Stiletto Network: Inside the Women's Power Circles That Are Changing the Face of Business

by Pamela Ryckman

This informative book highlights the groundbreaking movement of trailblazing women and their professional groups. During the past few years, professional women's groups have been coalescing in every major American city, collaborating to achieve clout and success--calling themselves “Power Bitches,” “Brazen Hussies,” and “ Successful Ladies Under Tremendous Stress.” This new girls’ network is alive and set to hyperdrive! These pages are not only about celebrating these extraordinary women--from captains of industry to aspiring entrepreneurs--who have come together to celebrate, unwind, debate, and compare notes. In Stiletto Network , you’ll learn Sharing story after story of extraordinary women banding together to help other extraordinary women, Stiletto Network is both a celebration and a call to action to a better way of doing business.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Feminism, Womens, Leadership

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Pamela Ryckman is the author of Stiletto Network: Inside the Women's Power Circles That Are Changing the Face of Business. She has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, Fortune.com/CNNMoney, The New York Observer, and The New York Sun, among other publications.

Before becoming a journalist, Pamela performed internal strategy work for Merrill Lynch's Global Markets and Investment Banking Group, and for Goldman, Sachs & Co.'s Equities Financial and Strategic Management group. She began her career at Mitchell Madison Group, a management consulting firm.

Pamela earned her A.B. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and her Master of Arts in Journalism from New York University.

Reviews

[Maggie Langrick]

I'm only on page 67 of this book but am writing my review now because it looks like I may not be able to make myself finish it.

I was really keen to read Stiletto Network but I'm afraid it fell short of my expectations. I am very interested in the idea of women's professional networks, mutually supportive professional relationships, and the impact women's alliances are having on the business community. I was hoping for an analysis of where this trend is coming from, why its time has come now, and its wider implications for business and for women's lives.

Instead, the book is structured as a simple series of interview-led case studies of influential female business leaders, each of whom belongs to a supportive professional network of other women. They are good stories that provide an interesting glimpse into the lives and careers of successful women, but I found myself starved for context and analysis.

I will say that I love the fact that this book was written, and I love the fact that people are interested in the subject. I applaud this author for her intentions... Now, I am just hoping that someone comes along and writes the book I really want to read!

[Monique]

A few weeks ago I read Lean In which was a call to action. I saw commentary about this book on a new show and they stated it was a blueprint for women to take charge. While the read was quick it left a lot to be desired. Like where was the blueprint? The conclusion was 3 pages with quick snippets from the book but no "how-to's". The stories of established and growing Stiletto Networks were interesting and inspiring but hard for a simple college professor to put into action. I need more...but at least this was a start.

[Jami]

The title of this book was what caught my eye, and I was prepared for an interesting read. However, the book fell a little flat for me. While it was good, there was nothing new or groundbreaking; some of the stories of the women were interesting, while I found my mind wandering during others. I do have to say that I wish some of those networks for women were around when I first entered the workforce, as I could have used that at the time. I'm glad that they are in existence now and that many people have benefitted as a result.

[Mikaela]

Strong message but a little dated and didn’t like the almost anti-feminist angle.

[Kaitlyn]

I thought this was a really interesting book. I read a review of this book in the NY Post and it sounded like something I would be interested in. I thought it would be more about stiletto groups and how to form them instead of profiling them. However, I thought that it was a good read. It was interesting to hear the backgrounds of these successful women and how they created their groups. I like that the book reinforces the idea that women should be looking to build peers up and working as a team rather than tearing each other a part. A good point that was highlighted in the book is that fact that men get together and help each other out in various clubs and organizations. When women do this, in this case through their 'stiletto network', they can expect to be just as successful, if not more so than their male counterparts.

[Amanda]

I liked this book. As a young professional woman, it's inspiring to read about so many successful women and get a glimpse into how they achieve everything. The book isn't comprehensive and it doesn't really tell you how to form your own Stiletto Network (as tauted in the description), but it definitely talks about amazing women who have accomplished a lot, and who help other women accomplish even more. I really like the ethos that we can achieve more together that pervades the book and inspires me to reach out more to my own girlfriends.

[Taisha Rucker]

If Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead is a call to action for women, Stiletto Network is the blueprint.

