Get All Access for $5/mo

Martha Stewart Slams Sheryl Sandberg: 'Too Much Time Is Spent' Leaning In The domestic diva said Sandberg's 'Lean In' philosophy misses the mark by encouraging women to take on corporate equality rather than setting their sights on entrepreneurship.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In a characteristically venomous new interview, Martha Stewart has said that she would like to see more female entrepreneurs in today's business landscape.

After coming out swinging against Blake Lively, who's attempting to build her own lifestyle brand with a new website, Preserve, Stewart now has Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in her crosshairs. She takes particular issue with Sandberg's polarizing "Lean In' philosophy, which, to Stewart's mind, misaims by focusing on corporate equality rather than encouraging women to be entrepreneurial.

"Too much time is spent…Isn't "leaning in' spending a lot of time?" Stewart said in Net-a-Porter's Porter magazine, as reported by the New York Post. "I think being entrepreneurial is something women should strive for, rather than working up the corporate ladder."

Related: Here's Why Martha Stewart Bought a Drone

It's a harsh assessment that holds weight -- especially coming from the 73-year-old self-starter of a $233 million empire, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. But Stewart's call to arms only goes so far.

In the same breath, she goes on to bash a fellow female entrepreneur, who, like Lively, is competing with Stewart in the lifestyle category. "She just needs to be quiet," Stewart snapped of Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow. "She's a movie star. If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn't be trying to be Martha Stewart."

More female founders would be a good thing, Stewart seems to be saying -- provided, of course, that they stay out of her lane.

Related: Note to Bloggers: Fight Bad Content, Not Martha Stewart

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Franchise 500 Annual Ranking

50 Franchise CMOs Who Are Changing the Game

Get to know the industry's most influential marketing power players.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

Thought Leaders

6 Tips From a Clean Beauty Entrepreneur

Sarah Biggers went from a newbie in the natural beauty space to a pro in just a few years. Here are six things she wishes she'd known at the beginning.