A celebrated advertising executive shares her insights on women and leadership.
Beers looks back at her mistakes and successes as an executive and CEO for some of the world’s most powerful advertising companies, as well as stories from participants in her women’s leadership workshops. In the first part of the book, the author guides readers through several exercises designed to give them greater insight into the way their family history and personal qualities influence their behavior at work. Some of the exercises consist of thought questions that readers can easily answer at home. Others, including one exercise that asks readers to conduct “market research” on themselves, demand more effort and would make more sense in the context of a workshop. In the second half of the book, Beers gives readers concrete advice on navigating the work world; though it references the exercises given in the first part, it could be read on its own. The chapter on effective presentations is especially illuminating. Late in the book, Beers splits workers into three categories: doers, managers and leaders. The author’s advice will be most helpful for managers who want to become leaders; there is relatively little information on beginning or resuming a career or making the leap into management. Refreshingly, Beers avoids hand wringing about the “mommy track” or work/family balance. The author assumes that readers are interested in career success and focuses solely on methods by which to achieve it.
A straightforward guide showing successful women how to reach the next step in their careers.
