Must Reads: 8 Powerful Leadership Books Authored by Women of Substance

By: GWL Team | Friday, 29 September 2023

Women have contributed significantly to the world of business and leadership. There’s no better way to share one’s wisdom than author informative books from the perspective of business leaders and entrepreneurs. This Must-Read list includes a variety of viewpoints to help you become better professionals, managers and business leaders.

Despite making major contributions to business literature, women authors have frequently been underappreciated. We intend to draw attention to the priceless viewpoints and ideas provided by women in the field of business literature. Significant contributions from these authors have shaped contemporary business practices, leadership techniques, and entrepreneurial success.

Although their names might not necessarily be as well known, their ideas have had a lasting impact. Women authors have enabled numerous people to fulfil their professional ambitions through intriguing narratives and ground-breaking research.

We'll look at a variety of subjects, from entrepreneurship to leadership, displaying the rich wisdom contained in their writings. These authors have advanced our knowledge of succeeding in business and broken-down boundaries in the corporate world.

Join us as we take a quick tour of their powerful writings to reveal the transforming power of their individual perspectives.

Tiffany Dufu, Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less 

Tiffany Dufu's book "Drop the Ball" is a game-changer for the women's leadership movement. In a biography and manifesto, Tiffany, a well-known figure in this field, describes her own path.

She promotes the crucial ability of letting go, demonstrating to women how to flourish by reassessing expectations, streamlining their to-do lists, and effectively soliciting support.

The book explains why the women's leadership movement has stalled and features endorsements from significant individuals including Sheryl Sandberg, Susan Cain, and a foreword by Gloria Steinem.

In order to have a full life, it encourages women to embrace imperfection, set lower standards for themselves, and pay attention to what really matters.

Barbara Corcoran, Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business

The riveting memoir "Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business" is written by renowned businesswoman and Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran.

The story of Barbara follows her incredible path from starting a real estate business in New York City with just $1,000 in borrowed money to creating a massive $6 billion empire. She gives priceless advice for budding business owners, inspired by the experience of her mother.

This book, which was released in 2011 by Penguin Random House's Portfolio brand, has garnered praise for its open storytelling, humor, and useful advice.

Available in paperback, Kindle, audiobook, and audio CD versions, "Shark Tales" is a goldmine of entrepreneurial inspiration and is required reading for anybody looking to realize their aspirations.

Caroline Criado Perez, Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

Caroline Criado Perez's "Invisible Women" brings to light a crucial subject. Caroline, a journalist and proponent of gender equality, emphasizes the serious effects of the gender data gap.

This lack of data has led to a world that is predominantly designed for men, which systematically disadvantages women in a variety of spheres of life.

The book has received attention, taking home the 2019 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award and the 2019 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize. It draws on considerable cross-disciplinary and international research.

The movie "Invisible Women" starts important discussions on gender bias in data and how quickly gender equality must be achieved on a worldwide scale. This book, which was released in 2019 by Chatto & Windus, a division of Penguin Random House, is an effective change agent.

Julie Zhuo, The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You 

The book "The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You" by Julie Zhuo, vice president of product design at Facebook, provides crucial advice for brand-new and aspiring managers.

Julie describes her personal journey to becoming a manager at the age of 25, including the difficulties she faced and the lessons she learnt.

This book offers practical guidance on important management issues, such as selecting outstanding managers, hiring and developing team members, giving useful feedback, resolving conflicts, working together, and striking a balance between work and personal life.

The 2019 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award went to this book, which was published by Portfolio, a Penguin Random House brand. It's a recommended read for anyone hoping to succeed in leadership situations because of its honesty, humor, and insight.

Camille Fournier, The Manager’s Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change 

The book "The Manager's Path" by Camille Fournier, former CTO of Rent the Runway and vice president of technology at Goldman Sachs, is a useful tool for people wishing to succeed in IT leadership positions.

It provides insightful information on a variety of tech management topics, such as managing several teams and teams with diverse career stages, overcoming interpersonal issues, and avoiding typical traps.

The book's recommendations and best practices are set against Camille’s own journey toward becoming a manager at a young age, which makes it approachable and useful for readers.

"The Manager's Path," which was released by O'Reilly Media in 2017, has received appreciation from both readers and critics, adding to the body of knowledge on technology management.

Emily Chang, Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley 

The journalist and vice president of Bloomberg TV Emily Chang's book "Brotopia" exposes the rampant sexism and gender inequality that plague Silicon Valley.

Emily reveals the damaging effects of the pervasive bro culture on women's hiring, financing, and career advancement based on more than 200 interviews with professionals in the field.

She reveals how sexism permeates the platforms, algorithms, and goods that shape society. The book emphasizes the courage of women to speak up, legal battles, and the development of alternative alternatives.

After being released in 2018 by Portfolio, a Penguin Random House imprint, "Brotopia" quickly shot to national bestseller status, garnering praise from critics, winning prizes, and sparking crucial talks about redressing gender imbalances in the tech sector.

Erin Meyer, The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business 

The INSEAD professor Erin Meyer's book "The Culture Map" is a crucial resource for succeeding in multicultural settings.

Erin’s eight-dimensional framework sheds light on how cultural differences affect time management, leadership, decision-making, trust-building, feedback, persuasion, and communication.

The book provides helpful advice on how to adapt effectively in different cultural contexts, bridging gaps and avoiding misunderstandings. It does this by drawing on significant research and interviews with international executives.

It was released by PublicAffairs in 2014 and has won a number of accolades, including the Thinkers50 Radar Award, the Nautilus Book Award, and the Axiom Business Book Award. The key to success in the modern, globalized society.

Kim Scott, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity 

Kim Scott, a former executive at Google and Apple, is the author of the vital leadership manual "Radical Candor". Its foundation is Kim’s Radical Candor concept, which blends concern and direct challenge.

The book provides examples of how it can be used for culture building, team management, dispute resolution, and feedback. Drawing on his own experiences, Kim provides helpful advice while advising against actions like destructive empathy and obnoxious hostility.

After being released by Portfolio in 2017, it quickly rose to fame, garnering praise from critics and readers while also taking home the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. An essential book for both aspiring and seasoned leaders.

🍪 Do you like Cookies?

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read more...