Professional Women Want Structural Change, Not More Advice
New research from Lean In Canada reveals that professional women are seeking structural workplace changes rather than more confidence training. Released ahead of International Women’s Day, the findings call for systemic solutions like pay equity and flexible work policies to help women reach their full career potential.
The "Lean In" movement, popularized by Sheryl Sandberg's 2013 book, encouraged women to assert themselves in the workplace to advance their careers. However, it has faced criticism for placing the burden of overcoming systemic barriers on individual women, rather than advocating for changes to corporate structures. In Canada, the gender pay gap persists; in 2024, women earned about 87 cents for every dollar a man earned. This gap is even wider for racialized women, Indigenous women, and women with disabilities. Pay equity is the law for federally regulated employers as well as in Ontario and Quebec. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing gender inequalities in the Canadian economy, with women experiencing significant job losses, particularly in low-wage sectors. This has stalled progress in closing the gender wage gap. While many Canadian companies are adopting hybrid work models, there is a disconnect between employee desire for flexibility and what is being offered. A 2025 analysis of over 744,000 job postings found that while over 60% of Canadian workers want a hybrid arrangement, only 6.4% of jobs offer one. The lack of flexible work options and pay equity has significant economic consequences. Studies suggest that if women's economic participation in Canada matched men's, the country's GDP could be $150 billion higher. Despite systemic challenges, women entrepreneurs are making a significant impact in Canada, with women-owned businesses contributing to the economy and redefining workplace cultures. Still, women represent only 19% of business owners in the country.
