The career advice women really need

There is so much career advice available to women. But too often, that advice is aimed at teaching us how to fit in with old ways of working and cultures - playing catch-up just as everything changes. Workplaces and structures devised by men for men pre-COVID, pre-technology, before the term 'work-life balance' was even coined and before it was appreciated that there are many different styles of effective leadership. Those 'rules' don't even work for many men any more! It's really not surprising that it's been hard for women to make progress. Today, although the pandemic has set many women's careers back, it's also shaken up the world of work and gives us a new opportunity to succeed in our own way.

But first, we really need to understand what it takes to 'get on' and how to get a good job in the first place, even if that involves unnatural 'asynchronous' video interviews. The truth is, leadership positions are given to those who look, sound and act the part. A great career also requires high energy levels, stamina and an ability to manage our time. There's nothing especially mysterious about it and we certainly don't need to be perfect (which is just as well). We have agency and can take small steps that add up to a big leap forwards. I've written this book to be a very practical and up to date guide for women, that includes those areas often left unspoken about - what to wear (seen as a minefield, especially in male-dominated environments), how to communicate in a style that conveys both your professionalism and your personality, how to succeed in a Zoom Age (or if you're working in a messy, hybrid way), how to manage your health, wellbeing and setbacks and deal with 'women's issues' (including having a baby) that remain such a taboo at work even in the 21st Century. Women from many different walks of life and at all career stages have generously shared their experiences of what works - all sharing my belief that we can and should help each other so we reach the point where more women set - or decide to abandon - 'the rules'.

I hope the book helps many women succeed, in their own style. To pre-order please see the website link in my profile.