Publishers Weekly
07/25/2022
It’s possible for women to “rebalance the equation and to take back our power,” writes Ancestry CEO Liu in her inspiring debut, a guide “to changing yourself while changing the world.” She recounts her experience in the early aughts climbing the corporate ladder, working at PayPal, eBay, and as v-p at Facebook before landing at Ancestry. No matter where she worked, though, Liu felt like the “odd ‘man’ out” as the only woman. To help other women become “leaders equal to men,” she offers 10 rules, including charting one’s own course (breaking a goal into “achievable units with monthly or quarterly milestones” can help), learning to forgive (since workplace conflict is “inevitable”), developing allies (such as mentors, sponsors, and a circle of coworkers with shared interests), and creating balance at home (“a strong partnership at home is the rock on which you build your career”). The book also includes great interviews with high-powered women: the experience of Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina woman in space, is a case study in making one’s voice heard, and Sylvia Acevedo, one of “America’s Top 50 Women in Tech” per Forbes, “never allow others to underestimate her.” Practical and wise, this is a worthy addition to the body of work on empowering women. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
A remarkable book by a remarkable person. Deb Liu uses her life story and the examples of other successful women, as well as the research literature, to provide practical and actionable advice about how to build power and thrive in a world that is often unfair. Although Take Back Your Power is written by a woman for women, Liu's insightful recommendations speak to everyone who has faced imposter syndrome or felt like the person who didn't belong—which is, of course, all of us. Jeffrey Pfeffer, Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and author of 7 Rules of Power
Because I love my wife and daughters, I want them to fully own their power and manifest it in the world. And because I strive to expand this commitment to human flourishing, I pray that this book blesses all women—and the men who love them in their power. Fred Kofman, author of the bestselling book Conscious Business
Essential wisdom for every professional, from one of the most successful women leaders in Silicon Valley. Abigail Hing Wen, New York Times bestselling author and executive producer of Loveboat, Taipei
Fast-paced and full of fresh insights and telling case studies, Take Back Your Power is essential reading for any woman executive who wants to take charge of her own destiny and lead! Mark Thompson, former CEO of the New York Times
From a young age, we women are taught that power is a dirty word. So what do we do? We continually give it away. Well, that ends here. This book teaches you how to put power back in your hands, where it belongs. Julie Zhuo, cofounder of Sundial and author of Wall Street Journal bestseller The Making of a Manager
Grab a cup of coffee because you won't be able to put this book down. With Take Back Your Power, you get a full arsenal of tools to make your magic shine. Deborah masterfully weaves her own intimate journey and advice together with the rich stories of amazing women, each of whom defines power in her own way, leaving you with vivid anecdotes and insights that will change how you act and see yourself. Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart
I highly recommend Deb Liu's book Take Back Your Power to all women in the workplace, and also to anyone from a group that is disadvantaged or underrepresented in the competitive world of business. Her lessons about embracing power, finding your voice, and making alliances should be required reading for anyone seeking to be more effective in their work. Power is necessary to accomplish your mission, realize your vision, and help make the world a better place. Deb's book is an excellent guide for everyone who feels weak and deserves to be a change-maker. Rajiv Pant, technology executive at Hearst Magazines and former CTO of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal
Liu is scaling feminine power! With vulnerability, generosity, and deep wisdom, Liu shares the variety of ways she has found to own and build her power. When she adds hidden stories of amazing women leaders and super practical how-tos, the reader can't help but be inspired to shift. Amy Klement, managing partner of Imaginable Futures
Systemic inequity is a fact, but rarely has a solution been presented that empowers individuals to successfully navigate this reality while refusing to accept the inevitably of social norms and structural biases. Take Back Your Power provides a road map that shines a light on the current reality while providing a path forward for personal success and professional growth. I've had the privilege of serving with Deb Liu to witness the power of these insights through her personal example. Brad Smith, president of Marshall University
Women are taught, from a young age, to default to silence. The issue is not that women are too timid or insecure to speak up, to negotiate, it is that we are rational actors and understand all too well the ways we are punished for being appropriately assertive. But the cost of not challenging this status quo is a loss of agency. Deb shows how to break free of this double bind by sharing practical advice and personal experiences. A must-read, whether you're a woman in the workplace or a man who works with women. Kim Scott, bestselling author of Just Work and Radical Candor
Kirkus Reviews
2022-05-28
The CEO of Ancestry offers rules of engagement for professional women.
Liu was 8 years old when she first learned that “being a girl wasn’t good enough.” Instead, her mother told her she was “lucky” that her father was “content” to have girls despite the Chinese cultural imperative to have sons. Growing up, the author followed her father's footsteps into math and science. Later, she took an engineering degree only to discover that her professional life would be challenged by “an undercurrent that inevitably skews in males’ favor.” Liu, a former vice president at Facebook, shows women how to overcome the invisible biases that can prevent them from attaining the success they deserve. They must first understand what power is and how everything from language to unconscious gender biases can hold them back. Once women become aware, they must work against giving themselves what Liu calls a “free pass” to do things like not speak up or push back just because it might make them, or others, uncomfortable. “The price for not putting yourself out there,” she writes, “is not having influence, not being invited to the next meeting, not getting that promotion.” Furthermore, women must be unafraid to change course, even if is into an area that did not seem “preordained.” The author gives the example of her friend Abigail Wen, who found success at Intel before deciding to become a full-time fiction writer. Staying open to learning and seeing the positive in even the worst situations are critical elements in finding success. So are relationships actively cultivated along one’s professional path: “No one succeeds alone.” Liu’s book often recalls the “lean in” philosophy espoused by her mentor, Sheryl Sandberg. While some of her advice may help regular working women, it will likely only interest those already in—or aspiring to—executive-level positions.
A well-intended book that makes some good points but may have limited appeal.
