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The Ambition Penalty
We spoke up. We took charge. We asked for more. But where has it actually left us? Not only are generations of women more burnt out than ever, but the gender pay gap has barely budged in decades.
In The Ambition Penalty, journalist Stefanie O'Connell presents a deeply researched and sometimes shocking look at the ways women remain passed over and excluded, not for a lack of ambition, but because of it. She calls it 'the ambition penalty' - the sum of the financial, personal, and professional costs women face for daring to want more.
The Ambition Penalty dismantles the myth that women are less ambitious than their male peers and debunks common claims - like women aren't confident enough and don't negotiate enough - used to justify stubborn gender gaps in power. This book reveals why decades of educational gains and empowerment messages have not translated into corresponding advances for women at work or at home.
The Ambition Penalty gives women the talking points they can use to call out these biases, and lays out proven practices for leaders and allies committed to cultivating environments where women's ambitions are supported, rewarded, and celebrated.
In The Ambition Penalty, journalist Stefanie O'Connell presents a deeply researched and sometimes shocking look at the ways women remain passed over and excluded, not for a lack of ambition, but because of it. She calls it 'the ambition penalty' - the sum of the financial, personal, and professional costs women face for daring to want more.
The Ambition Penalty dismantles the myth that women are less ambitious than their male peers and debunks common claims - like women aren't confident enough and don't negotiate enough - used to justify stubborn gender gaps in power. This book reveals why decades of educational gains and empowerment messages have not translated into corresponding advances for women at work or at home.
The Ambition Penalty gives women the talking points they can use to call out these biases, and lays out proven practices for leaders and allies committed to cultivating environments where women's ambitions are supported, rewarded, and celebrated.
- GenresFeminismNonfiction
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Stefanie O'Connell
5 books10 followersGetting by in New York from the quintessential "broke girl" perspective, NYC actress and writer, Stefanie O'Connell, lives by making her budget stretch. She chronicles her journey to find the balance between starving artist and prosperous city living on her blog, The Broke and Beautiful Life.
A graduate of New York University's drama and psychology programs at the height of the financial crisis, Stefanie discovered the world of financial planning out of necessity. Since then, she's been living her dream of performing while pinching pennies to make the rest of her goals a reality.
Stefanie and her work have been featured on such major media platforms as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, AOL's Daily Finance, and many more. Connect with Stefanie and all things Broke and Beautiful on twitter @brokeandbeau.
A graduate of New York University's drama and psychology programs at the height of the financial crisis, Stefanie discovered the world of financial planning out of necessity. Since then, she's been living her dream of performing while pinching pennies to make the rest of her goals a reality.
Stefanie and her work have been featured on such major media platforms as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, AOL's Daily Finance, and many more. Connect with Stefanie and all things Broke and Beautiful on twitter @brokeandbeau.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 10, 2026
I enjoyed this offering from O’Connell, although I did find it very reminiscent of Glass Walls by Diehl and Dzubinski, and perhaps that influenced my consideration that the chapters were a little repetitive.
O’Connell’s main point is that women are penalised for being ambitious, and that the suggestion to ‘Lean In’ isn’t effective due to the patriarchal norms of society. Much of the content I had read before and while recent research is referenced, it is done so with a journalistic tone and at quite a superficial level, lacking the granular detail I would like to understand the studies and consider the credibility of the work. Although O’Connell clearly articulated her argument throughout, and provided a framework for conversation to explore these topics within each chapter, she did not provide much in the way of ideas/suggestions/action points to practically address them and change the story for women.
While the majority of the book focuses on work, I was interested to read about how work-life balance is impacted and particularly, the conversation around the #lazygirl/#tradwife social media phenomena. It is wild to think that rather than overt misogyny frustrating women to the point of abandoning their ambitions, it is subtle benevolent sexism that subliminally convinces women to do the same, reinforcing patriarchal sexist norms and giving the impression it is the woman’s choice!
Overall, an easy read and a good book for those who wish to engage more deeply with the societal discourse around feminism, although lacking a little in scientific detail and analytical depth for me.
O’Connell’s main point is that women are penalised for being ambitious, and that the suggestion to ‘Lean In’ isn’t effective due to the patriarchal norms of society. Much of the content I had read before and while recent research is referenced, it is done so with a journalistic tone and at quite a superficial level, lacking the granular detail I would like to understand the studies and consider the credibility of the work. Although O’Connell clearly articulated her argument throughout, and provided a framework for conversation to explore these topics within each chapter, she did not provide much in the way of ideas/suggestions/action points to practically address them and change the story for women.
While the majority of the book focuses on work, I was interested to read about how work-life balance is impacted and particularly, the conversation around the #lazygirl/#tradwife social media phenomena. It is wild to think that rather than overt misogyny frustrating women to the point of abandoning their ambitions, it is subtle benevolent sexism that subliminally convinces women to do the same, reinforcing patriarchal sexist norms and giving the impression it is the woman’s choice!
Overall, an easy read and a good book for those who wish to engage more deeply with the societal discourse around feminism, although lacking a little in scientific detail and analytical depth for me.
August 10, 2026
Nonostante la produzione di citazioni e dati a supporto delle affermazioni, il testo è di semplicissima lettura, veramente adatto a tutti.
Al contrario del lavoro affrontato dall'autrice sui suoi canali social, il libro analizza in modo approfondito la condizione femminile nella sola sfera lavorativa, con un focus abbastanza esclusivo sul mondo corporate (anche perché è quello per il quale è più semplice ottenere dati).
Da tenere presente che per il 95% si riferisce al contesto statunitense, e quindi va applicato in Italia con le dovute precauzioni. I principi generali, però, non cambiano.
Ottima lettura per tutti!
Al contrario del lavoro affrontato dall'autrice sui suoi canali social, il libro analizza in modo approfondito la condizione femminile nella sola sfera lavorativa, con un focus abbastanza esclusivo sul mondo corporate (anche perché è quello per il quale è più semplice ottenere dati).
Da tenere presente che per il 95% si riferisce al contesto statunitense, e quindi va applicato in Italia con le dovute precauzioni. I principi generali, però, non cambiano.
Ottima lettura per tutti!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews