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UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise
Finally, a book to catapult your career and life. “Kelly Mooney and Katy Mooney offer practical wisdom and infectious optimism; they show us that the path forward isn't just possible—it's within our reach.” (Shannon Watts, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fired Up.)
UP! is a modern playbook for women who want careers and lives with more meaning, power, and possibilities. No matter if you are starting, stuck, stalled, spinning, or soaring, UP! gives you proven strategies, practical tools, and step-by-step guidance you can use now, not someday.
UP! is organized into six easily digestible parts:
1. Lead Yourself: become more intentional about your career and life
2. Own Your Choices: recognize you have agency over your decisions
3. Find Your Fit: know what fits you before burning out or opting out
4. Think Big(ger): expand your vision of what’s possible
5. Get in the Game: navigate the unwritten rules of the workplace
6. Love Your Life Along the Way: enjoy a personal life while building your career
“Blending heart and strategy in a way that’s rare, UP! helps women design careers and lives that align with who they are–and where they want to go next.” (Ivy Ross, chief design officer of consumer devices at Google). Importantly, there are no “shoulds” in this book—and that’s intentional. Because there isn’t one path or pace that works for everyone. Your future is unique to you.
By the end of this book, you’ll know what truly matters to you. You’ll walk away with new skills, clear action steps, and a massive boost in confidence. You’ll stop waiting to be noticed or wondering when your life will get better. You’ll start moving—up.
UP! is a modern playbook for women who want careers and lives with more meaning, power, and possibilities. No matter if you are starting, stuck, stalled, spinning, or soaring, UP! gives you proven strategies, practical tools, and step-by-step guidance you can use now, not someday.
UP! is organized into six easily digestible parts:
1. Lead Yourself: become more intentional about your career and life
2. Own Your Choices: recognize you have agency over your decisions
3. Find Your Fit: know what fits you before burning out or opting out
4. Think Big(ger): expand your vision of what’s possible
5. Get in the Game: navigate the unwritten rules of the workplace
6. Love Your Life Along the Way: enjoy a personal life while building your career
“Blending heart and strategy in a way that’s rare, UP! helps women design careers and lives that align with who they are–and where they want to go next.” (Ivy Ross, chief design officer of consumer devices at Google). Importantly, there are no “shoulds” in this book—and that’s intentional. Because there isn’t one path or pace that works for everyone. Your future is unique to you.
By the end of this book, you’ll know what truly matters to you. You’ll walk away with new skills, clear action steps, and a massive boost in confidence. You’ll stop waiting to be noticed or wondering when your life will get better. You’ll start moving—up.
232 pages, Hardcover
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Kelly Mooney
3 books9 followersKelly Mooney is a three-time author, speaker, board director of a public company, and longtime gender equality advocate. She's also a wife and mother of two who built her career while navigating the realities of modern work and family life.
Over a decades-long career, she has experienced the full arc of the workplace—from intern to CEO—ultimately co-owning and leading the nation's largest women-owned digital agency, scaling it 15x, and later exiting the business to IBM, where she served as Chief Experience Officer for North America.
Consistently ahead of the curve, Kelly anticipated the power shift from organizations to consumers, authoring The Ten Demandments and The Open Brand—the latter becoming required reading at Stanford and other universities. She also founded the Equipt Women Foundation and created Get Equipt, a widely read weekly career advice newsletter.
Over a decades-long career, she has experienced the full arc of the workplace—from intern to CEO—ultimately co-owning and leading the nation's largest women-owned digital agency, scaling it 15x, and later exiting the business to IBM, where she served as Chief Experience Officer for North America.
Consistently ahead of the curve, Kelly anticipated the power shift from organizations to consumers, authoring The Ten Demandments and The Open Brand—the latter becoming required reading at Stanford and other universities. She also founded the Equipt Women Foundation and created Get Equipt, a widely read weekly career advice newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
As a woman who has spent decades building a career, navigating ambition, relationships, motherhood, reinvention, and all the trade-offs in between, reading UP! felt less like a business book and more like a tool to help navigate life.
What makes this book stand apart is that it doesn’t offer hollow empowerment clichés or rigid formulas for “having it all.” Instead, Kelly and Katy Mooney deliver something far more valuable: honest, practical wisdom about how to lead yourself, advocate for your future, and make intentional choices in a world that often expects women to stay small, quiet, grateful, or endlessly accommodating.
The chapters on speaking up, building networks, and understanding your own strengths are very relevant in today’s culture, where women are still navigating workplaces that reward visibility, confidence, and adaptability, yet often punish women for displaying those exact qualities. The book addresses these realities while still remaining optimistic and actionable.
Thinking about recent graduates stepping into an AI-transformed world, the guidance around experimentation and adaptability feels timely (for women of all ages, actually!) Rather than fearing change, this book encourages women to stay curious, build transferable skills, and develop the confidence to evolve alongside technology instead of being intimidated by it.
I also appreciated the sections about choices, boundaries, and knowing what you need. For a mom trying to decide how career and family fit together, this book offers permission to define success on her own terms.
This is also not a man-bashing book or a trite female empowerment message - and sadly, there are women out there who feel intimidated by other successful women, or competitive in a dysfunctional way. Reading this is a call for women to stand up for themselves, and stand up for each other!
What makes this book stand apart is that it doesn’t offer hollow empowerment clichés or rigid formulas for “having it all.” Instead, Kelly and Katy Mooney deliver something far more valuable: honest, practical wisdom about how to lead yourself, advocate for your future, and make intentional choices in a world that often expects women to stay small, quiet, grateful, or endlessly accommodating.
The chapters on speaking up, building networks, and understanding your own strengths are very relevant in today’s culture, where women are still navigating workplaces that reward visibility, confidence, and adaptability, yet often punish women for displaying those exact qualities. The book addresses these realities while still remaining optimistic and actionable.
Thinking about recent graduates stepping into an AI-transformed world, the guidance around experimentation and adaptability feels timely (for women of all ages, actually!) Rather than fearing change, this book encourages women to stay curious, build transferable skills, and develop the confidence to evolve alongside technology instead of being intimidated by it.
I also appreciated the sections about choices, boundaries, and knowing what you need. For a mom trying to decide how career and family fit together, this book offers permission to define success on her own terms.
This is also not a man-bashing book or a trite female empowerment message - and sadly, there are women out there who feel intimidated by other successful women, or competitive in a dysfunctional way. Reading this is a call for women to stand up for themselves, and stand up for each other!
July 4, 2026
UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise is an inspiring, practical, and empowering guide for women who want more meaning, confidence, and possibility in both their careers and personal lives.
Kelly Mooney and Katy Mooney have created far more than a traditional career book. They offer a thoughtful framework that helps readers better understand themselves, make intentional choices, and pursue success on their own terms rather than according to someone else's expectations.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its balance of encouragement and action. Every section is filled with practical strategies and clear guidance that readers can immediately put into practice, whether they are just starting out, feeling stuck, or preparing for their next big step.
I particularly appreciated the book's emphasis on agency and authenticity. Instead of prescribing a single path to success, the authors recognize that every woman's journey is different and encourage readers to define what fulfillment and achievement truly mean to them.
The six-part structure makes the book highly accessible and valuable for women at every career stage. Its lessons on leadership, self-awareness, workplace navigation, and life balance are both timely and deeply relevant.
Perhaps most importantly, UP! reminds readers that they do not need to wait for permission, perfect timing, or external validation to move forward. The tools and confidence to create meaningful change are already within reach.
UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise is a thoughtful and motivating guide that will inspire countless women to think bigger, act with intention, and confidently move forward in both career and life.
Kelly Mooney and Katy Mooney have created far more than a traditional career book. They offer a thoughtful framework that helps readers better understand themselves, make intentional choices, and pursue success on their own terms rather than according to someone else's expectations.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its balance of encouragement and action. Every section is filled with practical strategies and clear guidance that readers can immediately put into practice, whether they are just starting out, feeling stuck, or preparing for their next big step.
I particularly appreciated the book's emphasis on agency and authenticity. Instead of prescribing a single path to success, the authors recognize that every woman's journey is different and encourage readers to define what fulfillment and achievement truly mean to them.
The six-part structure makes the book highly accessible and valuable for women at every career stage. Its lessons on leadership, self-awareness, workplace navigation, and life balance are both timely and deeply relevant.
Perhaps most importantly, UP! reminds readers that they do not need to wait for permission, perfect timing, or external validation to move forward. The tools and confidence to create meaningful change are already within reach.
UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise is a thoughtful and motivating guide that will inspire countless women to think bigger, act with intention, and confidently move forward in both career and life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As a successful but retired boomer, I know that my advice can sometimes be outdated and limited for my daughter. Our experiences are totally different. She is an MBA/JD student with one year left to finish both degrees and this is the perfect playbook for her entrance into the career world. She and her friends are uber achievers, fearless and incredibly smart. But, as much as they would like to think of themselves as completely equipped, they still need to build on being confident in advocating for themselves. UP! is going to make the perfect summer read for my daughter and her friends as they navigate how and when to negotiate compensation, understanding office politics, finding the right mentors and so much more. Selfishly, this playbook for women is going to help me understand and help in her journey. What a wonderful opportunity for expanding our mother/daughter conversations and experiences as grown women. I can't wait to share it!
June 3, 2026
I met Kelly Mooney a few years ago and liked her immediately. She's one of those people who is funny and real and says the thing everyone else is thinking. When she told me about why she launched Equipt Women, I couldn't un-see the gap she was describing. Executives get coaches, development budgets, fancy offsites. But early-career women trying to figure out office politics, salary negotiations, how to even ask someone to be their mentor? Crickets.
Up! is her answer to that . Written with her sister Katy Mooney, an executive coach, and packed with the kind of honest, practical, no-nonsense advice that feels like getting a long lunch with someone who has been where you are and figured it out.
I kept thinking: God, I wish someone had handed me this 30 years ago.
If you're earlier in your career, or love someone who is, let Kelly be your guide.. Lucy Liu called it the mentor, life coach, and big sister you didn't know you needed. 100% truth.
Up! is her answer to that . Written with her sister Katy Mooney, an executive coach, and packed with the kind of honest, practical, no-nonsense advice that feels like getting a long lunch with someone who has been where you are and figured it out.
I kept thinking: God, I wish someone had handed me this 30 years ago.
If you're earlier in your career, or love someone who is, let Kelly be your guide.. Lucy Liu called it the mentor, life coach, and big sister you didn't know you needed. 100% truth.
June 2, 2026
I was hooked from just reading the inside jacket. I love that this how-to-book doesn’t focus on just one way to achieve personal goals, but takes into account that we are all individuals and our paths to achieving them may look different. They are not trying to sell the latest glorified canned gimmick, but instead genuinely want to help women at all stages of life reach their potential, both personally and professionally. What really resonated with me was getting practical advice on how to be seen, heard, and valued. Kelly and Katy don’t just give the reader advice, they share real-life testimonials and dig deeper by addressing mindset and empowerment. So many of us get stuck, and this easy to read, uplifting book guides you into discovering who you are and where you want to go, while providing actionable advice. This is a must summer read!
June 28, 2026
What I love most about this book is that it's practical, authentic, and empowering without ever feeling ‘preachy’. The lessons are immediately applicable - I’ve already found myself using many of them to coach and develop members of my own team. It encourages women to advocate for themselves, embrace growth, build meaningful relationships, and define success on their own terms, while also lifting up the women around them.
This is one of those rare books I'll come back to again and again - and will hands down be one of the books I’ll be reading with my daughter. The lessons inside aren't just about building a career - they’re about building confidence, character, and a life with intention.
Whether you're just starting your career or navigating your next chapter, UP! offers thoughtful guidance you can actually apply. Two thumbs UP!
This is one of those rare books I'll come back to again and again - and will hands down be one of the books I’ll be reading with my daughter. The lessons inside aren't just about building a career - they’re about building confidence, character, and a life with intention.
Whether you're just starting your career or navigating your next chapter, UP! offers thoughtful guidance you can actually apply. Two thumbs UP!
Review of advance copy received from Author
UP!: The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise isn't your typical self-help read. It feels more like grabbing coffee with someone who's been in the trenches and actually wants to see you win — no fluff, no toxic positivity, just real talk. Some parts genuinely caught me off guard, especially around self-leadership and boundaries. There's this underlying message of "stop waiting for permission" that I kept coming back to.
What I loved most is that it doesn't just tell you to grind harder. It asks you to think bigger, to actually choose yourself, and to figure out what a meaningful life looks like "for you", not someone else's version of it. Ambitious but human. That balance is hard to get right, and this book does it.
What I loved most is that it doesn't just tell you to grind harder. It asks you to think bigger, to actually choose yourself, and to figure out what a meaningful life looks like "for you", not someone else's version of it. Ambitious but human. That balance is hard to get right, and this book does it.
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May 22, 2026Most career books talk at you. UP! feels more like sitting across from someone who’s actually been through it and understands that ambition gets complicated somewhere between responsibility, exhaustion, ego, and wanting a life that still feels like your own.
The book understands that ambition is complicated. Especially for women. That being capable and being recognized are often two very different things. And that building a meaningful career without losing yourself along the way requires more than confidence slogans and corporate language.
UP! feels grounded, observant, and deeply human. The kind of book that leaves you feeling clearer, more focused, and more certain about your next move.
The book understands that ambition is complicated. Especially for women. That being capable and being recognized are often two very different things. And that building a meaningful career without losing yourself along the way requires more than confidence slogans and corporate language.
UP! feels grounded, observant, and deeply human. The kind of book that leaves you feeling clearer, more focused, and more certain about your next move.
June 6, 2026
UP! is an excellent resource for women who want to take control of their careers and move ahead with confidence. It offers many creative and practical tips in a straightforward, easy-to-read style that makes the advice both accessible and encouraging. One of the book’s greatest strengths is its use of real-life stories, which bring the guidance to life and show how these strategies can be applied in everyday professional situations. I got a copy for my daughter, who is early in her career and plan to share with others. I highly recommend this book as a valuable tool for anyone looking to grow professionally, and it is the kind of book worth returning to again and again for inspiration and support.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where have the Mooney sisters been all my life—or at least during the decades I spent scratching and clawing my way UP!
If you’re tired of vague "just lean in" advice, UP! is the playbook you’ve been waiting for. Kelly and Katy cut through the noise to provide a refreshing, no-nonsense roadmap for aspirational women navigating the most daunting parts of workplace dynamics. Their personal experience and expertise offers hands on strategy that feels like having a private mentor in your pocket.
UP! is a masterclass in identifying goals, creating a concrete action plan, and executing with confidence - the career coaching I wish I'd had decades ago!
Andrea Cambern, former Broadcast Journalist
If you’re tired of vague "just lean in" advice, UP! is the playbook you’ve been waiting for. Kelly and Katy cut through the noise to provide a refreshing, no-nonsense roadmap for aspirational women navigating the most daunting parts of workplace dynamics. Their personal experience and expertise offers hands on strategy that feels like having a private mentor in your pocket.
UP! is a masterclass in identifying goals, creating a concrete action plan, and executing with confidence - the career coaching I wish I'd had decades ago!
Andrea Cambern, former Broadcast Journalist
Review of advance copy received from Author
Up! is one of those books that I want to re-read every year to keep me motivated and inspired to show up as my true self. Kelly Mooney has a way of blending leadership insight, personal stories, and practical advice that feels real and approachable. It’s empowering and motivating.
What I loved most is the reminder that growth does not come from waiting for permission or having everything perfectly figured out. It comes from trusting yourself enough to take the next step. This book left me feeling energized, and more intentional about what’s next. Am awesome read for any woman navigating ambition, leadership, growth, or reinvention.
What I loved most is the reminder that growth does not come from waiting for permission or having everything perfectly figured out. It comes from trusting yourself enough to take the next step. This book left me feeling energized, and more intentional about what’s next. Am awesome read for any woman navigating ambition, leadership, growth, or reinvention.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kelly Mooney and Katy Mooney’s UP: A Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise has powerful insights, perspectives and tips for any woman navigating leadership, growth, or reinvention.
What I love most is that you can open to almost any page and be reminded both of something new and something you intrinsically know, but may have forgotten, as a woman leader- trust your voice, lead with courage, and look for the next move to intentionally lead your life. It’s practical, affirming, and empowering. This is the kind of book every woman should own — and give away to daughters, friends, colleagues, and emerging leaders. A fabulous and inspiring playbook.
What I love most is that you can open to almost any page and be reminded both of something new and something you intrinsically know, but may have forgotten, as a woman leader- trust your voice, lead with courage, and look for the next move to intentionally lead your life. It’s practical, affirming, and empowering. This is the kind of book every woman should own — and give away to daughters, friends, colleagues, and emerging leaders. A fabulous and inspiring playbook.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Up! is a wonderful book for anyone seeking to make the most of their career. The many helpful practices are presented in a straightforward fashion. The writing is relatable and engaging. Real-life stories show how actively managing your career is vital to making the most of the journey. I recommend this book as a helpful manual to keep close at hand. You may need it today, or you may recall section a year from now to use in assisting you through a challenging situation. I found the section on better understanding salaries particularly helpful. Wherever you are in your career, the well-built tools, guides, and a broad range of examples will serve you well.
July 6, 2026
I interned with Equipt Women in 2021, right when Kelly and Katy were building out the ideas that became this book. I remember getting my first full-time job shortly after and feeling genuinely confused by how the workplace worked. There were career books, but most of them were written for women already aiming at the C-suite. I wasn't thinking about that. I just wanted to understand how to get good at my job and move forward without constantly second-guessing myself.
UP! is what I was looking for then. I'm 26 now, 5 years into my career, and I'm so grateful I have this guidance now. It makes things that are confusing feel a lot more navigable, and a lot less isolating.
UP! is what I was looking for then. I'm 26 now, 5 years into my career, and I'm so grateful I have this guidance now. It makes things that are confusing feel a lot more navigable, and a lot less isolating.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full transparency, the authors of this book, our dear friends, and women I look up to, and so it was a no-brainer to want to read Up!
What I realized as I got through it was, I was so immersed in the stories and information that I forgot I was reading a book written by Friends and was solely invested in how much I needed this at this stage of my career.
Although written in support of women in business the strategies and insight is for anyone wanting a kick in the pants to find your passion and voice.
What I realized as I got through it was, I was so immersed in the stories and information that I forgot I was reading a book written by Friends and was solely invested in how much I needed this at this stage of my career.
Although written in support of women in business the strategies and insight is for anyone wanting a kick in the pants to find your passion and voice.
May 15, 2026
This is the big sister advice that every woman needs. Kelly Mooney has a special way of identifying the approach it takes to reach your career goals and she gives it to you straight. While much of the advice is geared towards younger professionals, anybody of any age could learn a thing or two from UP!
This isn’t just a book you read and put on a shelf; it’s a bible of advice that you can reflect on, carry with you, and revisit through every stage of your life and your career.
This isn’t just a book you read and put on a shelf; it’s a bible of advice that you can reflect on, carry with you, and revisit through every stage of your life and your career.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've read a lot of self-help books, and so many of them go so deep on one topic that by the end it starts to feel repetitive. UP! is the opposite of that. There are so many takeaways packed into this book, and every single one of them is unique and actionable. I flagged way more pages than I expected to. Make sure to get yourself a copy of this book when it releases on June 2!
Review of advance copy
This thought-provoking book is a must-read for women of all ages who want to rise UP! The Mooney sisters provide a masterful road map for readers to chart their own course through sharing personal stories, reflective prompts, and actionable steps. This book is filled with valuable strategies, heartfelt inspiration, well-earned wisdom, and infectious optimism.
June 17, 2026
A playbook indeed! This is a powerful book. Great insights and valuable questions for holding ourselves accountable as we level up! It’s a must-read if you’re looking for more discipline and how-tos for any aspect of life. I have used these methods to help me continue my pursuit of becoming a pilot, not just as a woman but as a Latina! Beautiful to see women supporting women.
June 22, 2026
I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads but this opinion is entirely my own. This is a fantastic book for anyone looking for guidance on how to move up in the workplace. The chapters are short, easy reads and the IRL examples bring the main points home.
I have already been able to put some of the ideas in the book into my own work. I would definitely recommend this to others.
I have already been able to put some of the ideas in the book into my own work. I would definitely recommend this to others.
July 5, 2026
UP! completely nailed it for me. Kelly and Katy break down all the ways women can feel stuck in their careers and turn them into clear, actionable steps toward the success they know they’re capable of. It’s smart, practical, and full of hard-won wisdom. I can’t wait to share it with every woman in my circle.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As a 27yr old female navigating my career, I haven’t come across anything as helpful as UP. It’s a built in mentor and coach that helped me learn how to lead yourself, negotiate compensation, have hard conversations, and overall think BIGGER! Highly recommend. We need more books like this!
Read
May 23, 2026This is esactly sort of advice and expertise that would have helped me in my career. Our (slightly earlier) generation had little guidance or mentors. Reading, absorbing and following can really ease your path to professional success and personal satisfaction.
June 3, 2026
This is a wonderful book that will stay on my shelf. It is a great resource for when I need some inspiration and guidance. I will be buying this for all of my gfs to read.
June 30, 2026
UP! is like having an experienced coach by your side. Like a good coach, the book guides you to go deeper, reflect, uncover hidden beliefs, and expand on the possibilities and choices available to you. And like a good coach, the book doesn’t stop at thoughtful reflection; it moves you into action with practical exercises that help accelerate your transformation.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews