20 Best Books For Female Leaders (2023 Update)

Ready to take the next step in your career . . . but not sure what's holding you back? read on. leadership expert sally helgesen and bestselling leadership coach marshall goldsmith have trained thousands of high achievers–men and women–to reach even greater heights. again and again, they see that women face specific and different roadblocks from men as they advance in the workplace. in fact, the very habits that helped women early in their careers can hinder them as they move up. simply put, what got you here won't get you there . . . and you might not even realize your blind spots until it's too late. are you great with the details? to rise, you need to do less and delegate more. are you a team player? to advance, you need to take credit as easily as you share it. are you a star networker? leaders know a network is no good unless you know how to use it. sally and marshall identify the 12 habits that hold women back as they seek to advance, showing them why what worked for them in the past might actually be sabotaging their future success. building on marshall's classic best seller what got you here won't get you there, their new book how women rise is essential reading for any woman who is ready to advance to the next level.

A groundbreaking, empowering collection of advice–richly illustrated with the stories of women at top echelons of their fields–that advances the leadership outlook for generation x and y women like no book before it. – over the course of a year, selena rezvani interviewed women executives in various industries, roles, and job functions, including jamie mc – court, president of the los angeles dodgers, denise incandela, president of saks direct at saks fifth avenue, roxanne spillett, president and ceo of boys and girls clubs of america, and naomi earp, chair of the equal employment opportunity commission. the result is the next generation of women leaders, a penetrating, eye-opening, and ultimately empowering narrative, filled with stories of remarkable women who navigated the leadership maze and triumphed. while the leadership landscape may be shifting in women's favor, women are nowhere near an equal presence in leadership roles when compared to men. rezvani's achievement was to engage some extraordinarily accomplished women as mentors, each of whom provided tools and information that young women can use to shape their own careers. the next generation of women leaders encourages younger women to be their own advocates when it comes to professional growth and advancement, and it provides tangible how-tos on negotiating the workplace as a woman. – includes 30 interviews with highly accomplished business women – offers a foreword by gail evans, the highest-ranking woman executive ever at cnnprovides a far-reaching bibliography of significant materials combining works examining gender dynamics in addition to business classics

What will it take to create a more gender-balanced workplace? if you read nothing else on leadership and gender at work, read these 10 articles by experts in the field. this book will inspire you to: better understand the path women must take to leadership learn the root causes of the barriers that exist for women in the workplace check your own gender biases and distinguish between confidence and competence in your colleagues manage a more effective gender-diversity program recognize the issues women face when speaking up about bias or harassment help women reenter the workforce after taking time off–and create opportunities for them to reach their ambitions. this collection of articles includes "women and the labyrinth of leadership," by alice h. eagly and linda l. carli; "do women lack ambition?" by anna fels; "women rising: the unseen barriers," by herminia ibarra, robin ely, and deborah kolb; "women and the vision thing," by herminia ibarra and otilia obodaru; "the power of talk: who gets heard and why," by deborah tannen; "the memo every woman keeps in her desk," by kathleen reardon; "why diversity programs fail," by frank dobbin and alexandra kalev; "now what?" williams and suzanne lebsock; "the battle for female talent in emerging markets," by sylvia ann hewlett and ripa rashid; "off-ramps and on-ramps: keeping talented women on the road to success," by sylvia ann hewlett and carolyn buck luce; and "sheryl sandberg: the hbr interview," by sheryl sandberg and adi ignatius.

Vital voices: 100 women using their power to empower celebrates 100 global female leaders who are redefining power. candid and compelling, each leader shares personal stories, insights and ideas, showing us that women lead differently and that this difference is sorely needed in our world today. while each woman is path-breaking in her own right, it's together that these 100 voices illustrate the transformative power of women's leadership across cultures, industries and generations. a celebration of women's suffrage and gender equality through the use of visual and anecdotal story-telling as told through the eyes of 100 global women leaders who are redefining power, and using their power to strengthen female relationships across the globe. some of the women featured in the book include serena williams, hillary clinton, christine legarde, greta thunberg, and samar minall ah khan.

The remarkable discoveries about what drives and sustains successful women leaders.based on five years of proprietary research, how remarkable women lead speaks to you as no other book has, with its hopeful outlook and unique ideas about success. it's the new "right stuff" of leadership, raising provocative issues such as whether feminine leadership traits (for women and men) are better suited for our fast-changing, hyper-competitive, and increasingly complex world. the authors, mckinsey & company consultants joanna barsh and susie cranston, establish the links between joy, happiness, and distinctive performance with the groundbreaking model of centered leadership. the book's personal stories and related insights show you the magic that happens when you put the five elements of centered leadership–meaning, framing, connecting, engaging, and energizing–to work. they include: – how alondra de la parra built on her strengths and passions to infuse her life with meaning and make her way in the male-dominated world of orchestra conducting – how andrea jung, the ceo of avon, avoided a downward spiral when the company turned down by "firing herself" on friday and re-emerging on monday as the "new" turnaround ceo – how ruth porat's sponsors at morgan stanley not only helped her grow but were also her ballast for coping with difficult personal and professional times – how eileen naughton recovered after losing her dream job, landing on her feet at google and open to a new leadership opportunity – how julie coates of woolworth's australia makes energy key to her professional success, with reserves for her "second shift" as wife and motherhow remarkable women lead is both profoundly moving and actionable. woman or man, you'll find yourself in its pages and emerge with a practical plan for breaking through at both work and in life.

Empire builders, legendary leaders, revolutionary rebels, powerful pioneers, and more … discover more than 100 wonder women who prove that girls totally rule. they're queens wielding scepters and sitting on thrones, they're revolutionaries on the front lines of change, they're presidents and prime ministers leading their nation, or they're ceos, scientists, sports legends, and artists who are have risen to the top of their fields. welcome to the book of queens, where being a mighty monarch doesn't just mean wearing a crown. leaders like these come from all over the globe and have different talents. but most of all? they rule! some wielded their might for good while others let their power go to their heads. yet all were powerful people who changed the course of history. from elizabeth i to cleopatra to beyonce, every regal ruler in this book showcases the kind of guts, smarts, and strength it takes to lead. and while there are some wonder women you might recognize, others may leave you wondering why so many brave, smart, and hardworking ladies have gone unnoticed … until now. whether real-life royals or average janes who rose to rule, get ready to be inspired by their stories.

Rebel girls lead: 25 tales of powerful women celebrates the incredible and inspiring stories of 25 women leaders in politics, business, sports, activism, and more, all written in fairy tale form. it is part of the award-winning good night stories for rebel girls series.reach for new heights with vice president kamala harris. organize voter registration with stacey abrams. spread messages of kindness with lady gaga. and captain a team of olympic gymnasts with aly raisman. this collection of 25 stories includes the most beloved stories of leadership from the first three volumes of the new york times best-selling series, good night stories for rebel girls. rebel girls lead celebrates the leadership of women from michelle obama to malala yousafzai. it is illustrated by female artists from around the world.

You feel it, deep in your bones: god is inviting you to join him, to participate in his redemptive work in the world. and yet, as a woman leader, you face so many potential obstacles. lack of clarity over your unique calling. competing time demands. changing seasons of life. challenges such as self-doubt, criticism, and spiritual dryness. with nearly 30 years of ministry experience, angie ward knows firsthand the unique challenges that women leaders face as they seek to pursue their calling.in i am a leader, angie explores the concept of "calling" as it applies specifically to women leaders–those women of influence both in christian ministry and the broader world: what is calling? how do you discover it? and what does it look like to live out that calling practically amid a multitude of challenges? thoroughly researched, theologically and biblically integrated, and uniquely personal, i am a leader will resonate no matter where you are on the calling journey: whether you are wondering about your god-given purpose; sensing an inkling of an invitation to a particular ministry; or embarking on the path but encountering challenges.

