Build Your Table: Find Career Clarity, Make Bold Pivots, and Thrive - Even When the System Isn't Built for You

by Beverly Vanterpool

They said to get a seat at the table. But what if the table was never built for you?In Build Your Table , Beverly Vanterpool—once a shy Caribbean immigrant, now a corporate leader—shows you how to navigate workplaces that weren’t designed with you in mind. Part career guide, part personal memoir, this book blends real-life stories with actionable strategies to help you succeed on your own terms.

You’ll discover how bias and invisible barriers with clarityBuild a network of mentors, sponsors, and alliesSpeak up with confidence—without losing your identityPivot into new roles or reinvent your career when the ladder endsLead with purpose and create your own opportunities through corporate life, entrepreneurship, or portfolio careersBeverly uses the powerful metaphor of the table to reveal the foundations of career success and the value of being intentional, taking measured risks, and embracing diverse career paths. Each chapter offers practical exercises to help you reflect, build skills, and expand your network—while finding fulfilment beyond a single job.

Perfect for women, people of colour, first-generation professionals, immigrants, and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated, Build Your Table is your roadmap to clarity, confidence, and a career designed for who you truly are.

You don’t need permission to lead. Build your table. Take your seat. Lead your way.

Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

Reviews

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone looking to go back into employment - I've been a stay home carer since 2016 - I figured the book would be a useful source in helping me get onto the right career path.

It's primarily aimed at those of colour and how they feel they're discriminated against because of their skin colour. But it is a useful source to have handy and to refer back too.

A great little reference tool to help with confidence, knowing your worth, and building your own table.

However, I do have a question...'There was no sign of the bicycle, it was gone. My husband theorised that I probably never locked the bike as there was no sign of the lock, which was still there being tampered with'...How, when you've just said there was no sign?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book wasn’t especially useful for me personally, I can absolutely see the value it offers to others. Beverly Vanterpool writes with warmth, clarity, and a real sense of purpose. Her mix of personal experience and professional advice gives the book an authentic voice, you can tell she’s lived what she’s talking about.
I liked the central idea of “building your own table” instead of waiting for an invitation, and some of the exercises and reflections could be genuinely helpful for people feeling stuck or overlooked in their careers. It’s especially relevant for anyone trying to navigate corporate spaces that weren’t designed with them in mind.
Even if it didn’t quite align with where I am right now, it’s a thoughtful, encouraging read that could be a real boost for someone at a crossroads or starting a new chapter in their professional life.

[Sumaira Salana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Build Your Table by @vanterpoolb book review.
5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Build your table 📕

This book taught me that sometimes the table was never built for you. I loved reading the journey of Beverly Vanterpool through her journey. This book helps you to thrive where you are and decide when it is time to move forward. To reach for the stars ✨ This book helped me to think about my own journey in terms of climbing the ladder in this generation. This book teaches you how to build your own table and how to proceed on your own terms. I absolutely would highly recommend this book to everyone ❤️

Thank you to @literallypr , the
author, @vanterpoolb and @careersistas for my arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I’m forever grateful and thankful

[Fatguyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Build Your Table is a self-help guide, with the main theme being "build your own table", as opposed to waiting for an invitation to do so.
The author mixes her own insights and experiences with various useful and practical self-help tools, exercises and reflections, and backs these up with theoretical background and strategies, and facts about gender in the workplace.

So in conclusion, it's a guide to help you navigate workplaces that may not be designed with you in mind, and for me, it was personally useful.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me

[Ira Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and kind, this book was a gathering of reassuring and inspiring anecdotes - tops tops and personal memoirs related to building your career.

The book reminded me of the quote "nobody ever changed the world by asking for permission first" - and Beverley Vanterpool's book encourages you to do just that - to go for it and make your own seat, heck even your own table. I would recommend this read, especially if you want a nudge in the right direction with your own progression.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

💚 Blurb-
They said to get a seat at the table. But what if the table was never built for you?In Build Your Table, Beverly Vanterpool—once a shy Caribbean immigrant, now a corporate leader—shows you how to navigate workplaces that weren’t designed with you in mind. Part career guide, part personal memoir, this book blends real-life stories with actionable strategies to help you succeed on your own terms.
You’ll discover how bias and invisible barriers with clarityBuild a network of mentors, sponsors, and alliesSpeak up with confidence—without losing your identityPivot into new roles or reinvent your career when the ladder endsLead with purpose and create your own opportunities through corporate life, entrepreneurship, or portfolio careersBeverly uses the powerful metaphor of the table to reveal the foundations of career success and the value of being intentional, taking measured risks, and embracing diverse career paths. Each chapter offers practical exercises to help you reflect, build skills, and expand your network—while finding fulfilment beyond a single job.
Perfect for women, people of colour, first-generation professionals, immigrants, and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated, Build Your Table is your roadmap to clarity, confidence, and a career designed for who you truly are.
You don’t need permission to lead. Build your table. Take your seat. Lead your way.
🧡 Review -
I don't always read non fiction books but when I do they have to catch my eye and this one certainly did. Build Your Table is a guide to clarity, confidence and finding a career for who you truly are. I found the book interesting and it's the perfect book to dip in and out of and still find it useful in the future. I found the information in the book useful and interesting. I highly recommend it.
💝 Thank you to Literally PR, the author and publisher for my arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[mommy_and_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

" [...] We can only be ourselves; we can only be great if we embrace our unique identity. [...]"

When I picked up Beverly Vanterpool's book "Build Your Table," the first thing I noticed was the gorgeous cover. It immediately caught my eye. Opening the book, I saw a beautiful dedication. It touched my heart. It's worth pursuing your dreams while you still have time; it's not worth putting them on the back burner because you might not have the time or health to pursue them.
In "Build Your Table," you'll receive great advice and plenty of exercises that can help you build your own professional career. Thanks to this guide, you'll be well-prepared for your professional life. You'll see what you can do to make your career go in the direction you dream of. Did you know that passion and interest can determine your career direction? As the author advises, when you've run out of ideas, you can use AI (ChatGPT) to help.
This book will also teach you what imposter syndrome is.
Understanding your financial resilience is also crucial. You can read more about it in this guide. You'll learn about the four pillars that support professional success. Are you curious about them?
Do you know what's under your control and influence?
One of the author's favourite tools is 360-degree feedback. What does it look like? I refer you to this guide.
The author clearly explains the difference between mentorship and sponsorship and shows how to build your brand.
The author is from the British Virgin Islands and her guide is aimed primarily at Black women, who, in her opinion, have a harder time in their professional lives than white women. I wouldn't divide women into Black and White.
Frankly, mothers have it worse because no one wants to hire them for four hours a day. That's why so many mothers in the UK don't work.

In summary, it's worth checking out Beverly Vanterpool's guide "Build Your Table" and starting to implement the changes she suggests.