WELCOME TO THE WLG
BOOK CLUB
Help each other share the good reads and avoid the not so good.
Send your recommendations to pippa.shirley@p3cl.co.uk and they
will appear here and in our quarterly newsletter
CURRENT BOOKS AVAILABLE
REVIEWS
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, 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, 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.
it, 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 of 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. Book encourages readers to embrace their ambitions and take charge of their careers. Book includes sections on setting boundaries and maintaining work-life balance, which is an important aspect for long-term success.
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However, She Thinks Like a Boss may feel a bit basic who are already familiar with leadership principles. The book is relatively short, and while it offers solid, empowering advice, it doesn’t dive deeply into any of the topics. Instead, it serves as a good starting point for women who are new to leadership or looking for a quick confidence boost.
Overall, Jemma Roedel’s ‘She Thinks Like a Boss’ is an empowering, accessible guide for women aiming to develop their leadership skills and overcome workplace challenges. It’s a valuable resource for a quick read and start a journey as a leader.
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, take in charge of the room and negotiating high profile deal 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.
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The vibe of the book feels like you are talking to a mentor rather than read a formal self-help guide, and Fenet’s personal stories offer valuable insights into the corporate life, sales, and public speaking.
Overall, ‘The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You’ is an empowering and insightful read, offering valuable tips on confidence, negotiation, and personal power. Fenet’s message is uplifting that the key to success is believing in yourself and embracing your unique strengths.
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.”
The exclusive way data is collected is a huge driver of an unintended male bias that attempts, in good faith, to pass itself off as gender neutral. But unfortunately, the default position is a males perspective and this is an old habit that runs very deep throughout society.
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“Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth.” – Simone de Beauvoir
The book exposes the often unseen and unacknowledged ways in which data, or the lack thereof, shapes our world to the detriment of women. Structured into several sections, each addressing different areas where gender bias is prevalent, including the workplace, healthcare, public life, and product design. Perez presents a wealth of evidence to show that many systems and environments are designed with a default male perspective, leaving women out of the equation – such as higher rates of injury in car crashes for women due to male-biased safety testing, or the lack of proper medical research on conditions that predominantly affect women.
What I also like, is that Perez gives great examples of when this bias is recognised and what certain countries have done or are doing about it, and most importantly the success it is having on the economy and productivity. Such as changes to transport recognising that not everyone travels directly in and out of the city, but more radial, short, hop on hop off journeys are relevant.
My only criticism is that this book should be broader than women. We live in a world designed predominately by white, white, upper or middle-class men. I think the data could also be portrayed to show the same bias against other minority groups, or societal backgrounds.
Overall, “Invisible Women” is an eye-opening and essential read for anyone interested in understanding the hidden biases that shape our world. It is a call to action, urging policymakers, researchers, and the public to recognise and address the invisible biases that perpetuate gender inequality.
In summary, I think everyone working in the built environment should read this book, to understand this perspective and inform differently the decisions we make. Right down to how high we put shelves up.
Reviewed by: Sarah Cooke, Consultant