What do you think?
Rate this book
The Uncommon Executive: Breakthrough to the C-suite as a Minority
I wrote this book to help aspiring executives, particularly those from under-represented backgrounds, grow from managers to executives.
I’ve had hundreds of career growth conversations through my coaching work and with my direct reports. I’ve seen many types of career journeys play out among friends, former colleagues, and classmates. Over and over, one of the most challenging and emotional topics that come up in my career coaching conversations is how to break through from middle management into executive levels – VP or C-Suite.
Many hardworking and intelligent people see their careers stall once they reach middle management, and the same topics come up repeatedly in
“I feel stuck. I’ve been in this job for years without getting promoted. What am I doing wrong?”“The women I see at the top have abrasive, aggressive styles, and I don’t want to be like them. I can’t find anyone I want to role model at the executive level.”“I’m swamped and nearing burnout right now in middle management. How can I even think about the VP role?”“Do I need to get an MBA or a Brand Name resume? Do I need to golf and know football?“I don’t know how you did it. How do I balance family and getting into leadership? It feels just impossible for me where I am.”
This book provides a path to executive leadership through that doubt and confusion. First, we’ll look at how to adopt an executive mindset and develop skills that are critical for success. Then we’ll discuss off-the-beaten-path (e.g., not white-male-centric) ways to demonstrate executive potential and land stretch assignments. We’ll dive into the challenges minorities tend to face more overcoming biases and stereotypes, finding a role model, and developing their superpower. And finally, we’ll wrangle with how we influence luck and create opportunities with sponsorship, networking, and making smart job changes. Some topics we cover in the book
The Trifecta of Affinity, Confirmation, and Negativity BiasesThe Executive MindsetEffective Delegation and Communication at Scale.Stay Calm During Crises.Winning Performance ReviewsHow to get the best stretch assignments.Building Trust & Relationships.Finding Professional CommonalitiesCombat Cultural StereotypesInfluencing PeersManaging the Board of Directors.Finding your Superpower and building your brandRole Models Through Building a Mosaic of Influences.Tailor Your Executive Style to the Environment.Finding the Right Company CultureFamily Growth vs. Career GrowthGetting Sponsorship
This book's Guide you to getting promoted to the executive level.
What you likely already know and
You know how to manage a small teamYou know how do to your current job wellYou know the basics of delegation, communication, and team managementYou know it’s difficult to get to the topYou've experienced bias at the workplace because you're a minorityWhat this book will teach to recognize and combat biasWhat are the important ski
I’ve had hundreds of career growth conversations through my coaching work and with my direct reports. I’ve seen many types of career journeys play out among friends, former colleagues, and classmates. Over and over, one of the most challenging and emotional topics that come up in my career coaching conversations is how to break through from middle management into executive levels – VP or C-Suite.
Many hardworking and intelligent people see their careers stall once they reach middle management, and the same topics come up repeatedly in
“I feel stuck. I’ve been in this job for years without getting promoted. What am I doing wrong?”“The women I see at the top have abrasive, aggressive styles, and I don’t want to be like them. I can’t find anyone I want to role model at the executive level.”“I’m swamped and nearing burnout right now in middle management. How can I even think about the VP role?”“Do I need to get an MBA or a Brand Name resume? Do I need to golf and know football?“I don’t know how you did it. How do I balance family and getting into leadership? It feels just impossible for me where I am.”
This book provides a path to executive leadership through that doubt and confusion. First, we’ll look at how to adopt an executive mindset and develop skills that are critical for success. Then we’ll discuss off-the-beaten-path (e.g., not white-male-centric) ways to demonstrate executive potential and land stretch assignments. We’ll dive into the challenges minorities tend to face more overcoming biases and stereotypes, finding a role model, and developing their superpower. And finally, we’ll wrangle with how we influence luck and create opportunities with sponsorship, networking, and making smart job changes. Some topics we cover in the book
The Trifecta of Affinity, Confirmation, and Negativity BiasesThe Executive MindsetEffective Delegation and Communication at Scale.Stay Calm During Crises.Winning Performance ReviewsHow to get the best stretch assignments.Building Trust & Relationships.Finding Professional CommonalitiesCombat Cultural StereotypesInfluencing PeersManaging the Board of Directors.Finding your Superpower and building your brandRole Models Through Building a Mosaic of Influences.Tailor Your Executive Style to the Environment.Finding the Right Company CultureFamily Growth vs. Career GrowthGetting Sponsorship
This book's Guide you to getting promoted to the executive level.
What you likely already know and
You know how to manage a small teamYou know how do to your current job wellYou know the basics of delegation, communication, and team managementYou know it’s difficult to get to the topYou've experienced bias at the workplace because you're a minorityWhat this book will teach to recognize and combat biasWhat are the important ski
220 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 8, 2024
candid, actionable, inspiring!
We all run into obstacles in our career journey. Instead of job switching each time or settling for less, Yue’s book provided very actionable toolkits with clear thinking and rationale behind each advice. This book is not just for minority, it is inspiring and helpful for everyone!
We all run into obstacles in our career journey. Instead of job switching each time or settling for less, Yue’s book provided very actionable toolkits with clear thinking and rationale behind each advice. This book is not just for minority, it is inspiring and helpful for everyone!
March 4, 2026
Puedo pensar en muchas mujeres brillantes con grandes aspiraciones a las que pienso recomendarles este libro. Me pareció que tiene ejemplos aplicados a la vida real, así como dirigidos a la realidad que vivimos las mujeres y las minorías. Aun y que la autora viene del ramo tecnológico, me sentí identificada y motivada con los ejemplos que planteó.
June 14, 2025
Yue's book is both inspiring and practical - her writing is also very easy to follow and she tells the corporate/executive path secrets that nobody wanted to spill. Would highly recommend this book as well as her newsletter.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews