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Why Is SHE Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom
A sharp, funny, behind-the-scenes look at proving yourself in a high-stakes corporate culture while quietly panicking on the inside.
“Raw, funny, and painfully honest. Patty Azzarello doesn’t just tell you what it’s like to be an ambitious woman in a male-dominated corporate she makes you feel it. This book is not just a memoir, it’s a survival manual for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in a room they fought hard to enter. Essential reading for future leaders with a soul.”
—Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?
“This isn’t just a book—it’s a gift. It feels alive. It’s funny, piercing, generous, and deeply wise. I was hooked instantly. It’s the mentor I never had. Patty tells us how to succeed in business without being a jerk, a fraud, or a doormat. I think all young women starting their careers should read it. Actually, women—and men—of all ages should read it too.”
—Danny Gregory, author of The Creative License, Art Before Breakfast, and Shut Your Monkey
“A celebration of introversion! Patty’s book is a must-read for ambitious but anxious people who always seem to be on the outside looking in. With good humor and surprising candor, she demonstrates how keen observation, ‘introvert listening,’ and willful participation can lead to a seat at the table and benefit the corporate bottom line too. The author’s improbable journey from scared little girl to highly effective CEO is relatable and insightful in equal measure.”
—Dr. Frances K. DelBoca, Social Psychologist
With warmth and clarity, Patty Azzarello shares the true story of her extraordinary rise through the male-dominated tech industry. Why Is SHE Still Here? is an insightful, candid, and unexpectedly vulnerable memoir—not just about the promotions and boardroom wins, but also the awkward meetings, serious outfits, sex and violence, and deeply human moments that shaped her leadership journey.
This is not a how-to book. It’s a how-it-felt book—about ambition, imposter syndrome, anxiety, and the constant pressure to prove yourself in a world where you are undervalued simply because you have boobs.
If you’ve ever doubted your place at the table or felt too nervous to go after your dreams, Patty’s story will give you the encouragement you need to pull up a chair anyway.
About the Patty Azzarello is a former tech executive, speaker, and bestselling author. She lives in Chicago and spends as much time as possible in Italy eating pizza.
“Raw, funny, and painfully honest. Patty Azzarello doesn’t just tell you what it’s like to be an ambitious woman in a male-dominated corporate she makes you feel it. This book is not just a memoir, it’s a survival manual for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in a room they fought hard to enter. Essential reading for future leaders with a soul.”
—Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?
“This isn’t just a book—it’s a gift. It feels alive. It’s funny, piercing, generous, and deeply wise. I was hooked instantly. It’s the mentor I never had. Patty tells us how to succeed in business without being a jerk, a fraud, or a doormat. I think all young women starting their careers should read it. Actually, women—and men—of all ages should read it too.”
—Danny Gregory, author of The Creative License, Art Before Breakfast, and Shut Your Monkey
“A celebration of introversion! Patty’s book is a must-read for ambitious but anxious people who always seem to be on the outside looking in. With good humor and surprising candor, she demonstrates how keen observation, ‘introvert listening,’ and willful participation can lead to a seat at the table and benefit the corporate bottom line too. The author’s improbable journey from scared little girl to highly effective CEO is relatable and insightful in equal measure.”
—Dr. Frances K. DelBoca, Social Psychologist
With warmth and clarity, Patty Azzarello shares the true story of her extraordinary rise through the male-dominated tech industry. Why Is SHE Still Here? is an insightful, candid, and unexpectedly vulnerable memoir—not just about the promotions and boardroom wins, but also the awkward meetings, serious outfits, sex and violence, and deeply human moments that shaped her leadership journey.
This is not a how-to book. It’s a how-it-felt book—about ambition, imposter syndrome, anxiety, and the constant pressure to prove yourself in a world where you are undervalued simply because you have boobs.
If you’ve ever doubted your place at the table or felt too nervous to go after your dreams, Patty’s story will give you the encouragement you need to pull up a chair anyway.
About the Patty Azzarello is a former tech executive, speaker, and bestselling author. She lives in Chicago and spends as much time as possible in Italy eating pizza.
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 24, 2025
All the things you wish people would talk about!
If you have ever wondered what it feels like to be a woman in the corporate world (or are trying to support one) this blasts the doors wide open.
If you ever wondered why some folks rise in the organization and others don't - and more specifically why you aren't rising - this will get you on the right track.
Patty provides the raw truth of her experience, without sparing any of the embarrassing details. There's no shaming, preaching, or ridiculously trite advice. There is no rewriting of history so it all looks more like luck and goodwill from benevolent heroes.
There are observations, humble and practical suggestions, and lessons in resilience. Her approach is scientific in that she doesn't judge her situations or anyone in them, but simply shows what steps need to happen in order to get a desired outcome. She also helps to identify what you can do to make sure you have the strength to do the things you want to and need to do.
For a memoir, it's a remarkably fast read. I went cover to cover in a day mostly because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Must read!
If you have ever wondered what it feels like to be a woman in the corporate world (or are trying to support one) this blasts the doors wide open.
If you ever wondered why some folks rise in the organization and others don't - and more specifically why you aren't rising - this will get you on the right track.
Patty provides the raw truth of her experience, without sparing any of the embarrassing details. There's no shaming, preaching, or ridiculously trite advice. There is no rewriting of history so it all looks more like luck and goodwill from benevolent heroes.
There are observations, humble and practical suggestions, and lessons in resilience. Her approach is scientific in that she doesn't judge her situations or anyone in them, but simply shows what steps need to happen in order to get a desired outcome. She also helps to identify what you can do to make sure you have the strength to do the things you want to and need to do.
For a memoir, it's a remarkably fast read. I went cover to cover in a day mostly because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Must read!
June 16, 2026
I’d give this book 4.5 stars if I could. Lots of great scripts, secret passage ways, and practical advice. The timeline was a little choppy, but it did tell the story of her life from beginning to now. I have met Patty in person and she is as amazing as she sounds in the book. Good read!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews