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Equal but Different: WOMEN LEADERS’ LIFE STORIES: Overcoming Race, Gender & Social Class
“My interest in this area of study is based on my strong belief that people are born equal but different. It is a belief that equity across gender, race, social class and sexual orientation will be attained in my lifetime”.
Equal but Different is based on my doctoral thesis which investigated the intersection of race, gender and social class in women leaders’ career progression. The women leaders came up with strategies for gender transformation at a leadership level. The book presents life stories of women leaders in South Africa and abroad and men who believe in gender equality and contributed towards this goal. The common thread across the life stories of women who contributed to the book
- A message from family that said ‘’you can be anything that you set your mind to be’’
- Supportive men who sponsored and mentored them.
- Pursuit of education
- Determination to succeed
- Your initial social class should not determine the person you become. Though the lower your initial social class is, the harder you have to work to achieve your ambitious dreams.
This book is relevant for people across gender, race and social class who want advice on personal strategies and tactics to succeed; leaders who want to be inclusive with an empowerment agenda for minorities; mentors across gender, corporate and government leaders who are committed to transformation.
Equal but Different is based on my doctoral thesis which investigated the intersection of race, gender and social class in women leaders’ career progression. The women leaders came up with strategies for gender transformation at a leadership level. The book presents life stories of women leaders in South Africa and abroad and men who believe in gender equality and contributed towards this goal. The common thread across the life stories of women who contributed to the book
- A message from family that said ‘’you can be anything that you set your mind to be’’
- Supportive men who sponsored and mentored them.
- Pursuit of education
- Determination to succeed
- Your initial social class should not determine the person you become. Though the lower your initial social class is, the harder you have to work to achieve your ambitious dreams.
This book is relevant for people across gender, race and social class who want advice on personal strategies and tactics to succeed; leaders who want to be inclusive with an empowerment agenda for minorities; mentors across gender, corporate and government leaders who are committed to transformation.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2017
14 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 13, 2018
Having met and discussed this book with Dr. Judy Dlamini, I am ready to pen my thoughts about this book. We hosted, the book club I am in, Judy on 10 Feb 2018 and were so engrossed in our talks with her that for the first time in the history of @BookWormsBookClub, lunch was eaten at 18h30👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
This book is excellent for someone who is following the corporate route. The nuggets of wisdom from women who have travelled this road and navigated the terrain are PRICELESS. The stories shared by the 3 men in the book were of empowerment, recognizing talent and nurturing it.
Judy is such a well of wisdom. I was impressed by her unassuming nature, her willingness to share her experiences and the fact that she listened to every woman in the room who shared her experience with the group.
What I took from all the women who shared their stories in "Equal But Different" was that:
1. My destiny is mine to f-up or make a success of.
2. Help is always a breath away, JUST ASK.
3. There's no sin in accepting assistance, advice or a shoulder to cry on.
4. Build and maintain informal and formal networks.
5. Do not be defined or boxed in by a qualification.
6. Investing in learning goes a long way. Whether obtaining a formal qualification or through attending capacity building forums.
7. A career is defined by you. You can take the linear route or a non-linear route as long as you capitalise on your strengths.
8. Nobody has or does it all. A support system is essential.
9. Quotas are a much needed system because of the way the world works.
10. Ain't nothing stopping you irrespective of your race, gender and class.
11. Quit hoping that someone will notice your value promote you. Make your achievements be known. Demonstrate how you've added value.
13. Life is not a beauty contest. NO ONE IS GOING TO PUT A TIARA ON YOUR HEAD.
14. If you are going to choose a cause to fight for, do it with passion and humility.
Most importantly, love yourself enough to know what you will settle for. Amen.
Go ahead, ask for that raise. Go for that promotion. Have an open-mind and maintain a teachable spirit.
Women of all ages, race and class will find this book beneficial. It is never too late to learn. It is never too late to start over. It matters not whether you are a corporate climber or a budding entrepreneur.
What an inspirational person Judy is. The session felt like a storytelling evening around a bon fire.
Get the book. Get it for everyone you know. Give a copy to your daughters. Give a copy to your sons.
Four shiny stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am off to slay dragons.
This book is excellent for someone who is following the corporate route. The nuggets of wisdom from women who have travelled this road and navigated the terrain are PRICELESS. The stories shared by the 3 men in the book were of empowerment, recognizing talent and nurturing it.
Judy is such a well of wisdom. I was impressed by her unassuming nature, her willingness to share her experiences and the fact that she listened to every woman in the room who shared her experience with the group.
What I took from all the women who shared their stories in "Equal But Different" was that:
1. My destiny is mine to f-up or make a success of.
2. Help is always a breath away, JUST ASK.
3. There's no sin in accepting assistance, advice or a shoulder to cry on.
4. Build and maintain informal and formal networks.
5. Do not be defined or boxed in by a qualification.
6. Investing in learning goes a long way. Whether obtaining a formal qualification or through attending capacity building forums.
7. A career is defined by you. You can take the linear route or a non-linear route as long as you capitalise on your strengths.
8. Nobody has or does it all. A support system is essential.
9. Quotas are a much needed system because of the way the world works.
10. Ain't nothing stopping you irrespective of your race, gender and class.
11. Quit hoping that someone will notice your value promote you. Make your achievements be known. Demonstrate how you've added value.
13. Life is not a beauty contest. NO ONE IS GOING TO PUT A TIARA ON YOUR HEAD.
14. If you are going to choose a cause to fight for, do it with passion and humility.
Most importantly, love yourself enough to know what you will settle for. Amen.
Go ahead, ask for that raise. Go for that promotion. Have an open-mind and maintain a teachable spirit.
Women of all ages, race and class will find this book beneficial. It is never too late to learn. It is never too late to start over. It matters not whether you are a corporate climber or a budding entrepreneur.
What an inspirational person Judy is. The session felt like a storytelling evening around a bon fire.
Get the book. Get it for everyone you know. Give a copy to your daughters. Give a copy to your sons.
Four shiny stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
I am off to slay dragons.
March 6, 2019
This is my #readharder book 17: a business book.
This was an interesting, if occasionally frustrating book. It was truly amazing to hear all of these successful women's stories. These women have raised themselves from humble beginnings (in most cases) to positions of great power. They worked hard, fought prejudice and excelled.
Truly incredible and inspiring.
What I found frustrating was what I perceived to be deeply rooted sexism within some of these women. I got so tired of hearing how women became chairmen of organisations, of how feminism is a bad word and that quotas are not necessary because women must just put their hands up for positions of power.
Whether quotas are the answer are not, saying women should just put their hands up implies that we are the reason sexism exists in the work place, that if we just offered to be the boss the men in power would happily let us.
It must be said that these frustrations are the result of the women's life stories, and NOT the author.
What truly saddened me and will make me so much more aware, as a white woman, is that women of colour do not perceive white women as allies. And that's on my people- white women. We need to be allies, so obviously and loudly that all women of colour cannot not know.
An amazing collection of life stories everyone should read - every single person could learn a lesson from this book.
This was an interesting, if occasionally frustrating book. It was truly amazing to hear all of these successful women's stories. These women have raised themselves from humble beginnings (in most cases) to positions of great power. They worked hard, fought prejudice and excelled.
Truly incredible and inspiring.
What I found frustrating was what I perceived to be deeply rooted sexism within some of these women. I got so tired of hearing how women became chairmen of organisations, of how feminism is a bad word and that quotas are not necessary because women must just put their hands up for positions of power.
Whether quotas are the answer are not, saying women should just put their hands up implies that we are the reason sexism exists in the work place, that if we just offered to be the boss the men in power would happily let us.
It must be said that these frustrations are the result of the women's life stories, and NOT the author.
What truly saddened me and will make me so much more aware, as a white woman, is that women of colour do not perceive white women as allies. And that's on my people- white women. We need to be allies, so obviously and loudly that all women of colour cannot not know.
An amazing collection of life stories everyone should read - every single person could learn a lesson from this book.
September 23, 2017
Officially done with one of the most inspiring books I have read this year. Personally the book inspired me to go back to the drawing board regarding my career. The book also taught me how to use of time and skills. My favorite is the discussion about intersectionality especially for black women. This is another life changer for me. I am still motivated by how the author and Dr Vuyo Mahlati invested in their businesses through education. I could write more, but let me share this to inspire you to buy the book.
I will share the gist of advice to aspiring women leaders:
Manage your career
Work hard
Display competence & be visible
Learn to negotiate
Build formal and informal networks
Domestic support/family support/prioritising family
Structured and unstructured mentorship
I will share the gist of advice to aspiring women leaders:
Manage your career
Work hard
Display competence & be visible
Learn to negotiate
Build formal and informal networks
Domestic support/family support/prioritising family
Structured and unstructured mentorship
Read
October 7, 2017It adds to the Conversations on Women Leadership in post-settler colonial South Africa.
August 8, 2019
As this books relates to a doctoral thesis, it repeats some sections over and over. The interviews are very interesting to read through as different perspectives are shared of how women experience gender and racial prejudice in climbing the corporate ladder.
January 30, 2023
This is the African version of ‘Lean In’ it was amazing and such stories are critically important. Would have been 5 stars if it had included stories beyond South Africa.
January 11, 2022
Amazing book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews