These recommendations come courtesy of our friends at Changemaker Chats, a salon series dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of female leaders are seen and heard. They organize monthly meetings across the country, where women can share stories of creating positive change in their workplaces, communities, and in society at large.
The Changemakers network is, of course, made up of voracious readers and listeners who wanted to share the audiobooks they find valuable as they grow their careers, balance their lives, and seek to be their most authentic selves. Here are just a few of their top picks.
If you were all about Lean In, but hoped for additional stories and discourse on how we as a society and as individuals approach “trying to have it all,” check out Unfinished Business. Anne-Marie Slaughter shares her own “unconventional” story and the experiences of other female professionals, while providing guidance and reassurance for women (and men!) in all industries and at all levels looking to advance their careers in line with personal and family ambitions. I liked this book because it thoughtfully addresses the importance of care and awareness of conscious and unconscious gender bias when handling business at home or at work. – Jessica Johnston, Changemaker Chats co-founder
I like this book because it provides actionable tools on how to mold a successful career. This book is a must read for any young woman passionate about having a successful career and wanting to be strategic on how to achieve it! – Morgann Reeves, DC Changemaker Chats manager
I enjoyed this because it is important for me to remember the struggles and the accomplishments of women in other parts of the world who face life-threatening challenges for being who and what they want to be. We have a long way to go, but we should celebrate how far we've come and remember those who still need our support. – Christie Cutler, Boulder Changemaker Chats manager
Chock full of data on the differences between men's and women’s confidence. What I love most about this book is that I began to realize that confidence can be conditioned at an early age, especially for young boys. But all is not lost for women. Ultimately, confidence is a skill that can be practiced and refined. And that gives me hope for myself, my female colleagues, and young girls the world over. – Briana Ferrigno, Changemaker Chats co-founder
Rising Strong is about the ability to get up and try again in the wake of challenges. It has helped me be more comfortable with taking risks, and helped me be a better communicator with myself, my colleagues, and others. – Kristen Wenz, NYC Changemaker Chats manager
YES moment: "Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. What we make matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all. We toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. We are terrified, and we are brave. Art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. Only when we are at our most playful can divinity finally get serious with us. Make space for all these paradoxes to be equally true inside your soul, and I promise — you can make anything. So please calm down now and get back to work, okay? The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.”
Originals describes the importance of going off the beaten path in your career and life, as well as how to speak up for the ideas you believe in. While this book is not limited to one gender, I'd wager that this touches on issues that women struggle with in the workplace. I know it did for me! – Nikki Tyler, DC Changemaker Chats manager (also recommended by Meg Garlinghouse, Changemaker Chats speaker and LinkedIn's head of social impact)
