“Tomorrow can always be better than today. Attitude is about the choices we make when faced with chaos, conflict, setbacks and critics.”. – Ginni Rommetty in “Good Power”
Tech Titan, Media Pioneer, Wellness Guru – 3 New Books Detail How She Did It
Biographies of business executives are great additions to your career reference shelf because you can glean ideas for your career plans, get inspiration to keep going or think bigger, and gain insights into different industries and roles. Three books written by accomplished females in the business world have recently debuted: “Good Power” by former IBM CEO, Ginni Rommetty; “Speak Up” by journalist and former SVP of CBS News, Linda Mason; and “Becoming Flawesome” by MindValley co-founder, Kristina Mand-Lakhiani. These new books cover different industries, and the lessons shared are relevant across industries and roles.
Good Power by Ginni Rommetty is the autobiography of IBM’s ninth CEO and first female CEO in their history. This book is a teaching memoir told in three parts: 1) Rommetty shares her personal journey from college through four decades at IBM; 2) as Rommetty takes on increasing bigger management responsibilities, Rommetty shares leadership lessons and tips; and 3) Rommetty writes about legacy and stewardship, including accessibility in the tech industry and DEI initiatives.
If you’re interested in career advice, this book provides a lot of gems about networking, dealing with conflict, taking risks and bouncing back.
“Grant yourself mistakes. But also know, the only mistakes you should ever regret are the ones you don’t learn from.” – Ginni Rommetty in “Good Power”
If you’re a technology historian, Rommetty’s 40-year career provides a fascinating window into key moments in tech history (remember IBM Watson taking on the Jeopardy! champions?). If you’re looking for inspiration, Rommetty’s frank discussion of her struggles and successes gives a behind-the-scenes peak into what it takes to rise to the top of a large company (IBM has $100 billion in revenues, 1 million-plus shareholders and over 350,000 employees).
“Sometimes you must rock the boat. When someone tells you ‘There never has been’ don’t accept it to mean ‘there never can be.’” – Linda Mason in “Speak Up”
Speak Up by Linda Mason is her story of how she rocked the boat and, over a 50-year career in journalism, rose from desk assistant at CBS Radio to SVP at CBS News. Mason shares the different jobs she held and stories she covered. Her best career advice is summarized in the title of her book.
“The tips are simple: Work hard, ask questions, and when the time is right, Speak Up.” — Linda Mason in “Speak Up”
Mason also talks about the importance of support at home – from both spouse and children – as well as support from different mentors, colleagues and executives. She mentions being the first female in many of the roles she held and also the difficulties in balancing personal and professional commitments. However, she doesn’t share too much detail here, so if you’re looking for a roadmap on negotiating a promotion you won’t find it here.
However, you will be inspired by her work ethic and courage to travel all over the world and put herself in breaking stories. Given her lengthy tenure, her career hits some of the biggest news-making events in recent history – the rise of Fidel Castro in Cuba, the protests at Tiananmen Square, the Bush-Gore election and hanging chads, 9/11.In this way, Speak Up is also a good choice for media history buffs.
“If you want to become a master of the most important art of all—the art of living—you need but one skill. It is the hardest skill of all—the skill of letting go (and enjoying the ride). You need to let go all the way if you want to fly, rather than dangling on that bungee cord.” - Kristina Mand-Lakhiani in “Becoming Flawesome”
Becoming Flawesome by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is more of a personal improvement advice book than a biography, though Mand-Lakhiani will sometimes use her own experiences as examples. The book is about accepting yourself, flaws and all (hence the play on words, flaw + awesome). At the end of each chapter, there are reflections to help you apply the lessons from the chapter to your specific situation. The book is not specific to career development, but its focus on self-care and self-esteem are relevant to professionals feeling burnout or looking for the confidence to make a career pivot or negotiate a raise.
“The best gift you can give to the world is your happiness.” - Kristina Mand-Lakhiani in “Becoming Flawesome”
Books are an excellent addition to your career management routine
Whether its teaching memoirs like these new books or more specific how-to books like The Risk Paradox , reading books should have a place in your career management routine. What are you reading?