Lead like a woman “rich with proven, practical knowledge and insights from highly successful women that you can put into action immediately to create your executive presence, be viewed as ‘leadership material,’ and maximize your opportunities.” —nina mclemore, founder and ceo, nina mclemore, inc.; founder and former president, liz claiborne accessories; former member executive committee, liz claiborne, inc. “a fabulously insightful and powerful book for women who aspire to business leadership. relying on decades of experience and research, the authors reveal key insights and successful strategies, including practical how-to advice, to en¬able women to hone and enhance their inherent leadership strengths. the book provides women with a compelling and straightforward blueprint for accelerated business success! this is a must-read for women and for all mentors and coaches of women!” —richard falcone, chairman, xperior-consulting, inc; former chairman/ceo of securus technologies, inc; and former at&t senior vice president “sharon hadary and laura henderson have written a book that will be a blueprint for success that will inspire women in business for years to come—and not a moment too soon, given women’s steadily expanding influence in business. the authors have combined personal insight, research-based knowledge, and real-life lessons in a thought-provoking guide that will benefit women just beginning their leadership journey and women at the pinnacle of their professions. how women lead is a celebration of the perspective and power of successful women. this book belongs in every leader’s personal library.”—maria coyne, executive vice president, consumer and small business segment head, keybank; member executive council, keycorp it’s a new world for women in business leadership. did you know that: . . . companies with more women in high-level positions report better financial performance than those with fewer women at these levels? . . . 40% of all privately held businesses are owned by women? . . . more than half of all professional and managerial positions are held by women? . . . the number of women earning $100,000 or more has grown at a faster pace than it has for men in the united states? . . . 6.3% of the top earners in the for¬tune 500 companies are women? women are moving into leadership roles in business, government, and the military, and they’re gaining positions of increasing stature and higher salaries. but . . . women’s upward movement is not matching the rate of their movement into professional and managerial positions. it is time to own your destiny. gain the confidence and know-how you need to navigate it all. your roadmap to achieving your aspirations, how women lead provides hard-won wisdom from women who have reached truly impressive heights in their careers. written by two women’s leadership experts who are themselves successful leaders, how women lead gives women the information they need to become high-potential leaders but don’t get in business school: how to build a career on their own terms, gain the critical business management skills needed to advance, and advocate successfully for themselves. whether you’re already in the leadership pipeline, contemplating your next career move, or are working to empower women in business, the lessons of how women lead will show you the sky’s the limit when you combine women’s leadership strengths with sound business acumen.

Can you inspire your team hearts and minds every day? if you can your organization will become one of the best in the world, and your team will perform at heights you never imagine. harvard business school gathered data from assessments of more than 50,000 leaders, and the ability to inspire stood out as one of the most critical competencies.inspiration creates the highest levels of engagement, it is what separates the best leaders from everyone else, and it is what employees want most in their leaders. whether you are the leader of a large, medium or small organization; a teacher, a v.p., ceo, father, mother, police officer, or hustler; this book was written to help you inspire your team to believe in the impossible. each chapter in this book will push you to become the leader you were destined to be; a leader of influence, a leader of value, a leader of vision and most importantly, an inspirational leader.

Speak up. don't take it so personally. just make a decision already. every day, whether they're competing in the business world or serving in a nonprofit, women hear that they're not enough. they're too emotional to lead, and the way they act, speak, and even think is detrimental to success. but in lead like a woman, former fortune 500 executive deborah smith pegues shows that your uniquely female qualities can position you for success–if you know how to use them. she'll teach you to embrace 12 traits that can help you excel as a leader, and she'll also help you eliminate 12 tendencies that could be hindering your progress. you will discover how to…develop confidence while sharpening your professional and relational skillslet go of unproductive thoughts and habits that sabotage your successcreate a transformative, participative, and inclusive organization whether at work or in your community, lead like a woman will empower you to walk boldly down your path of leadership and find fulfillment in the journey.

“filled with top-notch research, practical insight, and stories from the most inspiring women in business, julia boorstin lays out a new, inclusive vision for leadership and our world at large.” —arianna huffington, founder and ceo of thrive “a must-read for all leaders as they consider the future of work.” —eve rodsky, new york times bestselling author of fair play and find your unicorn space a groundbreaking, deeply reported work from cnbc’s julia boorstin that reveals the key commonalities and characteristics that help top female leaders thrive as they innovate, grow businesses, and navigate crises—an essential resource for anyone in the workplace.julia boorstin was thirteen when her mother told her that, by the time she grew up, women could be just as powerful as men, “captains of industry, running the biggest companies!” a decade later, working at a top business publication and seeing the dearth of women in positions of leadership, boorstin assumed her mom had been wrong. but over the following two decades as a tv reporter and creator of cnbc’s disruptor 50 franchise, interviewing, and studying thousands of executives, she realized that a gender-equity utopia shouldn’t be a pipe dream. yes, women faced massive social and institutional headwinds, and struggled with double standards and what psychologists call “pattern matching.” yet those who thrived, boorstin found, shared key commonalities that made them uniquely equipped to lead, grow businesses, and navigate crises. they were highly adaptive to change, deeply empathetic in their management style, and much more likely to integrate diverse points of view into their business strategies, filling voids that their male counterparts had overlooked for generations. by utilizing those strengths, they had invented new business models, disrupted industries, and made massive profits along the way. now, in when women lead, boorstin brings together the stories of over sixty of those female ceos and leaders, and dozens of new studies. her combination of narrative and research reveals how once-underestimated characteristics, from vulnerability and gratitude to divergent thinking, can be vital superpowers—and that anyone can work these approaches to their advantage. featuring new interviews with katrina lake, gwyneth paltrow, jenn hyman, whitney wolfe herd, lena waithe, shivani siroya, julia collins, and more, when women lead is a radical blueprint for the future of business, and our world at large.

