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from May/June 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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Like achievements, rejections are part of every successful on the fact that even though her lab studies “grit,” she person's career. Some are easy to brush off, but there herself can get thrown by rejections. are those that sting and stay with you. Women are • Creating possibilities: Researchers in social psychology more likely to ruminate and overthink work rejections, to the have found that rejection can actually spur creativity point of making them even more painful. Studies show that at work—and Ally Einbinder, bassist of the band after being rejected multiple times due to bias, women are Potty Mouth, knows that better than most. When her less likely to try again for top roles at management didn’t know how high-powered companies. However, to market Potty Mouth to record in this moment, when glass ceilings labels, it tried to cut the band loose. still pervade office cultures around the Einbinder and her fellow musicians world, it’s essential for working women fought for studio time to finish to see rejection not as an end, but as their album, paid for their own a chapter in their career’s long and mixing, and released it on their varied narrative. own terms—soon after, LA Weekly
This is where Jessica Bacal, the named them the “best punk band beloved editor of “Mistakes I Made in Los Angeles.” at Work,” comes in with her newest • Importance of resilience: book “The Rejection That Changed My Comic Sam Jay gave herself one Life: 25+ Powerful Women on Being Let year to try stand-up comedy. Open Down, Turning It Around, and Burning It mics, actual gigs: She committed, Up at Work” (Plume). She recruited even when she was booed during over 25 powerful and successful her first time on stage. Being women from all walks of life to rejected is painful, but it makes talk about how rejection catalyzed you stronger—something that she movement in their careers, offer advice continues to learn as a staff writer for anyone learning to navigate the on Saturday Night Live. workforce. This collection is pivotal for • Embracing change and trying professionals who aspire to persevere, ISBN: 978-0593187654 new things: Knowing what you to achieve, and to find meaning and joy at Trade Paperback $17.00 don’t want is as important as knowing work. what you do—and rejection and
In “The Rejection That Changed My Life,” Bacal and her failure can help you realize both. Chef and James Beard interviewees examine how being turned down can lead to hope Award semi-finalist Unmi Akmin came to understand, early and positive growth. Highlights and themes include: in her career, that she was hungry to learn but didn’t like
Universal lessons offered by women from many cultural being told what to do; that’s why she took a risk and opened backgrounds: her own restaurant. • Learning and adapting: Rejection is a learning tool; interviewees describe using their own reactions as data, Bacal also created a series of exercises for readers to use in and their experiences as preparation. Angela Duckworth, a developing a habit of reflection about their diverse identities
MacArthur “genius” grant winner and psychologist, reflects and goals, accessing the power of their ever-evolving stories.
BOOK REVIEW
BY MERILEE KERN
This Mother’s Day, there is an inspirational new career success book that serves as a perfect gift for aspirational women as well as daughters, granddaughters, nieces, friends and colleagues of women and men everywhere. Amid her life’s work helping advance women executives, leadership diversity authority Rika Nakazawa has authored the newly-released title, “Dear Chairwoman: Letters from Today’s Trailblazing Women Board Leaders to the Fearless Directors of Tomorrow.”
The book features the extraordinary voices and personal stories of women leaders from around the world who have trailblazed their way to the board room, which are availed as letters to enlighten, prepare and inspire the next generation of women in business and government to pursue board-level positions.
With each leading with the salutation “Dear Chairwoman,” these letters are infused with the energy, personal experiences and front-line perspectives to motivate young women to not only pursue board governance early, but also claim the “Chairwoman” title when taking that senior-most seat in the board room. “Dear Chairwoman” is replete with letters from some of the world’s most esteemed women executives who have ascended the senior leadership ranks at premier companies such as Microsoft, and who sit on boards for global behemoths the likes of The Coca-Cola Company, MGM Mirage, JPMorgan Chase, Alaska Airlines, Nordstrom and more.
The stories are offered in the form of personal letters to the next generation of women leaders. They illuminate each leader’s journey to the boardroom, including the challenges experienced along the way and triumphs realized as they are fulfilling their roles within them. ISBN: 978-0578248103 Price $9.95
