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Learn, Work, Lead- Things Your Mentor Won't Tell You
So you've Leaned In, now what? In today's world, women's career success relies on much more than just taking advice from a mentor, knowing how to network, and being proactive. Young professional women have to learn how to analyze career decisions for themselves and figure out what to do when their decisions don't work out. Learn, Work, Lead: Things Your Mentor Won't Tell You is a cutting-edge career and job search guide that will teach you those skills and give you the tools to navigate successfully in a gender-biased workplace. It will show you how to plan your career now so that you will be chosen to lead in the future.
•Coaching on how to analyze career decisions and make the best choices even when your solutions differ from your mentors' advice.
•Guidance on how to succeed even when you're faced with problems that no one could predict.
•Tools to develop the best career plan for you.
•Lessons from top business leaders' career war stories
•Coaching on how to analyze career decisions and make the best choices even when your solutions differ from your mentors' advice.
•Guidance on how to succeed even when you're faced with problems that no one could predict.
•Tools to develop the best career plan for you.
•Lessons from top business leaders' career war stories
- GenresNonfiction
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2014
10 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Terri Tierney Clark
4 books6 followersTerri Tierney Clark, a graduate of Smith College and Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business, has over 20 years of business experience in senior positions at companies like Merrill Lynch and her own advisory business. Terri was among the first female managing directors in investment banking on Wall Street and was elected to Merrill Lynch’s first women's steering committee.
Ever since she started working with young women in investment banking, Terri realized they had different challenges than their male peers. When she noticed that today women seem to be Leaning In, but still often weren't making the right choices, she decided to write Learn, Work, Lead.
Of course, two daughters in college were also her impetus. She would like them and their female peers to succeed in their careers unlike any generation of women before them. Terri also has a son in high school who she's going to make read Work, Learn, Lead because there's good career advice for men in the book too.
Terri's husband is also a finance guy which makes it especially hard in their house for their kids to borrow a few bucks without getting a lecture on money management.
Terri lives in the Washington D.C. area but likes to visit Maine in the summer and watch beautiful sunsets. She is a good runner, an awful swimmer, and often accused of being a swagless mom. Coffee is her drug, laughter is her cure.
Ever since she started working with young women in investment banking, Terri realized they had different challenges than their male peers. When she noticed that today women seem to be Leaning In, but still often weren't making the right choices, she decided to write Learn, Work, Lead.
Of course, two daughters in college were also her impetus. She would like them and their female peers to succeed in their careers unlike any generation of women before them. Terri also has a son in high school who she's going to make read Work, Learn, Lead because there's good career advice for men in the book too.
Terri's husband is also a finance guy which makes it especially hard in their house for their kids to borrow a few bucks without getting a lecture on money management.
Terri lives in the Washington D.C. area but likes to visit Maine in the summer and watch beautiful sunsets. She is a good runner, an awful swimmer, and often accused of being a swagless mom. Coffee is her drug, laughter is her cure.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 7, 2014
Learn Work Lead should be on the recommended reading list of every college career center in the country. Terri Tierney Clark saves young professionals years of trying to figure out how to succeed in the workplace through the strategic way she illuminates every important aspect of office life in clear language and compelling examples. I was going to buy the book as holiday gifts, but it is so powerful, I will be buying the young professionals in our family their copies right now so they can start implementing Terri’s advice immediately. (Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book.)
October 27, 2014
I received this book as part of a GoodReads Giveaway.
Normally I am not a self-help book kind of person, but I was glad when I won this book. The advice is straightforward and applicable. Terri Tierney Clark writes from her own background on Wall Street, and while that was a little foreign to someone who has spent the last 5 years in Non Profit work, she breaks down common sense advice with "Why didn't anyone tell me that," moments. She also addresses gender divisions without using them as an excuse, which is helpful and just practical. The book is not about "you're a woman, here's how to act," it's, "you're a woman, here's what to expect."
The book does spend quite a bit of time talking about finding a mentor, which I guess if you don't have a mentor they can't tell you to find one. That would be my only real complaint with this book. I will probably be giving this book to friends coming out of grad school or undergrad, just so they step carefully and know what to expect when dealing with bosses from an earlier generation.
Normally I am not a self-help book kind of person, but I was glad when I won this book. The advice is straightforward and applicable. Terri Tierney Clark writes from her own background on Wall Street, and while that was a little foreign to someone who has spent the last 5 years in Non Profit work, she breaks down common sense advice with "Why didn't anyone tell me that," moments. She also addresses gender divisions without using them as an excuse, which is helpful and just practical. The book is not about "you're a woman, here's how to act," it's, "you're a woman, here's what to expect."
The book does spend quite a bit of time talking about finding a mentor, which I guess if you don't have a mentor they can't tell you to find one. That would be my only real complaint with this book. I will probably be giving this book to friends coming out of grad school or undergrad, just so they step carefully and know what to expect when dealing with bosses from an earlier generation.
July 7, 2015
A practical, well-laid-out book for female careerists just starting out and those working up from "expert" to "powerhouse."
Tierney Clark offers lots of real life examples from which to learn both good and bad behavior and strategy in your ascent to the top of your field. I love that she advocates for women setting lofty goals even at the start of our careers. As she says, "aim high" but "remain relentlessly pleasant and likable."
Some takeaways I found especially powerful:
- Learn "not to just do the work, but to understand the work and understand the business."
- "At the office, attitude counts for a lot. That means, no matter how miserable you are, you need to look happy."
- "Those (top level positions in your industry) are the jobs you should put on your radar, the ones you should start to build a skill base for."
- "...networking is a long-term game. ... If you connect with industry professionals before you need their help, they will be more likely to come through when you are ready to make a career move."
Tierney Clark offers lots of real life examples from which to learn both good and bad behavior and strategy in your ascent to the top of your field. I love that she advocates for women setting lofty goals even at the start of our careers. As she says, "aim high" but "remain relentlessly pleasant and likable."
Some takeaways I found especially powerful:
- Learn "not to just do the work, but to understand the work and understand the business."
- "At the office, attitude counts for a lot. That means, no matter how miserable you are, you need to look happy."
- "Those (top level positions in your industry) are the jobs you should put on your radar, the ones you should start to build a skill base for."
- "...networking is a long-term game. ... If you connect with industry professionals before you need their help, they will be more likely to come through when you are ready to make a career move."
October 7, 2014
Terri Tierney Clark has written the book that provides the advice I want to give my daughters, but that a) I don’t have the skill to convey, and b) they would never take if it came from me! Believe me, they’ll each get a copy of Learn, Work. Lead! Terri’s experiences navigating the uncharted waters of women on Wall Street will resonate with many mothers who forged careers in male-dominated domains, but more importantly it provides sound, wise guidance with a good dose of humor and is both valid and invaluable for young women today.
November 23, 2014
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. I am really impressed with the valuable advice that Terri gives. Much of the advice are tips that I have never heard before. Learn, work, lead is very applicable to my current career situation (I am a recent graduate working for one of the largest companies in the world) and I am very lucky to have stumbled upon this book. Thank you Terri for your words of wisdom!
February 25, 2015
This will come in very handy for my children as they reach the age where they will be entering the work force, I'm going to be sure they both have a copy.
December 29, 2014
great book!
I will give a copy to all those careerists a few years out of college whom I am mentoring; easy read and valuable advice
I will give a copy to all those careerists a few years out of college whom I am mentoring; easy read and valuable advice
April 26, 2025
Well this book may be a bit outdated but there are things that still apply. Since this is written by a white woman & it's her perspective, certain things may be different if you are a woman of color. The issue is how most women don't get taken seriously along w/ even being listened to. It's important to speak your mind & be heard but of course it has to be done tactfully; if not, you're seen as aggressive. There are so many hypocritical things that happen in the workforce that men can do (get away with) that women can't. Super annoying, of course. This book explains so many of these types of issues that happen in corporate spaces. Yet trying to figure out how to make it stop is an uphill battle for sure. Being able to stand w/ your peers & make headway on these issues is critical. You can't be afraid to ask for guidance either. There is power in numbers. So check it out & see if her suggestions resonate & work for you.
February 14, 2020
A great book for all young women entering the workforce. The book helps create awareness about different aspects of building a successful career.
October 7, 2014
Life may not come with an instruction manual, but this book will help you to negotiate the part of life you spend working. This is the handbook that will help the young career woman steer clear of pitfalls, and set her sights on advancement. While directed at women, much of the advice will be helpful for either gender.
For those of us that have been around the block a few times, much of the advice contained in these pages is common sense, but every working person should find some gem of advice or encouragement. I found this book fascinating because each story hammered home a point that could direct the way for an individual to prepare for real life situations they are certain to face.
Why worry early in your career? The author cites an example of two individuals with the same starting salary. One was able to negotiate a 4.3% annual increase; the other, 2.7% annually. If the difference had been invested at 3% a year, it would have yielded just over $2 million by retirement. In a similar vein your successes can compound over the years, landing you in excellent positions for making more good moves.
The book is laid out systematically with creative titles and subheadings, quotes, statistics/data, and stories as each chapter takes the reader further along the career path. Some of the topics covered included:
•Job Search and Interviewing
•Integrating work and personal life
•How others see you, including improving your image and how to conduct oneself
•Plotting a course with the aid of valuable, but sometimes overlooked, resources
•Relationship building including networking, strengthening your relationship with your manager, and developing a mentor
•How to make the most of performance reviews
•Developing from expert to powerhouse
•Asking and getting salary/bonuses, projects, and promotions
•Damage control
While seriously helpful, this book is also funny and entertaining. I found myself laughing aloud at some of the author's observations and sticky situations. The book is filled with interesting examples of how real people negotiated decisions in the business world. The stories and situations allow the reader to understand challenges they will face and to develop strategies to make the most of it.
