In Her Own Voice: A Woman's Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership

by Jennifer McCollum

Overview

Based on 25 years of research into the specific hurdles facing women in business, In Her Own Voice offers sage advice and empowerment for any woman striving to advance her career—and any organization ready to improve gender equity at every level.

The world has awakened to the urgent need to focus on women’s advancement—companies with gender-balanced leadership are far more likely to outperform their peers, and the evolving expectations of leadership align to women’s natural strengths. Yet just 10 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs and less than 30 percent of senior leaders are women, and the pace of growth is shockingly slow, made worse by COVID-19 and its aftermath.

What does it take for women to ascend to the highest levels of leadership? In Her Own Voice from Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Linkage, a global leadership development firm, sheds light on this timely topic. Backed by in-depth and enlightening research, this book examines the specific challenges women still face in the workplace. Whether we’re contending with our own inner critic, being expected to prove our value time and again, or navigating the often-intimidating world of negotiating for ourselves, women today still have unique obstacles as we advance our careers—but they need not become roadblocks.

In Her Own Voice outlines how readers can overcome these obstacles, with key competencies and action steps such as quieting your inner critic, discarding biases, building confidence, gaining clarity about the future, and more. Supported by data and infused with compelling real-life stories, it’s a blueprint for helping readers identify, measure, and conquer what’s holding women back at any stage of their careers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637744109
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	11/14/2023
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	432,949
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jennifer McCollum is CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, where she oversees the strategic direction and global operations of the premier leadership development firm. With a mission to “change the face of leadership,” Linkage has dedicated more than 35 years to advancing women and accelerating inclusion in organizations. Jennifer is also a keynote speaker, consultant, and author, with more than 20 years of experience building and growing businesses in the leadership space. Her expertise includes the state of women in the workforce; how to close the gender equity gap; how to develop effective, inclusive leaders; and how to demystify inclusion for leaders and organizations.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Using your authenticity as your competitive advantage, your experience to drive your confidence, and your relationships as leverage, this book will punctuate your journey. Read it, embrace it, and go get ’em!”
—Carla A. Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley and author of Expect to Win
 
“Insightful and backed by relevant research, In Her Own Voice provides the tools for everyone to become an advocate and champion for women in business today.”
—Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
 
“The beauty of this book is that it’s based on the experiences of tens of thousands of women, with guidance that is applicable to every one of us, no matter where we are on our own unique journey.”
—Anne Chow, former CEO of AT&T Business, Lead Director at FranklinCovey, and Board of Directors Member at 3M
 
“A must-read for any woman who’s ready to rise . . . and for any company ready to support her in that ascent.”
—Sally Helgesen, author of Rising Together and coauthor of How Women Rise
 
“Jennifer McCollum has drawn a road map to help women gain clarity on what they want, take risks that create recognized confidence, manage their leadership brand, and operate successfully with increasing authenticity.”
—Herminia Ibarra, The Charles Handy Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the London Business School and author of Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader and Working Identity

“I’ve been a friend and mentor of Jennifer’s since 2020, when she approached and asked me to help her apply principles of my ‘Working Together© Leadership and Management System and Culture of Love by Design’ at Linkage. I was privileged to be a part of helping the organization navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and emerge stronger on the other side. This book provides a glimpse at the brainpower (and heart-power) of the woman at the helm of that turnaround.”
—Alan Mulally, former CEO at Ford Motor Company and Boeing Commercial Airplanes, member of the Board of Directors at Google (now Alphabet), Carbon 3D, and the Mayo Clinic
 
“As intersectionality is increasingly discussed, more companies are seeking to understand how our multiple, interlocked identities—woman of color, member of the LGBTQIA+ community, person with a disability—shape how we experience the world. Books like In Her Own Voice can help . . . The more we understand the intersecting identities and experiences of all women, the better off our organizations will be.”
—Marilu Galvez, President and General Manager at WABC-TV New York and Emmy Award–winning journalist
 
“Whether you’re a senior leader looking for a way to support talented women, or an individual who’s serious about moving up in the ranks, you’ll love the compelling stories and practical advice in this book.”
—Maggie Wilderotter, former CEO and Executive Chairman at Frontier Communications; Board Member at Costco Wholesale Corporation, Lyft, and Sana Biotechnology; and Board Chair at DocuSign
 
“What makes a person influential has little to do with working harder or having the most impressive skills. It’s more about our ability to view messy problems as opportunities, act boldly amid uncertainty, and adapt to the unwritten rules. McCollum’s research and stories demonstrate how women become impact players and influential leaders. Aspiring C-suiters, take notice: In Her Own Voice is the voice of wisdom and will guide you on your ascent.”
—Liz Wiseman, CEO of The Wiseman Group and New York Times bestselling author of Multipliers and Impact Players
 
“With a data-grounded road map, Jennifer McCollum helps women crack the code on what it will take to accelerate faster into leadership ranks, and what organizations can do to support them. A must-read for women and men at any level who care about the future of work.”
—Molly Fletcher, author of The Energy Clock and host of the Game Changers with Molly Fletcher podcast
 
“Every page of this book convinces me that Jennifer McCollum knows how to play the game right. She has crafted a life that’s not just successful but meaningful and deeply fulfilling. And here’s the thing: so can you.”
—Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game and executive education faculty at Columbia Business School