We’re Gonna Need Cake: Celebrating Authentic Leadership in a Messy World

by Valerie Garcia

Bring your humanity to work to become a better leader.

Life is messy. You know it and your employees know it. But the unspoken rules of professionalism dictate that we don’t talk about it. However, what if trying to keep your real, messy life compartmentalized from your work life isn’t doing you any favors? What if, instead, the opposite is true?

We’re Gonna Need Cake, speaker and coach Valerie Garcia draws on her research, along with lessons she’s learned over decades working with brands around the globe, to demonstrate how bringing your whole self to work strengthens your leadership and propels your career forward.

Guided by The Authenticity Map, Garcia provides you with a blueprint to navigate the messiness of life and learn how to bring real emotions into the workplace in a productive way. With exercises in each chapter to help bring the concepts into personalized focus, you will finish with a better understanding of everything from failure and fear to compassion and confidence and how it all contributes to finding joy at work.

Written with honesty and humor, this guide is for the modern-day leader who wants the tools to create healthier workplaces, happier customers, and better teams.

Genres: Leadership

212 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Rosemary Buerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book moved me in each chapter almost like serving up a different slice of cake for each chapter. I wish I’d had this book earlier in my career. Knowing it would be better to just be honest and open instead of hiding behind trying to be perfect. Valerie has taught me much about myself over the years. With this book she added a new layer of insight into how to be a leader who shows up in the messy, uncomfortable parts as well as how to show up in the good. This book should be read and read as often as you need it. Thank you Valerie for a beautifully written book.

[Jay Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being in "business" and "leadership" for several decades, I haven't read a ton of business and leadership books. I used to and found they were all pretty much the same.

Valerie Garcia's book, We're Gonna Need Cake, is not the same. It offers a different (and important) perspective than any other business or leadership book I've read.

Val is a terrific storyteller, and she uses her real-life experiences to craft not only a great story but one where you can fold her insights and experiences into making yourself a better leader. Or human.

Yes, a better human. I'm (mostly) retired now, so to be honest, I'm not all that concerned with building a business or leadership skills. I am, however, still interested in leading a better life, and being a better human. We're Gonna Need Cake helps me do both.

I started reading "Cake" and using my Kindle to highlight useful passages. I stopped highlighting after about twenty pages when I realized I was going to wind up highlighting from cover to cover. The whole damn book is useful and insightful.

And that is true whether you are just starting down the career journey, entwined in the middle of it, or well past it.

Highly recommended, for anyone.

In the name of full disclosure, I know the author personally. If her book sucked, I would say so, and she knows that.

[Allie DeCastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won’t lie. Reading the introduction, I wondered if this book would be for me. I felt like one of those people she addresses directly who believes they have authenticity and mess navigation figured out. I felt like I’d have benefited from this book 10 years ago but probably not today after so many reps, failures and recoveries in my career. I was wrong.

Garcia’s authenticity map is simple enough to apply to almost any situation. This is a quick, inspiring read I know I’ll return to again and again. The format is also great for just thumbing to a particular section based on how you’re feeling. I recommend keeping this one near your desk for a quick booster between meetings on those particularly hard days. A glance at the map alone is a great way to ground yourself when things get chaotic.

Whether your table has been set and serving joy for years or you’re still tinkering with your authenticity recipe (aren’t we always?), this book is for you.

[Cindy Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can read this book in a variety of ways, but two stand out: 1) read it slowly, doing the self assessments in a journal, contemplating the roadblocks, extracting each nugget of wisdom; or 2) read the content, get a few nuggets and suggestions, and move on. Either way, this well-written book has helpful pieces of information, especially regarding the Authenticity Map. Of course, I recommend the first way - digging in deep. Being authentic is hard, seemingly impossible. Garcia does not pretend it is sunshine and lollipops. In fact, most of being authentic is knowing life is messy, both professionally and personally, and not pretending all is well all the time.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read many of these types of books before but, this is one of the best ones. I’ve read in recent memory. I know Valeria personally and her personality comes through clearly in her writing. Love the idea of the authenticity map. One of those rare books I’ll likely re-read every year or two. Highly rated.