Lean In Circles

[Deleted]

I recently learned about Lean In Circles, which are professional groups of local women who meet for professional development, networking, discussion, etc.

You can search for a local group here, or start your own. leanincircles.org/

If you remember my saga over the past year or so, I'm working in a new career field, and in a new city (home state but new city). I'm eager to network and make new connections, and when I searched my local Lean In Circle I actually saw that one of my new coworkers is in the group!

[y4m]

I'm in a local circle in DC and it has been a great experience for me.

[winnied]

Cool! I've wanted to get into something like this. My field has networking groups but I never find them productive or helpful.

[Deleted]

Wow, there are lots in DC! Wish I lived closer to the city since I would loooooove this. :.............(

[Deleted]

I'm bumping this post back up again, because I went to my Lean In Circle on Saturday and it was awesome!

The Lean In org provides documents and videos as conversation starters, which was really helpful. My group was only 6 people including myself, but they said it's a new group (this was only their 4th meeting). Even with only 6, we were very diverse in terms of age, race, and career fields. Everyone was kind, friendly, and very interesting to talk to! My group meets once per month for the standard Lean In meeting, and also once per month for a social meeting (such as a wine tasting).

Each group meeting ends with each member committing to one action she would like to accomplish before the next meeting. Something I really liked about my group is that they seemed to hold each other accountable for meeting their previous goals, and offered advice when anyone struggled to achieve her one action.

As someone who is working in a new field and living in a new city, this is exactly what I needed! I'd recommend everyone investigate their local circle, or start one of their own (Lean In provides materials to help you do so).

Also, my group's founder was invited to connect with a woman in Minneapolis who runs 5 circles. The woman in Minneapolis is also a personal acquaintance of Sheryl Sandburg, so I can now jokingly say that I am three degrees separated from her!

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2015 10:26:48 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

I'm bumping this post back up again, because I went to my Lean In Circle on Saturday and it was awesome!

Is there a cost to join the group?

I'm looking for "something" and this sounds really interesting to me. For a number of reasons I've been feeling a bit disconnected professionally and I'm wondering if this kind of group might help. It sounds like fun.

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2015 11:20:16 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

Mar 30, 2015 10:26:48 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

I'm bumping this post back up again, because I went to my Lean In Circle on Saturday and it was awesome!

Is there a cost to join the group?

I'm looking for "something" and this sounds really interesting to me. For a number of reasons I've been feeling a bit disconnected professionally and I'm wondering if this kind of group might help. It sounds like fun.

Mine was free, and while I haven't looked at any others I'm assuming they all would be. If you click the link in my original post you can search by your geographic area for a group.

I can't imagine what they would charge for. The Lean In org provides discussion questions, but everything else is really guided by what the group wants to do. We met at a restaurant and everyone pays their own way for all events.

Sent from my 0PAJ5 using proboards

[Deleted]

Mar 30, 2015 11:53:37 GMT -5 @bellakitty said:

Mar 30, 2015 11:20:16 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

Is there a cost to join the group?

I'm looking for "something" and this sounds really interesting to me. For a number of reasons I've been feeling a bit disconnected professionally and I'm wondering if this kind of group might help. It sounds like fun.

Mine was free, and while I haven't looked at any others I'm assuming they all would be. If you click the link in my original post you can search by your geographic area for a group.

I can't imagine what they would charge for. The Lean In org provides discussion questions, but everything else is really guided by what the group wants to do. We met at a restaurant and everyone pays their own way for all events.

Sent from my 0PAJ5 using proboards

Thank you!  I found one in my area and sent a request to join. 

I haven't heard of this before, so thank you for sharing your experience

[MrsE]

Interesting. Thank you for posting.

[y4m]

Mine is free--we just take turns hosting in our homes. It is very similar to what @bellakitty described. Sometimes we use the formal content and other times we come up with our own stuff, but it's all about talking about how we need to grow and then holding each other accountable for doing it.