Connect, Learn, Lead

An easy read –  I was motivated by the subject – women leader/manager, sport, football, all tied in perfectly with the research project. 

It’s full of passion, support for each other, and other women. Some great lessons in leadership and communication. Made me wonder why more business women don’t apply her strategy more in terms of decision making, honest approach about ability, achievements and failures, preparation and lessons learnt. 

Essentially, a 360-degree appraisal by her team members on Sarina – and if it were yours, you wouldn’t be disappointed. Some great parallels to WLG in terms of her working in a male-dominated industry, wanting to play as a girl when it wasn’t the done thing and overcoming the bias and even changing her image and cutting her hair to fit in!

Reviewed by: Vicky Brook from P3CL

Although written by a white women, Although written by a white woman, Robin DiAngelo’s exploration of why it is so hard for white people to talk about racism is a must-read for anyone trying to understand more about challenges around race and ethnicity. If she explores the origins of racism and the often simplistic understanding of the subject that most of us have. She then talks about her journey to increased knowledge through confronting the subject as a diversity and inclusion practitioner. She not only talks about the mistakes of others, but of her own mistakes and the humility that she now brings to the subject.

At times, it is an uncomfortable read as it becomes clear that systematic prejudice remains common, even in those who would consider themselves educated about race If you want to develop your own perspectives on your potential racial biases and what we can do about them, this is a great starting point.

Reviewed by: Gary Ford from Men for Inclusion

Leadership is a concise, practical guide designed to help women step into leadership roles with confidence and assertiveness. The book is aimed at women who want to improve their leadership skills and break past traditional gender barriers in the workplace, offering them actionable strategies for becoming more effective leaders.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its straightforward, no-nonsense approach. Roedel provides practical advice that can be applied immediately. She focuses on key leadership skills such as communication, decision-making, and delegation, which are essential for any leader. There is also a strong emphasis on how to overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt, issues that many women face in professional settings.

The book addresses the specific challenges women face in leadership, from dealing with stereotypes to managing conflicts in male-dominated environments. The book encourages readers to embrace their ambitions and take charge of their careers. The book includes sections on setting boundaries and maintaining work-life balance, which is an important aspect for long-term success.

It’s full of passion, support for each other, and other women. Some great lessons in leadership and communication. Made me wonder why more business women don’t apply her strategy more in terms of decision making, honest approach about ability, achievements and failures, preparation and lessons learnt.

Reviewed by: Martyna Kielbasa from L&Q

The author shares her inspiring journey from a wide-eyed college graduate to a top auctioneer at Christie’s and a powerful force in the business world. The book is both a memoir and a guide to finding confidence, negotiating, and succeeding in your personal and professional life. 
Fenet’s primary message is clear: every woman has the potential to be powerful. She explains that much of this power lies in developing confidence and learning how to take control of situations that seem overwhelming. She uses her experience as an auctioneer to illustrate how the skills she managed under pressure, taking charge of the room and negotiating high-profile deals and how that can be applied to everyday life.

The book stands out with practicality. Fenet offers concrete advice on how to speak with authority, use humour to diffuse tension, and approach negotiations with confidence. 

Reviewed by: Martyna Kielbasa from L&Q

I chose to read this book after meeting a lecturer from Manchester University on a train who had this as one of his subject books. Anyone who knows me knows I love data. I’m a data geek who likes to back up my instinctive decision-making with facts and figures. So, a book that explores the data behind inequality in our world should be the perfect read for me.
What I like about the book is that Perez recognises that the gender data gap isn’t malicious; this is in no way a man-bashing book. But she recognises that in a world where data is everything, algorithms determine so much and artificial intelligence is already commonplace, women are at a huge disadvantage as this is all being driven by data sets that are gender bias.

“…so I will argue that when we are designing a world that is meant to be for everyone, we need women in the room.”

Reviewed by: Sarah Cooke, Consultant