The Gen Z CEO of Lean In says the ‘broken rung’ is one of the most pervasive issues women face in their careers

In a recent speech at Fortune's Most Powerful Women conference, Bridget Griswold, the 25-year-old CEO of Lean In, a women's empowerment non-profit, highlighted the significant barriers women face in their careers. She referred to this as the "broken rung," a pervasive issue that impedes women's progression from entry-level positions to managerial roles.

Griswold pointed out that in 2025, only 93 entry-level women were promoted to manager for every 100 entry-level men. While this gap might appear minor, Griswold emphasized its far-reaching implications, stating that the failure to secure that initial promotion makes it exceedingly difficult for women to catch up in their careers.

Without addressing this issue, the struggle for gender parity at the highest levels of corporate leadership remains elusive. Griswold cited a 2021 benchmark where nine out of ten companies prioritized diversity, which nearly resolved the broken rung for Black women. However, the issue resurfaced by 2025, with only 60 Black women promoted for every 100 men.

Griswold's own career trajectory, propelled by her appointment as CEO by Lean In's founder Sheryl Sandberg, serves as a testament to the potential of young women in leadership roles. At just 25, Griswold believes her youth is a strength, allowing her to foster trust in her leadership team and rely on their expertise. She addressed the skepticism about her age, attributing it to the rarity of young women reaching such positions and stressing the need to normalize these achievements.

Griswold's insights challenge the notion that young women must wait for their turn to lead, advocating for a societal shift where women's leadership is taken for granted, rather than being a remarkable occurrence.