How Remarkable Women Lead

The Breakthrough Model for Work and Life

By: Joanna Barsh, Susie Cranston, Geoffrey Lewis

Narrated by: Pam Ward

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Based on five years of proprietary research, How Remarkable Women Lead speaks to you as no other book has, with its hopeful outlook and unique ideas about success. It's the new "right stuff" of leadership, raising provocative issues such as whether feminine leadership traits (for women and men) are better suited for our fast-changing, hyper-competitive, and increasingly complex world.

In this book, McKinsey & Company consultants Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston establish the links between joy, happiness, and distinctive performance with the groundbreaking model of Centered Leadership.

The book's personal stories and related insights show you the magic that happens when you put the five elements of Centered Leadership - meaning, framing, connecting, engaging, and energizing - to work. They include:

• How Alondra de la Parra built on her strengths and passions to infuse her life with meaning and make her way in the male-dominated world of orchestra conducting
• How Andrea Jung, the CEO of Avon, avoided a downward spiral when the company turned down by "firing herself" on Friday and re-emerging on Monday as the "new" turnaround CEO
• How Ruth Porat's sponsors at Morgan Stanley not only helped her grow but were also her ballast for coping with difficult personal and professional times
• How Eileen Naughton recovered after losing her dream job, landing on her feet at Google and open to a new leadership opportunity
• How Julie Coates of Woolworth's Australia makes energy key to her professional success, with reserves for her "second shift" as wife and mother

How Remarkable Women Lead is both profoundly moving and actionable. No matter who you are, this book will help you attain a practical plan for breaking through at both work and in life.

©2009 McKinsey & Company, Inc. (P)2012 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"The seeds for our future are in here. The new CEO is a woman or a man who is not afraid to drop the John Wayne costume." (Gary Hamel, author of The Future of Management)

Great read for Men & Women

Would you listen to How Remarkable Women Lead again? Why?

The work of Barsh, Cranston and Lewis provides a great leadership model for both men and women. Be sure you download the pdf as it will help you follow the stories of 25 incredible women who's journey to success at times takes them through valleys or side journeys on their way to success.

Inspiring

Would you consider the audio edition of How Remarkable Women Lead to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How Remarkable Women Lead?

Learning the difference between a sponsor and a mentor and what each can do for you.

What three words best describe Pam Ward’s performance?

I did not like the narration. Audio books are better received when the author and in this case authors read the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

I am only just over halfway done but wanted to publish the review in case anyone else wanted to get it. You should. I have not read a large number of books on this topic but I think it's was great. As a women leader you can't read enough the experience older women have and pass on. Most importantly it's current and relevant.

A collection of the stories of women leaders

I tried to like it, but it’s just a collection of the stories about some women leaders. Yes, there are always something inspiring about those leaders, but that can be well just be due to their personalities. The monotone of the reader is not engaging. It’s hard to tell one interview from the other. The voice is also not very pleasant.

Aa good read

Although I'm a guy. Thus was still insightful. I will definitely recommend this to people.

boring, and narrator's voice is annoying

Struggling to pay attention! beyond boring and main points are obvious, nothing revolutionary here. waste of time for any woman currently in a leadership role or a man's field. Maybe interesting to the meek minded?

Great read and highly recommend

I enjoyed this book so much. I got a lot out of it and may actually listen to it again or purchase a paper copy. I plan to go back and apply some of the exercises and the book also sets me up nicely for my next book club read...the new one by Ms. Oprah.

Great stories and takeaways

Might be better to read this book in the paper format as there are reference documents, etc

Too simplistic

Wanted real tips about leadership not banalities and pep talks. Only recommend this book if you are very insecure and haven't been in the work market for a long time. Otherwise pretty patronizing stuff.

Same old self help; follow your dream blather

What disappointed you about How Remarkable Women Lead?

same old stuff

What could the authors have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

real research not the authors preconceived notions; while pretending it to be a new revelation to her.

Which character – as performed by Pam Ward – was your favorite?

n/a

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

n/a

Took the Hay

I appreciate any feeding for bringing out the leader in me, giving more fuel to aid my professional endeavors and advancements. However, I am in the public service field and had to leave some of the advice alone.