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‘Must Reads’ for Women in Business

PUBLISHED 01.30.2020

The Collective Rising | Editorial Team


1. SHARK TALES: HOW I TURNED $1,000 INTO A BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS BY BARBARA CORCORAN

No list of inspiring books by female entrepreneurs would be complete without this one from Barbara Corcoran,  Shark Tank investor and real estate mogul. It details her rise from penniless waitress to wildly successful entrepreneur, and offers exceptional advice for those hoping to follow a similar trail.

2. THE GIFT OF STRUGGLE BY BOBBY HERRERA

Honesty about our own struggles is an essential part of inspiring and carrying out effective leadership, and it’s an essential piece of Bobby Herrera’s own business and leadership success. In The Gift of Struggle, he advocates for the story of struggle—the one that’s often untold and hidden away by those in leadership positions. Rather than avoid or hide these moments from others, Herrera suggests that they be embraced as a way to learn, grow and ultimately connect deeply with others.

3. BODY AND SOUL: PROFITS WITH PRINCIPLES BY ANITA RODDICK 

If you’re hoping to start a business that won’t just make you money but will also make the world a better place, then this autobiography by the Body Shop founder is a must-read. I recommend this book to friends all the time. 

4. THE GLITTER PLAN: HOW WE STARTED JUICY COUTURE FOR $200 AND TURNED IT INTO A GLOBAL BRAND BY PAMELA SKAIST-LEVY AND GELA NASH-TAYLOR

The complete title pretty much sells the book, but if you need more convincing, HuffPost raves: “This story takes us from making maternity jeans on the floor of a one-bedroom Hollywood apartment to launching collections on the runways in Paris with so much momentum that you just can’t put the book down.”

5. THRIVE BY ARIANNA HUFFINGTON

Launching a worldwide empire, fighting for social change, and making a boatload of money are all well and good, but you won’t be able to enjoy any of it if you completely burn yourself out in the process. That’s where Huffington’s book comes in, explaining how to reach for the stars while still saying sane and healthy.

6. YEAR OF YES BY SHONDA RHIMES

Recently, Rhimes proudly announced she’s the highest-paid showrunner on television, raking in something north of $400 million for creating hits like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. In this memoir, Rhimes offers a startlingly honest account of how she went from terrified introvert to cultural powerhouse by challenging herself to say yes to everything that scared her for one year.

7. MISTAKES I MADE AT WORK: 25 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN REFLECT ON WHAT THEY GOT OUT OF GETTING IT WRONG BY JESSICA BACAL

Being a woman entrepreneur isn’t all “Atta girl!” moments and inspirational realizations. It also involves plenty of screw-ups and steps backward. In this book, high-achieving women, from business owners to Stanford professors to literal rock stars, describe their biggest stumbles and how they recovered.

8. WHAT I TOLD MY DAUGHTER BY NINA TASSLER

In this one, a “diverse group of women 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,” explains Amazon.

9. A GOOD TIME TO BE A GIRL BY HELENA MORRISSEY

British CEO-turned-entrepreneur Helena Morrissey’s book is the perfect choice for those who read Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In and wondered, ‘Why do women always have to act more like the guys? Can’t they adapt to us a little bit?’ In it she “declares that women should be reinventing the system rather than simply ‘leaning in’ to an outdated one,” explains The Independent.

10. BROKEN OPEN BY ELIZABETH LESSER

Lesser is the founder of the Omega Institute, a retreat center focused on wellness and spirituality, but her book isn’t just for New Age types, insists Forbes’s Liz Elting. “It’s all about using moments of failure and hurt to spark positive growth and change,” she writes, and “that’s an invaluable skill — and mindset really — for a businesswoman to develop.”

11. DARING GREATLY BY BRENÉ BROWN

Brené Brown went from academic researcher to viral sensation and much in-demand, Oprah-approved consultant with one viral TED Talk. Through her book, she’s helping others make the same leap into greatness by rejecting shame and embracing the idea vulnerability is essential to courage. Take note – if you want to be in my inner circle, this book is a pre-requisite. 

12. RADICAL CANDOR BY KIM SCOTT

As a CEO coach, Scott has worked with top companies like Dropbox and Twitter. In this book she shares the same wisdom, teaching leaders how to give feedback, listen effectively, dole out praise, and walk the line between being a pushover and being a jerk.

13. OPTION B BY SHERYL SANDBERG AND ADAM GRANT

Part memoir, part research, Option B is Sheryl Sandberg’s response to facing the devastating loss of her husband and the certainty that she would never feel joy again. With the help of her friend Adam Grant’s life-changing research, she begins to piece her life back together and comes to realize that resilience is not an inherent quality but rather a muscle that only develops with repeated use. Sandberg’s honesty and thoughtfulness in telling her story allow for a deeper connection to the solutions she presents for anyone facing a crisis.

14. LEAN IN: WOMEN, WORK AND THE WILL TO LEAD,” BY SHERYL SANDBERG

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg changed the conversation around women in the workplace with this book and the 2010 TEDtalk on the same topic. The book will open your eyes to how women experience elements of working life differently from men and how to adapt or shift their awareness to compensate.

15. BIG MAGIC: CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEAR,” BY ELIZABETH GILBERT

After the immense success of “Eat, Pray, Love,” Gilbert tackles creativity, inspiration, and the elusive muse in her latest book. The book offers a frank discussion of some of the less glamorous realities of living a creative life– the struggle to produce quality work, fears of inadequacy. She covered this topic in a TEDTalk as well, and her vulnerable approach weaves in her own experience, creating a narrative that is as relatable as it is inspiring.

16. THE CONFIDENCE CODE BY KATTY KAY AND CLAIRE SHIPMAN

Following in the footsteps of Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, The Confidence Code reinforces the idea that believing in yourself is actually one of the most profound gifts you can give yourself—and your career. Backed by meticulous research in gender, genetics, and more, journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman argue that the one thing standing in the way of women filling more leadership roles is a lack of confidence. The authors provide women with tangible advice that can support them to propel their careers forward.

17. GIRL CODE: UNLOCKING SECRETS TO SUCCESS, SANITY, AND HAPPINESS FOR THE FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR,” BY CARA ALWILL LEYBA

We know that female entrepreneurs and leaders are powerful and can drive incredible success for the businesses they lead, and Cara Alwill Leyba argues that we’re more powerful together when we connect with and support one another. This book is intended to motivate and inspire–Leyba is a life coach, after all–and the stories throughout aim to show the amazing things that can happen when female entrepreneurs combine their powers to make things happen.


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