Let me tell you why this book is better than Sandberg's Lean In. Instead of mostly trying to show women have it tougher in the work place, this book illustrates and explains how to be proactive and to level the playing field. The book itself is not a panacea, the reader must be willing to come out of her comfort zone and do what is required in order to succeed.
This book is a great guide for anyone, male or female, new to the professional world or preparing to start their career. I just ordered a copy for my 21 year old son in college; this book makes excellent recommendations that will prepare him for work, and it may help him to understand the office from the perspective of his female colleagues.
For those of us that have been around the block a few times, much of the advice contained in these pages is common sense, but every working person should find some gem of advice or encouragement. I found this book fascinating because each story hammered home a point that could direct the way for an individual to prepare for real life situations they are certain to face.
Why worry early in your career? The author cites an example of two individuals with the same starting salary. One was able to negotiate a 4.3% annual increase; the other, 2.7% annually. If the difference had been invested at 3% a year, it would have yielded just over $2 million by retirement. In a similar vein your successes can compound over the years, landing you in excellent positions for making more good moves.
The book is laid out systematically with creative titles and subheadings, quotes, statistics/data, and stories as each chapter takes the reader further along the career path. Some of the topics covered included:
•Job Search and Interviewing
•Integrating work and personal life
•How others see you, including improving your image and how to conduct oneself
•Plotting a course with the aid of valuable, but sometimes overlooked, resources
•Relationship building including networking, strengthening your relationship with your manager, and developing a mentor
•How to make the most of performance reviews
•Developing from expert to powerhouse
•Asking and getting salary/bonuses, projects, and promotions
•Damage control
While seriously helpful, this book is also funny and entertaining. I found myself laughing aloud at some of the author's observations and sticky situations. The book is filled with interesting examples of how real people negotiated decisions in the business world. The stories and situations allow the reader to understand challenges they will face and to develop strategies to make the most of it.
Let me tell you why this book is better than Sandberg's Lean In. Instead of mostly trying to show women have it tougher in the work place, this book illustrates and explains how to be proactive and to level the playing field. The book itself is not a panacea, the reader must be willing to come out of her comfort zone and do what is required in order to succeed.
This book is a great guide for anyone, male or female, new to the professional world or preparing to start their career. I just ordered a copy for my 21 year old son in college; this book makes excellent recommendations that will prepare him for work, and it may help him to understand the office from the perspective of his female colleagues.
March 7, 2016
If you're a regular Careerist and Muse reader, this book is a nice reminder of best practices for women in the workplace, however, some points stuck out to me as being perfectly ripe food tidbits for thought:
- Leverage high-level volunteering: Plenty of volunteering gigs are glory-less, but there are some that could lead to a job within that company or another, assuming that you get results. This can be particularly helpful if you don't yet have experience, or have a full-time job and want flexibility with gaining more experience in another field.
- Beware of serving coffee: ...or cleaning up after everyone after a company lunch, bringing baked goods into the office, being the go-to to grab print-outs, etc. Unless you're an office manager and these things are listed in your job description, it's beneficial to not volunteer to do the 'household' tasks of the office, or if asked directly, ask that you and a male colleague lend a hand/work on the task together.
- Resume readiness: Don't list tasks, list accomplishments. How do you know it's an accomplishment? It usually begins with a verb and includes a statistic.
- Plan to work PT when starting a family to stay current: When women have kids, sometimes they take time off, as in years, to re-emerge later at part/full-time status, and realize that they're now lagging behind in their industry and the progression of their role. (ex: Marketers NEED to be in the know about SEO now, vs. it being a novelty 5 years ago).
It's a solid read for a young professional, or any woman re-entering the work place.
-
- Leverage high-level volunteering: Plenty of volunteering gigs are glory-less, but there are some that could lead to a job within that company or another, assuming that you get results. This can be particularly helpful if you don't yet have experience, or have a full-time job and want flexibility with gaining more experience in another field.
- Beware of serving coffee: ...or cleaning up after everyone after a company lunch, bringing baked goods into the office, being the go-to to grab print-outs, etc. Unless you're an office manager and these things are listed in your job description, it's beneficial to not volunteer to do the 'household' tasks of the office, or if asked directly, ask that you and a male colleague lend a hand/work on the task together.
- Resume readiness: Don't list tasks, list accomplishments. How do you know it's an accomplishment? It usually begins with a verb and includes a statistic.
- Plan to work PT when starting a family to stay current: When women have kids, sometimes they take time off, as in years, to re-emerge later at part/full-time status, and realize that they're now lagging behind in their industry and the progression of their role. (ex: Marketers NEED to be in the know about SEO now, vs. it being a novelty 5 years ago).
It's a solid read for a young professional, or any woman re-entering the work place.
-
August 12, 2016
Intressant och inspirerande
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews