The Gift of Learning from Other Women
5 Books That Changed How I Lead (and That I Keep Recommending)
Throughout March, centered on International Women’s Day and its theme of Give to Gain, I’ve been writing about the idea of gifts: the gifts we give other women, the strengths we bring to our work, and how we can give strategically rather than self-sacrificially.
But one of the most powerful gifts we can receive is wisdom from other women.
Books have shaped my leadership more than almost anything else. The right words, at the right moment, can change how we see ourselves, how we lead, and what we believe is possible.
If you’re looking for inspiration, resilience, and a fresh perspective, these are five voices worth spending time with.
Nataly Kogan
Why read her? Nataly Kogan redefines success by focusing on joy, resilience, and avoiding burnout.
I first heard Nataly speak at a women’s conference, and her message stuck with me years later. Unlike traditional leadership talks, hers focused on happiness and positivity as a leadership skill. It reshaped my mindset entirely. Her concept of “emotional fitness” helped me navigate leadership and organizational changes, as well as my big career pivots.
📖 Happier Now and The Awesome Human Project help leaders stop struggling and start leading with intention and energy.
I follow Nataly on LinkedIn & Instagram for her bite-sized wisdom, and her workbook, The Awesome Human Journal, is a great companion for reflection.
Perfect for you if: You’re feeling burned out, seeking more joy in your leadership, or navigating significant professional changes.
👉 Try this: Start a 5-minute daily gratitude practice (one of Nataly’s core teachings) to shift your leadership mindset.
Nataly proves that emotional well-being isn’t just a personal pursuit. It’s the foundation for leadership that inspires and elevates everyone around you.
Fran Hauser
Why read her? Fran Hauser proves that you can be kind, ambitious, and successful—all at the same time.
My team and I invited Fran to speak at Intuit for an International Women’s Day event, and her message resonated deeply with our female leaders. She challenges the outdated belief that being “nice” is a career weakness, showing that authenticity and impact go hand in hand. Fran’s approach to combining warmth with strength helped me recently coach a senior leader to embrace and leverage her collaborative style of leadership.
📖 The Myth of the Nice Girl and Embrace the Work, Love Your Career help leaders grow their influence without compromising who they are.
I follow Fran on LinkedIn, where she’s a champion for women in leadership, sharing career advice, book recommendations, and insights from her latest projects. She’s also a Substack writer herself, sharing actionable career growth tips and book recommendations.
Perfect for you if: You’re struggling to balance assertiveness with authenticity, looking to amplify your personal brand, or seeking strategies to advance without compromising your values.
👉 Try this: Practice one of Fran’s techniques for expressing disagreement kindly but firmly: “I see this differently, and here’s why...” in your next challenging meeting.
Her practical approach blends ambition with kindness, proving you don’t have to choose between being respected and being liked.
Shannon Huffman Polson
Why read her? Shannon Huffman Polson teaches grit, resilience, and courage—essential traits for leaders breaking barriers.
Shannon’s story is one of perseverance. As one of the U.S. Army’s first female Apache attack helicopter pilots and the youngest woman to summit Denali, she knows what it takes to lead in high-stakes, male-dominated environments. Her message on resilience resonated deeply with me when she led a Grit Factor workshop for our women’s and military ERG network. The experience was unforgettable.
📖 The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World shares lessons from her journey and practical strategies for building resilience in leadership.
I follow Shannon on LinkedIn, where she shares insights on grit, leadership, and navigating challenges with confidence. She also leads The Grit Institute, helping leaders develop the mindset to push through obstacles.
Perfect for you if: You’re facing tough career challenges, need to build team resilience during difficult times, or want to develop the mental toughness required for breakthrough leadership.
👉 Try this: The next time you face a setback, ask yourself: What’s the lesson here? How can this make me stronger? Reframing challenges builds grit over time.
Her extraordinary journey proves that true grit isn’t about never falling. It’s about rising every time life knocks you down.
April Rinne
Why read her? April Rinne helps leaders develop a Flux mindset to navigate constant change with confidence and agility.
I met April when she spoke at our women’s ERG event during my time as the global network leader. Her unique perspective on navigating change—informed by her global travels and corporate leadership—offered refreshing insights on thriving in uncertainty.
Her concept of the Flux Superpowers (embracing uncertainty and seeing what’s unseen) shifted how I approach leadership in fast-changing environments.
📖 Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change is an essential read for anyone struggling with uncertainty and looking to develop adaptability as a leadership skill.
I follow April on LinkedIn for her thought-provoking posts about global trends, leadership insights, and yes, her impressive headstand photos from around the world! Her perspective on change as opportunity rather than obstacle continues to influence how I coach leaders through transitions.
Perfect for you if: You’re navigating career transitions, leading through uncertainty, or seeking to build adaptability as a leadership strength.
👉 Try this: The next time you feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, ask yourself: What if this change is happening for me, not to me? Shifting your perspective can unlock new opportunities, growth, and innovation.
Follow her work for a global perspective on leadership that balances wisdom with practical application.
Tiffany Dufu
Why read her? Tiffany Dufu empowers women to let go of perfection, focus on what matters most, and lead with impact.
I first heard Tiffany speak at a women’s conference where she shared insights from Drop The Ball. Her message didn’t just resonate, it shook my worldview. As a mother of three with a demanding career, her framework for strategic delegation was a game changer, empowering me to prioritize and let go of time-consuming tasks. Instead of striving for unrealistic perfection, I learned to focus my energy where it truly counts. This same principle transformed how I coach female executives battling perfection and burnout.
📖 Drop The Ball: Achieve More by Doing Less is a must-read for ambitious women who feel stretched too thin and provides actionable strategies for focusing only on what truly matters.
I follow Tiffany on LinkedIn and appreciate her continued advocacy for women and girls. Her concept of “dropping the ball” extends beyond home life into critical workplace skills—teaching the art of strategic delegation, boundary-setting, and focus.
Perfect for you if: You’re struggling with perfectionism, feeling overwhelmed by competing demands, or looking for a smarter way to manage your time and energy.
👉 Try this: Identify one task or responsibility you can drop this week—something that doesn’t serve your highest priorities. Let it go and see what shifts.
Her revolutionary approach proves that achieving more often requires doing less by creating space for the leadership impact only you can deliver.
Pass It On
These five women gave me gifts I didn’t know I needed: a reframe, a permission slip, a reminder of what I’m capable of. Sharing their work with you feels like the most natural way to close out a month all about giving.
If one of these books resonates, pass it on. Recommend it to a colleague, gift it to a mentee, or share this post with a woman in your network who could use the reminder that she’s not alone on this path.
That’s Give to Gain in action. Wisdom received. Wisdom shared. Impact multiplied.
Which woman’s wisdom will you pass on this week? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Keep carving your path,
Ahhhh, another post that knocks it out of the park, Tracy! I love how you combine "big picture" thought with practical advice - much of which I've applied in my own career AND retirement! I really look forward to your posts, dear one.