Delivering must-have tools to harness the power of intention and strategy to accelerate career success–tailor-made for women who are underrepresented in their fields. – if you're a woman, especially a woman of color, you know this already: you face unique challenges and obstacles as you work to scale the corporate ladder. from not seeing other faces in the room that look like you to dealing with the stereotypes and (often unconscious) biases in the workplace, you may know what to do to succeed, but not how to get it done in this environment. show your worth shows you how. – in pages that are both inspirational and practical, shelmina babai abji speaks directly to professional women–especially women of color–about how the power of being intentional and strategic can help transform the headwinds you face into much-needed tailwinds. – show your worth takes you on a deep dive into the 8 intentional strategies that will help you achieve success, including: success: define what success means to you – attention: develop your personal success plan – work/life balance: achieve work-life balance in our disrupted world – value creation: overcome fear, find your voice, and contribute at your maximum capacity – growth: seek relevant and meaningful growth – relationships: connect meaningfully with first-line managers, peers, mentors, and sponsors – leadership branding: build and preserve your reputation as a leader – promotions: be strategic about earning a promotion – these intentional strategies are imperative for women whose confidence can be chipped away daily when they're overlooked because of negative stereotypes and biases due to differences in race, socio-economic, cultural, or academic backgrounds. through abji's personal experiences and the inspiring stories of other successful women who have applied these strategies in their own lives, you will come to deeply understand just how important your voice is and know that your unique value makes you a force in any room.

I made up my mind to try. i tried and i was successful. – bessie coleman meet the little leaders. they're brave. they're bold. they changed the world. new york times bestseller did you know the treatment for leprosy was developed by a young scientist called alice ball? and josephine baker- world famous cabaret singer and dancer- was also a spy for the french résistance? featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. debut author/illustrator vashti harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history, including: nurse mary seacole politician diane abbott mathematician katherine johnson singer shirley bassey inspire your own little leader with the stories of these amazing women.

Karren brady defies convention as a directional business woman in a male industry. this is how she does it, and through her experience, her drive and her skills it's a brilliant insight into how you can do it too.

In what i told my daughter, entertainment executive nina tassler has brought together a powerful, diverse group of women—from madeleine albright to ruth bader ginsburg, from dr. susan love to whoopi goldberg—to reflect on the best advice and counsel they have given their daughters either by example, throughout their lives, or in character-building, teachable moments between parent and child. – a college president teaches her daughter, by example, the importance of being a leader who connects with everyone—from the ground up, literally—in an organization. a popular entertainer and former child star urges her daughter to walk in her own truth, to not break glass ceilings if she yearns to nurture a family as a stay-at-home mother or to abandon a career if that’s her calling. one of the country’s only female police chiefs teaches her daughter the meaning of courage, how to respond to danger but more importantly how not to let fear stop her from experiencing all that life has to offer. contributors include: geena davis, cecile richards, dolores huerta, rabbi sharon brous, peggy orenstein, debora black, ayelet waldman, pat benatar, whoopi goldberg, dr. susan love, nancy pelosi, alexandra pelosi, marie osmond, dr. juliet garcia, jehan sadat, ph. – d, joanna kerns, madeleine albright, gloria estefan, nannerl o. keohane, jennifer dulski, dr. marcia mc – nutt, pamela fryman, ruth bader ginsburg, brooke shields, laura bush, mona sinha, gloria allred, joy marcus, judy vredenburgh, sharon osbourne, beverly johnson, michelle king, dr. karen antman, md, dr. amy antman gelfand, md, mary steenburgen, kimberley hatchett, cheryl saban, c. noel bairey merz, alex guarneschelli, dana walden, mia hamm, margaret abe-koga, roma downey, chirlane mc – cray, blythe danner, sheila bair, ruth w. messinger, norah o’donnell, donna de varona, nancy josephson, sukhinder singh cassidy, jeanne newman, and christine baranski. in a time when childhood seems at once more fraught and more precious than ever, what i told my daughter is a book no one concerned with connecting with a young girl can afford to miss.

In what i told my daughter, entertainment executive nina tassler has brought together a powerful, diverse group of women—from madeleine albright to ruth bader ginsburg, from dr. susan love to whoopi goldberg—to reflect on the best advice and counsel they have given their daughters either by example, throughout their lives, or in character-building, teachable moments between parent and child. – a college president teaches her daughter, by example, the importance of being a leader who connects with everyone—from the ground up, literally—in an organization. a popular entertainer and former child star urges her daughter to walk in her own truth, to not break glass ceilings if she yearns to nurture a family as a stay-at-home mother or to abandon a career if that’s her calling. one of the country’s only female police chiefs teaches her daughter the meaning of courage, how to respond to danger but more importantly how not to let fear stop her from experiencing all that life has to offer. contributors include: geena davis, cecile richards, dolores huerta, rabbi sharon brous, peggy orenstein, debora black, ayelet waldman, pat benatar, whoopi goldberg, dr. susan love, nancy pelosi, alexandra pelosi, marie osmond, dr. juliet garcia, jehan sadat, ph. – d, joanna kerns, madeleine albright, gloria estefan, nannerl o. keohane, jennifer dulski, dr. marcia mc – nutt, pamela fryman, ruth bader ginsburg, brooke shields, laura bush, mona sinha, gloria allred, joy marcus, judy vredenburgh, sharon osbourne, beverly johnson, michelle king, dr. karen antman, md, dr. amy antman gelfand, md, mary steenburgen, kimberley hatchett, cheryl saban, c. noel bairey merz, alex guarneschelli, dana walden, mia hamm, margaret abe-koga, roma downey, chirlane mc – cray, blythe danner, sheila bair, ruth w. messinger, norah o’donnell, donna de varona, nancy josephson, sukhinder singh cassidy, jeanne newman, and christine baranski. in a time when childhood seems at once more fraught and more precious than ever, what i told my daughter is a book no one concerned with connecting with a young girl can afford to miss.

Awaken the leader in you provides 10 essentials for bringing life into balance – the foundation of effective leadership. grounded in scripture and illustrated by stories of women in the bible and in contemporary society, the principles crystallize in applicable content. with a host of practical ideas for leadership enhancement, dr. clark coaches readers in awakening leadership skills as they discover a new blend of ingredients for balanced living.

My interest in this area of study is based on my strong belief that people are born equal but different. it is a belief that equity across gender, race, social class and sexual orientation will be attained in my lifetime. – equal but different is based on my doctoral thesis, which investigated the intersection of race, gender, and social class in women leaders' career progression. the women leaders came up with strategies for gender transformation at leadership level. the audiobook presents life stories of women leaders in south africa and abroad and men who believe in gender equality and have contributed toward this goal. the common thread across the life stories of women who contributed to the audiobook are:a message from family that said ''you can be anything that you set your mind to be''. supportive men who sponsored and mentored them. – pursuit of education. – determination to succeed. – your initial social class should not determine the person you become. though the lower your initial social class is, the harder you have to work to achieve your ambitious dreams. – this audiobook is relevant for people across gender, race, and social class who want advice on personal strategies and tactics to succeed; leaders who want to be inclusive, with an empowerment agenda for minorities; mentors across gender; and corporate and government leaders who are committed to transformation.

My interest in this area of study is based on my strong belief that people are born equal but different. it is a belief that equity across gender, race, social class and sexual orientation will be attained in my lifetime. – equal but different is based on my doctoral thesis, which investigated the intersection of race, gender, and social class in women leaders' career progression. the women leaders came up with strategies for gender transformation at leadership level. the audiobook presents life stories of women leaders in south africa and abroad and men who believe in gender equality and have contributed toward this goal. the common thread across the life stories of women who contributed to the audiobook are:a message from family that said ''you can be anything that you set your mind to be''. supportive men who sponsored and mentored them. – pursuit of education. – determination to succeed. – your initial social class should not determine the person you become. though the lower your initial social class is, the harder you have to work to achieve your ambitious dreams. – this audiobook is relevant for people across gender, race, and social class who want advice on personal strategies and tactics to succeed; leaders who want to be inclusive, with an empowerment agenda for minorities; mentors across gender; and corporate and government leaders who are committed to transformation.