo across every room you enter.
We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests.
Sheryl Sandberg
Break free from society’s script. Your ambition isn’t a shadow of stereotypes; it’s the light of your true passions and talents. Define your own path, and let your personal drive set the pace.
It’s more pressure on women to—if they marry or partner with someone—to partner with the right person. Because you cannot have a full career and a full life at home with your children if you are also doing all of the housework and child care.
Sheryl Sandberg
Partnership isn’t just about sharing a life; it’s about sharing the load. In today’s world, true equality means building a life where both partners lift each other up, not weigh each other down. Choose someone who champions your growth, and together, redefine what a balanced life looks like.
It turns out that a husband who does the laundry, it’s very romantic when you’re older. And it’s hard to believe when you’re younger. But it’s absolutely true.
Sheryl Sandberg
Romance evolves, just like you do. In the early days, it might be grand gestures, but true love is found in the quiet acts of care. So, grab onto those laundry baskets—they’re the real love letters of life.
We call our little girls bossy. Go to a playground; little girls get called bossy all the time—a word that’s almost never used for boys—and that leads directly to the problems women face in the workforce.
Sheryl Sandberg
“Bossy” is a muzzle for ambition. When society labels assertive girls this way, it plants seeds of self-doubt that grow into barriers. You have the power to flip the script—celebrate assertiveness in everyone and transform playgrounds into breeding grounds for future leaders.
I love how when I say the world is still run by men, and sometimes I say the world is still run by white men, people gasp as if that’s news. That’s not news. That’s obvious.
Sheryl Sandberg
The truth isn’t shocking—it’s the complacency that’s unsettling. Recognize the unspoken power dynamics around you, and you’ll see the cracks in the façade. It’s time to reshape the narrative and demand inclusivity in the world you inhabit.
Women attribute their success to working hard, luck, and help from other people. Men will attribute that—whatever success they have, that same success—to their own core skills.
Sheryl Sandberg
Success narratives often reveal biases. Women, recognize the power in your skills; they’re not just luck or assistance. Embrace your strength and own your triumphs—your core is your catalyst.
It is definitely true that adversity and hardship are not evenly distributed.
Sheryl Sandberg
Life’s deck isn’t shuffled fairly. Adversity doesn’t ask for permission; it just barges into some lives more than others. But here’s your power—you can choose to rise above it, crafting your own narrative even when the odds aren’t in your favor.
If more women are in leadership roles, we’ll stop assuming they shouldn’t be.
Sheryl Sandberg
Assumptions are the silent barriers to progress. More women in leadership shatter glass ceilings and outdated norms, paving the way for equality. Your support can change the landscape—advocate for this shift and witness a world redefined.
For any of us in this room today, let’s start out by admitting we’re lucky. We don’t live in the world our mothers lived in, our grandmothers lived in, where career choices for women were so limited.
Sheryl Sandberg
Luck is the breath, but choice is the heartbeat. You’re navigating a landscape rich with possibilities that past generations could only dream of. Don’t just acknowledge the freedom—embrace it, and carve your own path.
I think there are things that we can all do to build resilience in ourselves, but also to build resilience in each other.
Sheryl Sandberg
Resilience isn’t just personal armor; it’s a collective force field. By lifting each other up, you don’t just build your strength—you multiply it. In today’s world, your resilience is interwoven with others; strengthen the ties, and you’ll find yourself unbreakable.
I learned that when life pulls you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again.
Sheryl Sandberg
Hitting rock bottom isn’t the end—it’s your launchpad. Life’s toughest moments are your cue to push back, rise up, and reclaim your breath. When the waves hit, remember: you have the power to kick back to the light.
False news hurts everyone. It hurts our community; it hurts us as individuals.
Sheryl Sandberg
Misinformation isn’t just noise—it’s a toxin. In a world where truth is your compass, false news distorts your direction and erodes trust. Guard your mind, question what you consume, and be a beacon of integrity in your community.
When I went to college, as much as my parents emphasized academic achievement, they emphasized marriage even more. They told me that the most eligible women marry young to get a ‘good man’ before they are all taken.
Sheryl Sandberg
Life isn’t a race to the altar; it’s a journey to fulfillment. In today’s world, your worth isn’t measured by rings or timelines but by the life you craft for yourself. Focus on who you are becoming, not just who you’re becoming with, and let your own path unfold.
Over the last 10 years, women have stalled out at the top.
Sheryl Sandberg
The glass ceiling isn’t just a barrier—it’s a challenge. Today’s world needs your voice, your vision, and your courage to shatter it once and for all. Remember, progress isn’t a pause; it’s a continuous climb, and you’re part of the ascent.
Everyone needs more support than they are getting.
Sheryl Sandberg
Support isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline. In a world that’s hyper-connected yet emotionally distant, it’s crucial to reach out and build your community. Remember, asking for help strengthens you, not weakens you—dare to seek the support you deserve.
Until women are as ambitious as men, they’re not going to achieve as much as men.
Sheryl Sandberg
Ambition isn’t gendered; it’s a fire waiting to ignite. The world needs your passion, your drive—so don’t hold back. Break the mold, and redefine what achievement means for you.
I have never worked for a woman, and I have never worked with a lot of women.
Sheryl Sandberg
Limiting your perspective limits your growth. The world today thrives on diversity, and by embracing varied voices, you expand not just your network but your mind. Open up to new collaborations—you’ll find that innovation often wears a different hat.
It’s easy to dislike the few senior women out there. What if women were half the positions in power? It would be harder to dislike all of them.
Sheryl Sandberg
Dislike often thrives in scarcity. Imagine a world where women fill half the power seats—prejudice would have nowhere to hide. It’s time to push for that reality and challenge your biases.
Women are not making it to the top. A hundred and ninety heads of state; nine are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, thirteen percent are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top—C-level jobs, board seats—tops out at fifteen, sixteen percent.
Sheryl Sandberg
The numbers don’t lie—the ceiling is stubbornly low. But remember, every breakthrough starts with a single crack. It’s time to shatter expectations, because the future needs your voice at the top.
Empowering Paths with Sandberg’s Wisdom
These 20 Sheryl Sandberg quotes embody her enduring influence and bold leadership that inspire change.
In a world navigating equality and empowerment, her words serve as a beacon for personal and collective growth.
Let these insights drive you to challenge norms and lead with authenticity in your own journey.
Because, as Sandberg reminds us, true leadership begins with lifting others and ourselves.