"Stiletto Networks aren't about titles, and you don't need power or wealth to create one. Stiletto Networks are about trying to make your own personal dent in the world."

[Amanda]

The core ideas in this book were great, but the author was slightly insulting at times to women who don't dress in a "girly" way (it was in her message that you don't have to look like a man to succeed and/or be accepted in the boys' club).

Overall I think it's an important message though that professional women need to form small, intimate networks to help advance each other's career. I will definitely try to this more in my professional life.

[Sarah]

This is an incredibly interesting topic that the author could have explored more thoroughly than simply listing example after example after example. Unfortunately she never really connected any dots or came around to any interesting analysis. I did enjoy the historical explorations, however. While I would love to recommend this topic to my girlfriends, I wouldn't in good conscious recommend this book.

[Marissa]

I want to say this book was amazing but it just wasn't there for me. This caters more to women entrepreneurs, a career path I currently don't see myself in. Perhaps when I'm more experienced and climb the ranks some more it will be more relevant. There was some great insight in this book, just not all relevant to me just yet.

[Wendy]

Although this book was a bit too full of information about groups I'll never be invited to join and probably could have been reduced by half, it did inspire me to work at expanding my network of professional women. I wish the book had provided more information about how to actually do that! Still, I'm inspired and that's a good thing,

[Susan Tsiouris]

Stiletto Network was somewhat of a disappointment. I had hoped that being written by a woman who has had success in a traditionallly male environment would provide the reader with more than name-dropping and a solution that really wasn't a solution. Rather than pushing the idea of a stiletto network to succeed, why not find ways to integrate the good old boys network?

[Paris Abell]

I read this with my Lean In Circle. We've decided to continue reading books like Lean In to discuss together. It's good. But not great for me. I find it less inspiring. I like the stories of the women who went far with the help of other women. And I think business-women would find this book very compelling. But I work in law and it's just not as motivating for this field.

[Robin]

This is a great book profiling the landscape of women executives particularly on the west coast and what is possible when women leaders come together for mutual benefit. As a parent of a daughter, also provides great food for thought to plant seeds during college and their first professional years to participate fully in these networks. Great examples and stories of women helping women.

[Wendy Burruel]

AMAZING book for anyone interested in empowerment of women. This is a refreshing take on the current Lean In/Women In Tech conversation - highlighting the GOOD that can come when women form small circles (stiletto networks) of women to support each in their careers and in their lives.

[Laura Skladzinski]

Very inspirational, and it made me want to join so many of these groups, but I was disappointed that there weren't enough practical tips for creating one yourself. There was a small epilogue that talked about it, but it just didn't feel attainable.

[Andrea]

I wanted to learn a bit more about how to network, which this book didn't focus on enough, but I did enjoy getting new pointers and the motivation I received. Good book to read to feel empowered, make you push yourself even harder, and not give up on your goals.

[Sarah]

Stiletto Network as alright. I've read other "career advice for women" type books and this was my least favorite. While the concept was interesting, and something not usually discussed (women helping other women succeed), it could have ended half way through the book.

[Michelle Reeder]

Good enough but really it's a book about how really rich women in business all hang out together. Just different variations on that theme. No real world application or guidance on networking for non billionaires to really be found.

[Emurphy]

Couldn't finish it. Great subject, abysmal writing. The author stumbled upon a subject she sadly did not have the skill to handle.

[Lynn Mathieu]

ever wonder why woman are not the top head managers,here is why.Insights to the ways to better improve your working conditions and rise to the top in your field.

[Donna]

Inspiring.

[Lauren Marquette]

So glad to hear amazing stories of women helping women. It inspires me to take action.

[Pamela]

Provided information that I was looking for.

[Keegan]

SO GOOD. A great look into the relationships of powerful women.

[Mary Kinietz]

This was a good discussion book for our women at work club. Most agreed that it could have used more editing but the ideas expressed were actionable.

[Lyn]

This was ok

[Jaymie Shook]

Important, inspiring topic. I'd have liked more of the conclusion, wherein the author urges readers to begin their own stiletto networks. The interviewee stories are interesting but also repetitive.

[Mindy]

I didn't finish this book.