Books
In Chapter 8 of The Adventures of Women in Tech, I recommend the below books as additional resources to augment the advice and stories for each recommended tool. I’ve included those below for reference. Read my book to see why I focused on these tools! I plan to add more resources over time so feel free to send suggestions to adventuresofwomenintech@gmail.com.
Resilience
Grit: The Passion of Power and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
I saw the video clip from Duckworth’s TED Talk, and I was all in. Her work is all about how we succeed through passion and perseverance rather than innate talent. As someone who works very hard but does not consider myself that smart, she is speaking my language. While some criticize the book for being repetitive, I enjoyed the stories and narrative paired with the research of why grit matters.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
An often referenced resource both at work and at my children’s schools, Carol Dweck’s work has paved the way for a new understanding in how we succeed. Dweck is referenced multiple times by Angela Duckworth, in fact. As a history major, I always like to go back to the source material. I was surprised at the breadth of examples covered in the book across sports, relationships, business, parenting and teaching. A worthwhile scan even if you think you know what Dweck is all about.
Zahariades differentiates mental toughness from grit, with the former being a state of mind versus grit as an attribute, an inclination. I didn’t pause much to debate that distinction, being drawn in by Zahariades’s clear and succinct writing as well as abundant, practical exercises (short ones indicating time required for each) to train our minds to be tougher and stronger.
Marketing 101
Just Do You: Authenticity, Leadership, and Your Personal Brand by Lisa King
Geared toward current and future leaders but applicable more broadly, this book goes deep into analyzing and understanding what our motivations are and how we are perceived by others. There’s a companion workbook available online with numerous exercises that help break this down.
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
This one is written like a close friend is cheering you on. I liked the informal, down-to-earth narrative, and part two, “How to Embrace Your Inner Badass” made some good points. For example, how I should stop my habit of self-deprecating humor as it’s self-destructive and also hurts how others perceive me.
ASK!
Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything by Alexandra Carter
I didn’t expect to like this one because I thought it would only be about formal business negotiation. However, Professor Carter does an excellent job reframing negotiation and its impact in our lives. She leads us through understanding ourselves and our desires before asking others to do so and fill our needs. Also the metaphors that frame the book, the “mirror” and the “window,” are effective and useful devices for how we ask all questions.
Ask for It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever
Linda Babcock kept popping up in the references as I read articles, so I took a closer look at this book as well as others she’s co-written on negotiations and the gender divide. This one is rich with stories and advice, and it also extends beyond what I think of as traditional negotiation, helping me think through what I want out of life.
FIND SUPPORT
TableTalk: Hearing the Silent Fear and Bridging the Gap by Shari Moss and Meghan Fitzpatrick
This book was a pleasant surprise when I stumbled upon it while searching for resources. While targeted toward millennials, it has solid cross-generational advice for how we build our own board of directors and its importance at various times in our lives. It made me think about who my board members are!
A Mindful Career: How to Choose a Career, Find a Job, and Manage Your Success in the 21st Century by Carole Ann Wentworth and Eric C. Wentworth
Wow! This book is basically an encyclopedia of everything to know about the current job market, how to target the right career, and how to land a job. In particular, I appreciated that the book included research to do during interviews about your employer and its culture, including a chapter named “What You Wish You’d Done Before You Said ‘Yes’ to the Job.”
Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introvert’s Guide to Making Connections That Count by Karen Wickre
Karen Wickre was a “weak tie” of mine, her term for the people we know slightly but we still contact for guidance. Despite not having seen each other or spoken in years, I reached out to Karen via LinkedIn when I was preparing to write this book to see if she was open to discussing her book writing experience. That led to me also interviewing her for this book, given she is a former tech employee and now a consultant. If you hate networking, this book’s for you. Karen systematically walks through ways we can connect with others, especially when it’s not our comfort zone.
OWN YOUR AWESOME
The Self-Confidence Workbook: A Guide to Overcoming Self-Doubt and Improving Self-Esteem by Barbara Markway, PhD
If you’ve done a lot of therapy already, you’ll possibly find this one repetitive. Otherwise I recommend it as a step-by-step guide to identifying negative patterns in how we perceive ourselves. It includes action items, key takeaways, and confidence-booster exercises.
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
Brené Brown has achieved near-guru status, which is always double-edged; some folks may not like her approach and all that talk about shame and vulnerability. That said, if you want to dig in and understand the triggers behind our emotional reactions and deep, dark self-beliefs, I’d start with some Brené. Take a look at her TED Talk videos online if you want to try before you buy.
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
I was drawn to this book to learn more about Shonda Rhimes, a successful creator and producer of television shows and a supporter of diverse talent amid typically unsupportive environments. Her personal journey turned out to be extremely compelling as she figured out how to love and accept herself. I read this years ago, and some of her insights (just say thank you!) have stuck with me to this day.
Appendix
Mentorship 101 by Marily Nika
When I interviewed Marily Nika, she asked me whether she could write a section on mentorship for the book. At the time I wasn’t even sure how I would incorporate it, but I immediately said yes. In the spirit of having part 3 of my book provide some practical tools for readers, Marily crafted a perfect addition with guidance, tips, and tricks for making the most out of a mentorship session. This resource is included in the appendix, and I’m posting here for broader reference as well as for audiobook listeners.
Referenced in Chapter 4 and included in the appendix, there is support for you if you are experiencing workplace violence harassment.
Social
On Instagram, I also suggest @thealisonshow, an influencer and branding guru with a podcast, blog, and branding school. Her posts are big on how to be kind to ourselves as well.
More
Not included in the book, but a great resource:
Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators by Susanne Tedrick
I plan to add more resources over time so feel free to send suggestions to adventuresofwomenintech@gmail.com.