Read Up: Top 10 Books in 2024 On Women, Power, Justice, Equity, History, Culture & More

Every year Take The Lead dives into select and recommended nonfiction books that further the mission of Take The Lead for its 10 years of driving gender and racial equity. As this is the season of reading, giving and swapping books, here are 10 titles published in 2024 (in alphabetical order by author last name) we suggest and why.

These books cover history, popular culture, politics, sports, COVID, feminism, aging, health and memoir from a range of women authors across race, generations, identity, experiences and points of view.

Michele WeldonNovember 8, 2024Comment

Part 4 of my 3-part Series: How Kamala Harris Uses the 9 Power Tools (though she probably never heard of them)

When I started writing this series a few weeks ago, I planned on writing one post on each of the “buckets” of those 9 Leadership Power Tools: the self-definitional tools, the counterintuitive tools, and the change leadership tools.

Turned out there was more to say, so here’s part 4.

Change LeadershipGloria FeldtNovember 4, 2024Election Day, Kamala Harris, Power ToolsComment

Safe At Work: How To Lead During Election Season With Fairness and Civility

In this highly fractious and divisive political culture, as a leader, it is essential to create a workplace environment that is absent of negativity and hate that exist outside the organization surrounding the election.

Guaranteeing that the workplace culture is safe physically and emotionally not just on voting day, but in upcoming weeks and months over a possibly contested outcome is a top priority. And one that exists whether the workplace is virtual or in-person. Decreasing political anxiety at work is the goal.

Tools and TipsMichele WeldonOctober 31, 2024Election Day, Workplace Advice, Workplace CultureComment

3 Reasons Why Voting Is Leadership

This is a nonpartisan statement, and I believe it to the core of my being.

Voting is #leadership.

Do you agree? Or does it sound far-fetched?

Let me tell you three reasons why I say voting is leadership, and indeed part of our obligation as leaders.

Leadership/Political a..., The SumGloria FeldtOctober 28, 2024Voting, Leadership Positions, Election DayComment

Scary, But Worth The Risk: 10 Leaders Share Why & How You Risk To Win

Some may find the scary business of Halloween entertaining, but in real life, entrepreneurship and business shifts are also scary and risky-- and maybe not so fun. Here 10 top leaders share how the discomfort of risk is worth it all and why.

For Take The Lead’s 10-year anniversary, we are offering a treasure chest of insights and strategies from Take The Lead’s co-founder, allies, colleagues, friends and business associates in an array of fields and disciplines. With the latest research and data on how women value risk and how that impacts financial behaviors, we can hopefully and helpfully deliver a path to turning risk into reality.

🛠️ Kamala and the 3 Counterintuitive Power Tools She Never Heard Of

Last week I watched a televised conversation Kamala Harris had with constituents in Arizona. It was informal, and obviously aimed at winning over moderate Republicans and Independent voters who are likely to be the key to who wins Arizona.

Change LeadershipGloria FeldtOctober 18, 2024Elections, Kamala Harris, Power ToolsComment

Many Possible Futures: 10 Ways To Use Your Power To Change The World Now

Change is going to come --not by itself but when you take action.

Looking to the upcoming close of the calendar year, the end of the quarter and what you have the capacity and intention to do now to make changes professionally and personally is worth your time.

As Take The Lead celebrates 10 years of successful and meaningful work toward the mission of achieving gender and racial parity across multiple sectors, through a wide variety of platforms, programs and events, it is appropriate to apply the finite measure of 10 to strategies you can use today for yourself.

Career successMichele WeldonOctober 18, 2024career path, career goals, Power To YouComment

Thank You Lilly Ledbetter, Equal Pay Champion, 4/14/34–10/12/24

I was so sad to learn of the death of Lilly Ledbetter, a leader of the movement for pay equity. She was moved by her own story to fight for equal pay regardless of gender first for herself, and then for all women.

The SumGloria FeldtOctober 14, 2024Lilly Ledbetter, Supreme Court, Equal payComment

Be The Best Leader Following Disasters: Strategies To Rebuild Workplaces For Recovery

Hurricane Helene last month and Hurricane Milton this month serve as reminders to every American just how much climate change and natural disasters affect lives—work lives as well as home lives. In many cases, everything must be rebuilt.

Beyond hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and earthquakes also disrupt and destroy businesses and workplaces forcing leaders to have a plan ready for emergencies that benefit employees hit by these disasters.

So how can you be a great leader following devastation so your employees, colleagues, managers, clients, suppliers and administrators can press restart?

Community BuildingMichele WeldonOctober 11, 2024Leadership, worker rightsComment

Beyond Bias: Women Journos Lead With Innovation, Inclusion And Storytelling

“There is a tension around the topic of the subjectivity of objectivity,” said Felicia Henderson, director of cultural competency at the Maynard Institute.

Speaking at the recent Journalism & Women Symposium annual CAMP (Conference and Mentoring Project) in New Orleans, with the theme, Resilience and Reinvention, Henderson joined a panel along with Jean Marie Brown, The Pivot Fund’s director of research, and Mary Irby-Jones, executive editor at the Louisville Courier Journal.

Changing the Workplace, Women Career SuccessMichele WeldonOctober 4, 2024journalism, Female Journalists, sexism, ParityComment

How Kamala Harris Aces the 9 Leadership Power Tools (Even if She Doesn’t Know It)

Love politics? Hate it? Whatever your POV is, in today’s chaotic political landscape, people are yearning for effective leaders.

I began this 3-part series last week with a look at the difference between Power Over and Power TO leadership styles. I called it “Hammering Power” to reflect the metaphor I use to explain that power is merely energy. Like a hammer, you can break something apart or build with it.

In sum, Power is what you do with it. What you make of it.

Leadership Training For WGloria FeldtSeptember 30, 2024Leadership Power Tools, Leaders, Elections, Kamala HarrisComment

Make It Happen: Women Designing and Achieving Wealth, Entrepreneurship, Success

“As women, we are often the architects of our dreams,” said Hyacinth Tucker, founder and owner of Laundry Basket Delivery at the recent Take The Lead Power Up Conference on Women’s Equality Day in Washington, D.C. “So let’s share our stories, struggles and triumphs knowing together we are stronger.”

The winner of the Visionary Award exemplifying the Know Your History Power Tool, Tucker told the Together We Lead conference participants, ”We carry the weight of our aspirations. This is a testament to the power of perseverance, even when the world may not yet see it.”

Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead echoed the sentiment, reminding the participants, “You are the CEO of your own life.”

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