Women at the top are exhausted and burned out, according to a McKinsey and Lean In report

"Women are hitting the top of the corporate ladder only to find something waiting for them: exhaustion. According to a report published Tuesday by McKinsey and LeanIn.org, a nonprofit founded by Sheryl Sandberg, burnout among senior-level women is the highest it has been in the past five years. Around 60% of these women said they have frequently felt burned out at work in the past few months, compared with 50% of senior-level men, per numbers from the "Women in the Workplace" 2025 study."

"Women who are newer to leadership roles are feeling the strain more acutely. Among senior-level women who have been at their companies for five years or less, 70% reported frequent burnout, and 81% said they are concerned about their job security. "These high levels of concern align with research that shows women often face extra scrutiny when they're new to organizations and have to work harder to prove themselves,""

"The report, an annual study of women in corporate America, surveyed 9,500 employees across 124 companies between July and August. The study also includes interviews with 62 HR executives and company-reported data from 124 organizations that together employ about 3 million people. LeanIn.org launched a study with McKinsey in 2015 to track how women progress through the corporate pipeline and where companies fall short. The group is named after Sandberg's 2013 book "Lean In," which sparked a national debate about"

Burnout among senior-level women has reached its highest level in five years, with about 60% frequently feeling burned out and 50% of senior-level men reporting the same. Senior-level women with five years or less at their companies report 70% frequent burnout and 81% concern about job security. Extra scrutiny and pressure to prove themselves contribute to elevated stress, and Black women in leadership face especially high burnout and job insecurity. Promotion interest is lower among women unless they receive equal support. The findings are based on a survey of 9,500 employees across 124 companies, interviews with 62 HR executives, and organizational data covering about 3 million employees.

Read at Business Insider