Shift in Women’s Work Life: Choosing Balance Over Corporate Climb
After two decades of juggling corporate leadership and motherhood, Trisha Daab decided it was time for a change. “Life had felt like sprinting a marathon for as long as I can remember,” said Daab, 47, recalling how she didn’t fully realize her exhaustion until she stepped back from her job. During a year away from work, she engaged in tap dancing, volunteered at a food bank, took trips to Disneyland and Alaska, and enjoyed more time with her children. By the end of her break, she realized she couldn’t return to her former life.
“My work often demanded I put it first—long to-do lists, urgent emails, frequent travel, and constantly striving for the next promotion,” Daab, who now works as a travel writer and substitute teacher, reflected. “Taking a step back helped me see that my priorities had changed.”
This sentiment is shared by many millennial women in their 30s and 40s who are now questioning the corporate path. Instead of trying to reach the highest positions, many are opting for entrepreneurship, content creation, and flexible work schedules, effectively inverting the advice once popularized by Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, who encouraged women to “lean in.”
Sandberg indicated that this shift stems from women feeling undervalued in their jobs. “These are not women saying, ‘I don’t want to work.’ They’re saying, ‘I don’t want to work because I’m not valued, and I’m not getting the same opportunities as men,” she stated.
Lean In, the organization founded by Sandberg, has also noted a change in women’s aspirations in the workplace. According to their recent report, many women are less interested in promotions compared to their male counterparts. Notably, 28% of millennial women cited “personal obligations” as a significant barrier to seeking more responsibilities, compared to only 17% of their male peers.
Annie Wright, a licensed therapist working with Silicon Valley executives, has observed that her millennial female clients are focusing more on choices that center around personal fulfillment rather than just career advancement. “They are becoming less willing to confuse ambition with self-neglect,” she shared.
The Shifting Landscape for Working Women
Remember the “girlboss” era of the 2010s? It was a time of female-led startups, ambition, and catchy phrases like “I want it all” lighting up the social media landscape. However, this image was damaged by many companies facing allegations of toxic work environments, shattering the facade of the girlboss ideal.
In 2020, as remote work became more common, many women found they could breathe again. This included not rushing to daycare or having more time for fitness or friends. Yet, the push to return to the office has made some reconsider their options. Misty Heggeness, a professor specializing in gender economics, observed that strict return-to-office policies disproportionately affect women, who often manage a heavier load of family responsibilities.
Kendra Rothermel, 34, changed her work approach after her first child’s birth, transitioning from a full-time office manager to part-time work. With her husband’s full-time job, she sought a more flexible schedule while raising their kids. By the time her third child was born with special needs, even part-time work wasn’t enough, prompting her to start her own business to help small companies with operations and marketing.
Data suggests that participation in the workforce among college-educated women with young children has decreased, while participation among childless women and fathers has risen. Many millennial parents are experiencing this conflict as they navigate the growing demands of work and home life.
Women Finding Freedom in Entrepreneurship
Not all women are stepping back from corporate life due to burnout. Take Heigi Jeong, for example, who left her steady job in tech to chase dreams in writing and content creation. Though she once held a desirable, high-paying position, she wanted the freedom to choose her own path.
Jeong, now pursuing her own projects, noted that her decision has allowed her more time for herself, even if it means navigating the uncertainties of income. There’s a noticeable increase in interest in entrepreneurship among women, with the number of women business owners under 45 rising in recent years.
Moreover, the creator economy is providing new opportunities. More than 200 million people worldwide now identify as content creators, illustrating a move away from traditional employment toward self-driven ventures. This shift in focus often prioritizes personal well-being and flexibility over the grind of conventional corporate life.
As women increasingly evaluate their values and career paths, many are redefining what success looks like—favoring availability and freedom over traditional promotion and salary growth. The landscape of women’s work is changing, focusing less on climbing the corporate ladder and more on crafting fulfilling lives that align with their priorities.
“We’re at a critical moment for women,” Sandberg reflected, emphasizing the need for supportive leadership and appropriate policies to retain women in the workforce. Her hope is that enough women will aspire to leadership roles so that the environment becomes one where they can thrive.
