It’s a new year, which means millions of women worldwide are setting their intentions, writing down their goals, and making plans for 2023 to be their best year yet. Great books are valuable tools to help clarify women’s paths and even mentor them as they move forward. For women working towards a leadership – in their workplace or community – these books, hand-picked and reviewed by Dr. Nancy – are some of the best available. Check out “The best books to empower women to become leaders” at Shepherd.com.
Dr. Nancy was approached by the Shepherd team and asked to provide a synopsis of Leading Women, and to pick and review five other books she felt would help empower women. “Women make phenomenal leaders, and while I can do a lot with my books and through Women Connect4Good to promote women’s leadership, we can all do something in our day-to-day lives to help women lead,” she said. “Every day we can do something to support another woman, or partner with another woman, like the women who’ve written the books I’ve reviewed here – friends, colleagues, and fierce advocates for equality on every level. We are all lifting as we rise.”
The first book on Dr. Nancy’s short list is No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power by Gloria Feldt, cofounder and president of Take The Lead. “This book opened my eyes to how women think about power. We’re used to being subjected to power over us and don’t want any part of it,” Dr. Nancy wrote. “But when we change how we view power as the ‘power to,’ we can transform our careers and lives to one where we fully thrive beyond what we might have imagined.”
Tiffany Shlain’s 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week is another must-read that made the list, and Dr. Nancy feels like the impact of the book has been profound. “24/6 examines how taking a Shabbat from screens one day a week gives us the time for the reflection that we need to express greater creativity and productivity,” Dr. Nancy wrote. “The result is a new perspective on how to view ourselves and our humanity, to live better lives, engage our own creativity, and lift everyone else with us.”
The Rise of Women and Wealth: Our Fight for Freedom, Equality, and Control of Our Financial Future by Cindy Couyoumjian is another book that Dr. Nancy recommends that all women read. “Cindy shows how women taking charge of their personal and economic power and directing their own financial future will revolutionize the world. Whether you know your way around investments or don’t even try to balance your checkbook, you’ll enjoy reading this book. It will open your eyes to the way you think about money and inspire you to change your financial future.”
Women Like Us: Together Changing the World by Linda Rendleman is the third in the Women Like Us series and features some well-known and not-so-well-known women who are coming together with their own voices to speak up for more vulnerable women, linking arms with compassion and connection. Dr. Nancy writes, “Most importantly, she (Linda) shares how you can also be a part of the change in your own way. When we hear one another’s stories, we are inspired to learn more and support each other. I couldn’t agree with her more.”
Judy Hoberman’s Walking on the Glass Floor: Seven Essential Qualities of Women Who Lead is also featured, as is her mission “to help one woman a day.” Dr. Nancy writes, “In this book you will learn to cultivate and strengthen key skills to serve you in business and life, uncover hidden qualities to help you lead and succeed, and harness universal leadership qualities to reach your full potential. Bottom line, this is a game-changer, and you’ll find it invaluable no matter where you are in your professional journey.”
If you have read a great book for women’s leadership, let us know. Dr. Nancy is always looking for that next great book to empower women. In addition, Shepherd.com is a great place to find your next book. Dr. Nancy’s list is just one of the carefully curated offerings on the site, which is growing every day. Ben Fox founded Shepherd.com because he believes that “books build better people” which is the heart of Shepherd’s mission. “Books teach us new ways of thinking, what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes, respect for complexity, critical thinking, what it is like to look or think like someone else, to dream bigger, to explore themselves and the world around them, to have adventures, to imagine, to envision the world we want to create, and so much more,” he writes. “They are one of the biggest net positives in the world.” To find out more, go to Shepherd.com.