What do you think?
Rate this book
Female Firebrands: Stories and Techniques to Ignite Change, Take Control, and Succeed in the Workplace
Saying NO to the Workplace Status Quo: 13 Women Who Are Rewriting the Rules
If readers are not sure what a firebrand is, they’ll find out in Mikaela Kiner’s powerful first book. Women of all generations will nod in recognition at the stories of 13 professional women from diverse backgrounds and industries as they recount the career challenges they've faced and how they have overcome bias, sexism, and the power imbalance.
These women are role models, not just because they’ve been successful in their careers, but because they are mission driven and doing good in the world. They are whole people dealing with work, family, balance, confidence, and the need to stay motivated and strong.
Mikaela Kiner spent 15 years in HR leadership at Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, PopCap Games, and Redfin. In 2015 she founded Reverb, which helps companies create healthy, inclusive culture that engages and inspires employees.
Female Firebrands is an honest, modern, and solutions-oriented guide for dealing with situations working women know all too well: sexual harassment, not being taken seriously, and being talked over, passed over, underpaid, and underappreciated. Mid-career professional women will read this book and know they're not alone. Women earlier in their careers can save years of heartache and frustration by learning what's worked for women who came before them.
Chapter checklists provide invaluable to-do lists for women, men who want to be their advocates, and HR and business leaders as well. Readers will learn how to—
• Develop tools and techniques to stand and speak up on behalf of yourself and others when it’s both difficult and necessary
• Get better at recognizing “little indignities” you don’t have to tolerate
• Understand what it means to be an informed, empowered advocate for women
• Increase awareness of your own blind spots and biases so you can learn from them
• Recognize the role of privilege at work and how it can be used for positive change
If readers are not sure what a firebrand is, they’ll find out in Mikaela Kiner’s powerful first book. Women of all generations will nod in recognition at the stories of 13 professional women from diverse backgrounds and industries as they recount the career challenges they've faced and how they have overcome bias, sexism, and the power imbalance.
These women are role models, not just because they’ve been successful in their careers, but because they are mission driven and doing good in the world. They are whole people dealing with work, family, balance, confidence, and the need to stay motivated and strong.
Mikaela Kiner spent 15 years in HR leadership at Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, PopCap Games, and Redfin. In 2015 she founded Reverb, which helps companies create healthy, inclusive culture that engages and inspires employees.
Female Firebrands is an honest, modern, and solutions-oriented guide for dealing with situations working women know all too well: sexual harassment, not being taken seriously, and being talked over, passed over, underpaid, and underappreciated. Mid-career professional women will read this book and know they're not alone. Women earlier in their careers can save years of heartache and frustration by learning what's worked for women who came before them.
Chapter checklists provide invaluable to-do lists for women, men who want to be their advocates, and HR and business leaders as well. Readers will learn how to—
• Develop tools and techniques to stand and speak up on behalf of yourself and others when it’s both difficult and necessary
• Get better at recognizing “little indignities” you don’t have to tolerate
• Understand what it means to be an informed, empowered advocate for women
• Increase awareness of your own blind spots and biases so you can learn from them
• Recognize the role of privilege at work and how it can be used for positive change
248 pages, Hardcover
Published January 7, 2020
26 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Mikaela Kiner
1 book3 followersMIKAELA KINER is an experienced HR / People Operations professional, founder/CEO, and executive coach. In 2015, Mikaela founded Reverb, a leading provider of flexible People Operations services for startups and fast growing companies in the Pacific Northwest. Reverb’s purpose is to help companies create healthy, inclusive culture that engages and inspires employees. The firm works with companies such as Juno Therapeutics, Wizards of the Coast, and Microsoft as well as many early stage startups.
Mikaela believes that people can have fun and be productive at work every day, as long as they’re happy, challenged, and valued. Craving balance in her own life, Mikaela created Reverb to work with companies who need just-in-time people help. In line with her mission, the Reverb team has the flexibility to do meaningful work while enjoying time outside of work for themselves and their families.
Prior to founding Reverb, Mikaela held HR leadership roles at Northwest companies including Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, PopCap Games, and Redfin. In addition to living for three years in India, she’s worked with leaders throughout Europe and Asia. Mikaela enjoys coaching leaders at all levels and working with mission-driven organizations.
Mikaela holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from The New School for Social Research. She’s a certified executive coach with a credential from the International Coaching Federation, and a certified practitioner of Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™ curriculum. A native Seattleite who grew up on Capitol Hill, Mikaela is married to Henry, a musician, artist, and teacher. Their two children Simon and Sidonie are good at challenging the status quo and are a constant source of learning and laughter.
Mikaela believes that people can have fun and be productive at work every day, as long as they’re happy, challenged, and valued. Craving balance in her own life, Mikaela created Reverb to work with companies who need just-in-time people help. In line with her mission, the Reverb team has the flexibility to do meaningful work while enjoying time outside of work for themselves and their families.
Prior to founding Reverb, Mikaela held HR leadership roles at Northwest companies including Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, PopCap Games, and Redfin. In addition to living for three years in India, she’s worked with leaders throughout Europe and Asia. Mikaela enjoys coaching leaders at all levels and working with mission-driven organizations.
Mikaela holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from The New School for Social Research. She’s a certified executive coach with a credential from the International Coaching Federation, and a certified practitioner of Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™ curriculum. A native Seattleite who grew up on Capitol Hill, Mikaela is married to Henry, a musician, artist, and teacher. Their two children Simon and Sidonie are good at challenging the status quo and are a constant source of learning and laughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 1, 2020
All working women should read this book. Female Firebrands is about gender equality. Female Firbrands gives real life examples of inequality in the workplace, and then ways to react to these situations to fix gender inequalities. I enjoyed this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date January 7
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date January 7
September 10, 2020
Work can be tricky to manipulate for women. There are still so many things in most workplaces that are slanted to favor men. In Female Firebrands, Mikaela Kiner shares her own experiences along with those of a number of other women to offer up some anecdotes and advice. Kiner formerly worked for Microsoft and as an HR Director at Amazon. Kiner writes about women passed over for raises or promotions and given unquantifiable feedback on their reviews. She shares stories such as women who are told on a review that they need to be "more assertive" and then when the women try to action that they end up being let go. There is also a portion of the book on women being "mommy-tracked", whether they have kids or not. This means women being passed over as hires or for promotions due to the idea that they are going to have kids.
There is so much truth in this book that it kind of hurts. If you are a woman working in corporate America you will find something to relate to in this book. Kiner did a good job with inclusivity and diverstity by include women of diverse background in her panel that she polled for the book. I also really liked that there was actionable advice at the end of each chapter with checklists broken down by role (i.e. working woman, bosses, male allies, HR department). I highly recommend this book to anyone working in the corporate world. The audio book made it possible to digest the book while doing light work or commuting to/from work.
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
There is so much truth in this book that it kind of hurts. If you are a woman working in corporate America you will find something to relate to in this book. Kiner did a good job with inclusivity and diverstity by include women of diverse background in her panel that she polled for the book. I also really liked that there was actionable advice at the end of each chapter with checklists broken down by role (i.e. working woman, bosses, male allies, HR department). I highly recommend this book to anyone working in the corporate world. The audio book made it possible to digest the book while doing light work or commuting to/from work.
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
February 1, 2021
I enjoyed this book, although it wasn't what I expected. The title is a bit misleading -- "Stories and Techniques to Ignite Change, Take Control, and Succeed in the Workplace" made me think it was going to be a general book on tips from female leaders on how to succeed/advance (e.g. leadership, communication tips, advocating for yourself, etc.). But, this book is actually focused on 4 major issues which I mention below.
I was immediately intrigued by the intro -- the author is an HR exec from Seattle... her career at Amazon took her (and her family) to India, where they lived for 3 years. After that she returned to Seattle and worked at Redfin and a few other companies before starting her own company. I liked that she gave some info about her background to help you understand how her experiences gave her credibility on some of the topics that are discussed.
The first part of the book introduces the "Firebrands" (various women leaders such as the Chief People Officer at Electronic Arts, etc.) who will be commenting on various issues. Like other reviewers have indicated, this part was a bit awkward/underwhelming. It's like a short bio on 8-10 women leaders, like what you'd expect at a conference, before introducing a keynote speaker.
The 2nd half of the book discusses the issues (and tips/insights to improving these areas) and was much more interesting. Those issues are:
- Privilege/bias in the workplace
- #MeToo/sexual harassment
- Female rivalry/competition
- Parental discrimination
While I have had my share of workplace issues with discrimination or rivalry, etc. I was shocked by some of things that these women had to experience! While there are other books that likely go more in depth about each of these 4 areas, what I enjoyed about this book is that the content is easily digestible and not preachy. At the end of each topic, the author has a checklist of things that you can proactively do to help address the issue (as well as a separate section about what male advocates can do as well). I think these actionable items are super helpful.
Some quotes that stood out to me:
"A recent study shows that women at S&P 500 companies represent only 5% of CEOs. Gender disparity occurs in exec boardrooms, too, where women make up 16% of board members among the S&P1500. According to a New York Times analysis, there are almost as many CEOs named John in Fortune 500 companies as there are female CEOs in that category. This is despite the fact that women make up 50.8% of the US population and 57% of college graduates, while Johns make up only 3.3 % of those groups."
Although there are various types of privilege (and this list is not exhaustive), this quote from Ruchika Tulshyan stood out to me as well:
"If you have to think about privilege and wonder what it is, you already have it. You're a person with privilege if you've never had to worry about:
- being safe walking down the road, being stopped at an airport, or pulled over by a cop
- what other people think of your English
- people making fun of the food in your lunchbox
- being teased because of your family, culture, or customs"
I was immediately intrigued by the intro -- the author is an HR exec from Seattle... her career at Amazon took her (and her family) to India, where they lived for 3 years. After that she returned to Seattle and worked at Redfin and a few other companies before starting her own company. I liked that she gave some info about her background to help you understand how her experiences gave her credibility on some of the topics that are discussed.
The first part of the book introduces the "Firebrands" (various women leaders such as the Chief People Officer at Electronic Arts, etc.) who will be commenting on various issues. Like other reviewers have indicated, this part was a bit awkward/underwhelming. It's like a short bio on 8-10 women leaders, like what you'd expect at a conference, before introducing a keynote speaker.
The 2nd half of the book discusses the issues (and tips/insights to improving these areas) and was much more interesting. Those issues are:
- Privilege/bias in the workplace
- #MeToo/sexual harassment
- Female rivalry/competition
- Parental discrimination
While I have had my share of workplace issues with discrimination or rivalry, etc. I was shocked by some of things that these women had to experience! While there are other books that likely go more in depth about each of these 4 areas, what I enjoyed about this book is that the content is easily digestible and not preachy. At the end of each topic, the author has a checklist of things that you can proactively do to help address the issue (as well as a separate section about what male advocates can do as well). I think these actionable items are super helpful.
Some quotes that stood out to me:
"A recent study shows that women at S&P 500 companies represent only 5% of CEOs. Gender disparity occurs in exec boardrooms, too, where women make up 16% of board members among the S&P1500. According to a New York Times analysis, there are almost as many CEOs named John in Fortune 500 companies as there are female CEOs in that category. This is despite the fact that women make up 50.8% of the US population and 57% of college graduates, while Johns make up only 3.3 % of those groups."
Although there are various types of privilege (and this list is not exhaustive), this quote from Ruchika Tulshyan stood out to me as well:
"If you have to think about privilege and wonder what it is, you already have it. You're a person with privilege if you've never had to worry about:
- being safe walking down the road, being stopped at an airport, or pulled over by a cop
- what other people think of your English
- people making fun of the food in your lunchbox
- being teased because of your family, culture, or customs"
December 7, 2019
I've been reading this book this morning and it's amazing how there are little things, comments that have been made at work that I never took as or thought of as little indignities until I read this book. This are phrases like "you'd make a good wife," or "by the time you're done with this project we should get you a man," and I shrugged them off.
This is an ideal read for not only the woman but also the man in the workplace. It's vital that we create the space and time for other women as well. The greatest takeaway for me from reading this book is this: 'Trust yourself if something makes you feel uncomfortable, don't write it off."
Thanks netgalley for the eARC.
This is an ideal read for not only the woman but also the man in the workplace. It's vital that we create the space and time for other women as well. The greatest takeaway for me from reading this book is this: 'Trust yourself if something makes you feel uncomfortable, don't write it off."
Thanks netgalley for the eARC.
November 29, 2020
(I recieved an ARC of this book's audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
The sole reason as to why I am not giving this book 5 stars is that I felt it was a bit under-developed in the beginning, when it talked about how certain women of importance managed to get past problems that arise in the office,
Other than that, Female Firebrands managed to capture a handful of information about women in the work-force of the capitalist society that we live in today, information ranging from the aggressions that working women face to different ways in which women, as well as HR companies and men allies, can combat them.
While the book didn't bring something new to the table with each chapter (at least for me), I feel that it still raised awareness to a problem which shouldn't even exist in 2020. And it did so from an intersectional feminist perspective, not diminishing women of colour in any way.
Not only did the author portray women's daily working lives in a theoretical manner, but she also came up with true stories and examples to support her affirmations - stories that carry a name with them, we all know, are more impactful than those who don't.
Another thing that I really came to enjoy was the checklist attached at the end of each chapter, with things that you should have taken into consideration after having read it, both learning-wise and application wise. These checklists gave a summary of the chapter, alongside guidance on how to combat the aggressions of women in the workplace, guidance which was split up into the different categories involved (women themselves, men allies and HR departments or CEOs).
All in all, I would really recommend reading this book to anyone, especially the audiobook. The narration was perfect for me, it had no flaws and it made me feel as though I was listening to a well-organised podcast, which is what I personally look for in the non-fiction audiobooks I read.
The sole reason as to why I am not giving this book 5 stars is that I felt it was a bit under-developed in the beginning, when it talked about how certain women of importance managed to get past problems that arise in the office,
Other than that, Female Firebrands managed to capture a handful of information about women in the work-force of the capitalist society that we live in today, information ranging from the aggressions that working women face to different ways in which women, as well as HR companies and men allies, can combat them.
While the book didn't bring something new to the table with each chapter (at least for me), I feel that it still raised awareness to a problem which shouldn't even exist in 2020. And it did so from an intersectional feminist perspective, not diminishing women of colour in any way.
Not only did the author portray women's daily working lives in a theoretical manner, but she also came up with true stories and examples to support her affirmations - stories that carry a name with them, we all know, are more impactful than those who don't.
Another thing that I really came to enjoy was the checklist attached at the end of each chapter, with things that you should have taken into consideration after having read it, both learning-wise and application wise. These checklists gave a summary of the chapter, alongside guidance on how to combat the aggressions of women in the workplace, guidance which was split up into the different categories involved (women themselves, men allies and HR departments or CEOs).
All in all, I would really recommend reading this book to anyone, especially the audiobook. The narration was perfect for me, it had no flaws and it made me feel as though I was listening to a well-organised podcast, which is what I personally look for in the non-fiction audiobooks I read.
January 11, 2020
Well-written clarion call to all working women. Mikaela has skillfully researched and shared an authentic approach to highlighting the issues that women of all colors, races, and sexual orientations face in today's workplace, from the #metoo to the #momtoo movements. To complement each chapter and present actionable items, Mikaela provides a priceless end-of-chapter checklists with content for both women and HR/Business leaders.
If you enjoyed titles like Own It: The Power of Women at Work or Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back, you will enjoy Female Firebrands!
Read how this book personally touched me on my blog.
If you enjoyed titles like Own It: The Power of Women at Work or Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back, you will enjoy Female Firebrands!
Read how this book personally touched me on my blog.
July 18, 2020
This book was odd - it felt like it really needed an editor. The first 75 pages were profiles of female firebrands (which was what I expected from the book); however, they were all extremely short and dry. Very few had actual insights in them, and they seemed to read more like speaker bios in a conference program. Then the book abruptly shifted to narrative chapters about challenges that women face in the workplace, and the profiled women were occasionally mentioned in this narrative. However, they were usually called out without any context ("Jane advises us XYZ"), and there was no way I remembered who Jane was from the bios; it would have been just as effective without including those. Meanwhile, it felt like the author was trying to cover far too much material in this second part of the book, not getting into any of it in depth. I would perhaps recommend this to a young woman new to corporate America, to get a general view of what issues she might face, but for anyone who's been in the workplace long or read similar books, the topics are skimmed over so generally that it didn't provide a lot of value.
February 11, 2021
I got the audiobook off NetGalley and I’m glad I did. This is an agitating read, to say the least, because the stories shared by the Firebrands are painful to hear. Misogyny and sexism is a huge issue in daily life and workplaces can be a real microcosm of these issues.
I wish the book had delved a little more into profiling each Firebrand rather than just highlighting her career in a brief page. I would have liked to know how and what steps they took to be the entrepreneurs they are. A little like how the author introduces herself at the start of the book.
I found it a bit strange that the book occasionally repeated anecdotes from one section to the other. It’s ok to contextualize them but sometimes they were plonked in there like it was new information even though it wasn’t.
Some of the terminology was quite outdated - Personal Pronouns should be used not Preferred Pronouns. It should be Native Americans not American Indians.
I was surprised that no transgender women were featured and there was no conversation about the difficulties that non-cis people face.
I feel like sizism should have been addressed as well considering many people have mentioned that this kind of prejudice leads to barriers in the workplace.
Despite the missed opportunities, I feel like some segments of women will find this book as a helpful guide to navigate the workplace. Other folks can also refer to the self help guidelines.
This is, however, a must-read for men (especially men in power) so that they can stop being so ignorant of their privilege and actually take notice of just how much people who aren’t like them have to adjust and reshape themselves to get anywhere in their careers.
I wish the book had delved a little more into profiling each Firebrand rather than just highlighting her career in a brief page. I would have liked to know how and what steps they took to be the entrepreneurs they are. A little like how the author introduces herself at the start of the book.
I found it a bit strange that the book occasionally repeated anecdotes from one section to the other. It’s ok to contextualize them but sometimes they were plonked in there like it was new information even though it wasn’t.
Some of the terminology was quite outdated - Personal Pronouns should be used not Preferred Pronouns. It should be Native Americans not American Indians.
I was surprised that no transgender women were featured and there was no conversation about the difficulties that non-cis people face.
I feel like sizism should have been addressed as well considering many people have mentioned that this kind of prejudice leads to barriers in the workplace.
Despite the missed opportunities, I feel like some segments of women will find this book as a helpful guide to navigate the workplace. Other folks can also refer to the self help guidelines.
This is, however, a must-read for men (especially men in power) so that they can stop being so ignorant of their privilege and actually take notice of just how much people who aren’t like them have to adjust and reshape themselves to get anywhere in their careers.
February 22, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dnf 76%
This is not what I was expecting based on the title of this book. I thought this was going to be inspiring stories from strong women leaders, and tips on how to be a strong woman in today's society.
This book seems to be extremely political, and calls out current and former politicians for their actions. Most of what was said in the second half of the book was mostly about social movements that if you pay any attention to current media you already know about.
The only thing I appreciated from the second part of this book was understanding privilege, and realizing the things you do that are unconsciously prejudiced.
Dnf 76%
This is not what I was expecting based on the title of this book. I thought this was going to be inspiring stories from strong women leaders, and tips on how to be a strong woman in today's society.
This book seems to be extremely political, and calls out current and former politicians for their actions. Most of what was said in the second half of the book was mostly about social movements that if you pay any attention to current media you already know about.
The only thing I appreciated from the second part of this book was understanding privilege, and realizing the things you do that are unconsciously prejudiced.
August 1, 2020
Female Firebrands // by Mikaela Kiner // narrated by Julie Eickhoff
From the NetGalley description: "A Practical, Actionable Guide to Advocating for Yourself and Others at Work."
Female Firebrands by Mikaela Kiner is a modern guide for how to be a woman in the workplace. She interviewed 13 women in the workplace about their positive and negative experiences. She covers a lot of topics from #MeToo to equality, diversity in terms of not just gender but also race, glass ceiling vs. concrete ceiling, and more. It asks personal questions and includes checklists that anybody could use.
This book blew me away. I was not expecting it to be so personal but of course, with so many examples, many women in the workforce will find something they can relate to that either was way out of line or just not quite right. I really enjoyed hearing from so many women in important positions but it was frustrating to see that there are still so many issues for women. I have to admit that I was skeptical when she first brought up HR as I have some less than positive experiences with that department myself. But it was fascinating to hear what she feels like an HR department should be like and her different experiences herself because it reminds me of what my expectations used to be as well. I loved the checklists at the end of the chapters, the many topics she covered, and how there were concrete examples of what we can do to make change happen as well as support each other. She did well describing new words throughout the book, but it was nice to have a glossary at the end as well.
I generally prefer non-fiction books to be read by the author of the book but have no complaints about Julie Eickhoff at all. She did an excellent job narrating this book with her clear voice and a great speed. I enjoyed listening to her.
A big plus that I love is that part of the sales of this book will benefit an organization that was spoken about several times in the book: BEST - Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
From the NetGalley description: "A Practical, Actionable Guide to Advocating for Yourself and Others at Work."
Female Firebrands by Mikaela Kiner is a modern guide for how to be a woman in the workplace. She interviewed 13 women in the workplace about their positive and negative experiences. She covers a lot of topics from #MeToo to equality, diversity in terms of not just gender but also race, glass ceiling vs. concrete ceiling, and more. It asks personal questions and includes checklists that anybody could use.
This book blew me away. I was not expecting it to be so personal but of course, with so many examples, many women in the workforce will find something they can relate to that either was way out of line or just not quite right. I really enjoyed hearing from so many women in important positions but it was frustrating to see that there are still so many issues for women. I have to admit that I was skeptical when she first brought up HR as I have some less than positive experiences with that department myself. But it was fascinating to hear what she feels like an HR department should be like and her different experiences herself because it reminds me of what my expectations used to be as well. I loved the checklists at the end of the chapters, the many topics she covered, and how there were concrete examples of what we can do to make change happen as well as support each other. She did well describing new words throughout the book, but it was nice to have a glossary at the end as well.
I generally prefer non-fiction books to be read by the author of the book but have no complaints about Julie Eickhoff at all. She did an excellent job narrating this book with her clear voice and a great speed. I enjoyed listening to her.
A big plus that I love is that part of the sales of this book will benefit an organization that was spoken about several times in the book: BEST - Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
Not Quite What I’d Thought (or Hoped) It Would Be
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it felt too strident and rigid in places. I had incorrectly assumed by the title that this would essentially be the detailed stories of 13 female “firebrands.” The author did share stories of 13 women who own companies or are in other ways influential (or have influential companies), but the stories weren't as detailed as I'd hoped (or even really stories in the way they are typically shared in books like this). The bulk of the book instead looked at several different gender inequality problems women have (and have historically had) in the workplace, specifically issues with privilege, sexual harassment, female rivalry, and parenthood.
Much of this book sounded the same. While the author strove to include a diversity of people in her spotlights, it didn't come across as a diversity of voices. The women's stories sounded much the same, and I find myself wondering if the author had included voices of those further down the rungs of power whether we would have gotten that diversity of voices. After all, women in more powerful positions have a certain level of privilege that comes with leadership or managerial titles that those rank-and-file employees don’t have. That is not to say that their struggles aren’t real; not at all! But women in less powerful positions don’t have as many options or arrows in their quivers.
I read a lot of nonfiction, and I like for any non-fiction book to be true to the promise of its title, having the book actually deliver on that promise. I don't feel like that happened here. The emphasis was not on these female firebrands but on gender inequality issues. It's completely fine for a book to be about that, of course, but be honest in your title about what the book is going to be about. That way, if someone's not interested in your topic, they can easily move on. For instance, I would have certainly been interested in detailed stories of women who struggled and triumphed, sharing their universal lessons, which is what I thought this book was going to be about from the title. The topic I actually got in this book is something that I wouldn't have chosen to read/listen to if I had known beforehand.
The book could have been better organized. The different women's stories might have been better interspersed with the main topics instead of being separate from them. Having the women separately first followed by a deeper look at the issues themselves just didn't work. I also didn't like the tone and some specific words the author used. She tried very hard to be inclusive and espouse being nonjudgmental—good things—yet at times she came across as very judgmental of people who disagreed with her. For instance, in the chapter on privilege, she made a statement that those who thought differently than her were clearly blinded by privilege. That's an ad hominem attack for one thing, which I never like to see in books like this; it's also black-and-white thinking, and the world's nature is more complex than that. Why does the author think her opinion is the only correct one? As soon as we label people like that—see only ourselves as right—we shut down the lines of communication and calcify our own thoughts.
As a female in my 50s, I have worked for a variety of organizations and owned my own (very small) businesses. I have experienced some of these topics firsthand and know their ugliness. I strongly believe that women ought to have their proper place at the table, so to speak, whether it is someone else's table or one we fashion ourselves. Many practices and institutional blind spots here are abhorrent, and they shouldn't happen in this day and age. But I don't think a book like this helps further that conversation, at least in a helpful way. Like the title, it is more apt to be incendiary than helpful.
I received a free copy of the audiobook version of this, but that did not affect my review.
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it felt too strident and rigid in places. I had incorrectly assumed by the title that this would essentially be the detailed stories of 13 female “firebrands.” The author did share stories of 13 women who own companies or are in other ways influential (or have influential companies), but the stories weren't as detailed as I'd hoped (or even really stories in the way they are typically shared in books like this). The bulk of the book instead looked at several different gender inequality problems women have (and have historically had) in the workplace, specifically issues with privilege, sexual harassment, female rivalry, and parenthood.
Much of this book sounded the same. While the author strove to include a diversity of people in her spotlights, it didn't come across as a diversity of voices. The women's stories sounded much the same, and I find myself wondering if the author had included voices of those further down the rungs of power whether we would have gotten that diversity of voices. After all, women in more powerful positions have a certain level of privilege that comes with leadership or managerial titles that those rank-and-file employees don’t have. That is not to say that their struggles aren’t real; not at all! But women in less powerful positions don’t have as many options or arrows in their quivers.
I read a lot of nonfiction, and I like for any non-fiction book to be true to the promise of its title, having the book actually deliver on that promise. I don't feel like that happened here. The emphasis was not on these female firebrands but on gender inequality issues. It's completely fine for a book to be about that, of course, but be honest in your title about what the book is going to be about. That way, if someone's not interested in your topic, they can easily move on. For instance, I would have certainly been interested in detailed stories of women who struggled and triumphed, sharing their universal lessons, which is what I thought this book was going to be about from the title. The topic I actually got in this book is something that I wouldn't have chosen to read/listen to if I had known beforehand.
The book could have been better organized. The different women's stories might have been better interspersed with the main topics instead of being separate from them. Having the women separately first followed by a deeper look at the issues themselves just didn't work. I also didn't like the tone and some specific words the author used. She tried very hard to be inclusive and espouse being nonjudgmental—good things—yet at times she came across as very judgmental of people who disagreed with her. For instance, in the chapter on privilege, she made a statement that those who thought differently than her were clearly blinded by privilege. That's an ad hominem attack for one thing, which I never like to see in books like this; it's also black-and-white thinking, and the world's nature is more complex than that. Why does the author think her opinion is the only correct one? As soon as we label people like that—see only ourselves as right—we shut down the lines of communication and calcify our own thoughts.
As a female in my 50s, I have worked for a variety of organizations and owned my own (very small) businesses. I have experienced some of these topics firsthand and know their ugliness. I strongly believe that women ought to have their proper place at the table, so to speak, whether it is someone else's table or one we fashion ourselves. Many practices and institutional blind spots here are abhorrent, and they shouldn't happen in this day and age. But I don't think a book like this helps further that conversation, at least in a helpful way. Like the title, it is more apt to be incendiary than helpful.
I received a free copy of the audiobook version of this, but that did not affect my review.
August 20, 2020
Ok, so, I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I must start saying that this is the first audiobook I ever listened, and I’m impressed by how much I enjoy it. I want to congratulate Julie Eickhoff for an amazing narration.
This book is a MUST READ for everyone. I almost wrote “for every woman” but no, every man who interacts in any way or form with a woman must read it too, specially if they WORK with woman.
As a liberal professional, I find Mikaela’s book inspiring and educational, even though, sadly, as a woman in a man-centered profession I have come to learn a lot of the topics she so brilliantly approaches in the hard way.
I loved how the author heighten the importance of women supporting women, and how we must find new ways to “compete against each other” but in a way to lift each other up.
I think by this point we all know how societal and familial expectations repress every chance of success in women, but in this book no stone will remain unmoved ad every aspect of patriarchy and discrimination will be acknowledge and criticized.
From the importance of intersectional feminism to the #metoo movement, Mikaela will point out everything wrong with the most common workplaces today, and she will point her fingers to people and corporations too, without shaking. I love her. I specially love how she stands in her privileged stance and OWNS it, but not only she acknowledges it all the times, but also brings diverse women to the table and goes beyond her way to illustrate the different realities and the different battles each woman faces.
But do not despair, cause she doesn’t only reminds us of the wrongs of the past and the present, but also guides and helps us to stand up to stand out.
How many times did I feel bad for establish limits and setting boundaries? How many times did I feel obliged to stay before hours and didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be perceived as troublesome or not dedicated enough, even when my male counterparts never did the same? How many family events did I miss because I was “needed” at the office? If I don’t stand up for myself no one will, no matter how “woke” or how much of an “ally” my MALE boss is.
This book is a call out to every woman to stand up for themselves and for their sisters; not only in words but in actions, and I for one will redouble my efforts in practicing feminism, besides twitting about it.
LOVED the layout of the book. I think it’s clever in its organization. The rhythm is smart, and the chapters are dynamic and clear-themed, without losing the thread of the whole book.
The data, numbers and statistics just added a great bonus, just as the glossary at the end.
In short, amazing job that’s definitely go right to my feminist shelves.
I must start saying that this is the first audiobook I ever listened, and I’m impressed by how much I enjoy it. I want to congratulate Julie Eickhoff for an amazing narration.
This book is a MUST READ for everyone. I almost wrote “for every woman” but no, every man who interacts in any way or form with a woman must read it too, specially if they WORK with woman.
As a liberal professional, I find Mikaela’s book inspiring and educational, even though, sadly, as a woman in a man-centered profession I have come to learn a lot of the topics she so brilliantly approaches in the hard way.
I loved how the author heighten the importance of women supporting women, and how we must find new ways to “compete against each other” but in a way to lift each other up.
I think by this point we all know how societal and familial expectations repress every chance of success in women, but in this book no stone will remain unmoved ad every aspect of patriarchy and discrimination will be acknowledge and criticized.
From the importance of intersectional feminism to the #metoo movement, Mikaela will point out everything wrong with the most common workplaces today, and she will point her fingers to people and corporations too, without shaking. I love her. I specially love how she stands in her privileged stance and OWNS it, but not only she acknowledges it all the times, but also brings diverse women to the table and goes beyond her way to illustrate the different realities and the different battles each woman faces.
But do not despair, cause she doesn’t only reminds us of the wrongs of the past and the present, but also guides and helps us to stand up to stand out.
How many times did I feel bad for establish limits and setting boundaries? How many times did I feel obliged to stay before hours and didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be perceived as troublesome or not dedicated enough, even when my male counterparts never did the same? How many family events did I miss because I was “needed” at the office? If I don’t stand up for myself no one will, no matter how “woke” or how much of an “ally” my MALE boss is.
This book is a call out to every woman to stand up for themselves and for their sisters; not only in words but in actions, and I for one will redouble my efforts in practicing feminism, besides twitting about it.
LOVED the layout of the book. I think it’s clever in its organization. The rhythm is smart, and the chapters are dynamic and clear-themed, without losing the thread of the whole book.
The data, numbers and statistics just added a great bonus, just as the glossary at the end.
In short, amazing job that’s definitely go right to my feminist shelves.
October 1, 2020
“Female Firebrands” by Mikaela Kiner is a business book for the empowered female in the workplace.
But it should be read by both men and women alike.
What exactly is a firebrand? It's a person who's passionate about a particular cause. In particular, they incite change and help others take radical action. Kiner shares case studies, research and insights from her life and the lives of 13 other women in business.
The result is a book that's chock-full of practical actions, tips and techniques. It's a guidebook of sorts to enable women to look at themselves in the mirror, figure out who they are and what they're willing to tolerate. Then hopefully they'll be empowered to stand up for themselves (and others) in the workplace.
This is Kiner's first book, and in it she pulls from her 15 years of experience serving in senior HR leadership roles. She climbed to the top of the HR ladder at big brands, such as Microsoft, Starbucks and Amazon, before founding her own consulting practice.
Within the pages of "Female Firebrands," she addresses all the modern topics women face in the workforce face, including:
• Double standards
• Glass ceilings and concrete ceilings
• Glass cliffs
• Imposter syndrome
• Internalized sexism
• Unconscious bias and discrimination
• Underrepresented minorities (URM)
• #MeToo
• #MomToo
• White Privilege
• Manels (male-based conference panels)
• Office housework
• The “Mommy track”
• Sexual harassment
• Pay inequality
Upon reading (or listening to) “Female Firebrands,” you’ll know how to:
• Develop tools and techniques to stand and speak up on behalf of yourself and others
• Get better at recognizing “little indignities” and micro aggressions
• Understand what it means to be an informed, empowered advocate for women
• Increase awareness of your own blind spots and biases
• Recognize the role of privilege at work and how it can be used for positive change
The audiobook is narrated by Julie Eickhoff who does a phenomenal job. Her pacing is perfect and I enjoyed her voice. The content is both digestible and relatable. I highly recommend it.
The nice thing is that Kilner is donating five percent of the profits from the sale of “Female Firebrands” to BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking).
Special thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks for gifting me the audiobook, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
But it should be read by both men and women alike.
What exactly is a firebrand? It's a person who's passionate about a particular cause. In particular, they incite change and help others take radical action. Kiner shares case studies, research and insights from her life and the lives of 13 other women in business.
The result is a book that's chock-full of practical actions, tips and techniques. It's a guidebook of sorts to enable women to look at themselves in the mirror, figure out who they are and what they're willing to tolerate. Then hopefully they'll be empowered to stand up for themselves (and others) in the workplace.
This is Kiner's first book, and in it she pulls from her 15 years of experience serving in senior HR leadership roles. She climbed to the top of the HR ladder at big brands, such as Microsoft, Starbucks and Amazon, before founding her own consulting practice.
Within the pages of "Female Firebrands," she addresses all the modern topics women face in the workforce face, including:
• Double standards
• Glass ceilings and concrete ceilings
• Glass cliffs
• Imposter syndrome
• Internalized sexism
• Unconscious bias and discrimination
• Underrepresented minorities (URM)
• #MeToo
• #MomToo
• White Privilege
• Manels (male-based conference panels)
• Office housework
• The “Mommy track”
• Sexual harassment
• Pay inequality
Upon reading (or listening to) “Female Firebrands,” you’ll know how to:
• Develop tools and techniques to stand and speak up on behalf of yourself and others
• Get better at recognizing “little indignities” and micro aggressions
• Understand what it means to be an informed, empowered advocate for women
• Increase awareness of your own blind spots and biases
• Recognize the role of privilege at work and how it can be used for positive change
The audiobook is narrated by Julie Eickhoff who does a phenomenal job. Her pacing is perfect and I enjoyed her voice. The content is both digestible and relatable. I highly recommend it.
The nice thing is that Kilner is donating five percent of the profits from the sale of “Female Firebrands” to BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking).
Special thanks to Greenleaf Audiobooks for gifting me the audiobook, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
July 6, 2020
Female Firebrands effectively shares the stories of women trying to climb the corporate ladder and maintain their careers in mostly male-dominated environments.
The book offers what I call "mentorship from afar" because the stories discussing the conflicts and struggle these women encountered also provide examples of how to gracefully conduct yourself in the most challenging moments.
When I read the book, I found myself relating so much with many of these women's experiences and having cathartic moments relative to the MeToo movement.
I appreciate the author's efforts toward diversity and inclusion throughout the book. I encourage her to continue to delve into the issues of women of color because their challenges are often far more intense.
I also appreciate the discussion about the wage gap for women. I notice that women influence this gap by not asking for more. When this occurs, it doesn't just hurt the candidate; it hurts all women. I've had to tell a female job candidate: "you have every right to ask for what you deserve. I will do my best to make room for your request in the budget."
Some key takeaways from the book that I walked away with include:
"Meet the person where they are and communicate, so they can understand the message you want them to hear:" Create a script or talking points to prepare for challenging situations and practice for them. This way, you can respond with grace and feel empowered.
"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you:" Maintain your integrity and boundaries, and find a constructive way to promote a positive change.
Don't be afraid of giving or receiving constructive feedback.
Place yourself where opportunities exist, e.g., you might not be a high-powered executive, yet. However, if you surround yourself with high-powered executives and are open to learning, you will become one.
Create a personal strategic plan for the year and revisit it every month.
"We can help change the world through the stories we tell and the experiences we provide."
The book offers what I call "mentorship from afar" because the stories discussing the conflicts and struggle these women encountered also provide examples of how to gracefully conduct yourself in the most challenging moments.
When I read the book, I found myself relating so much with many of these women's experiences and having cathartic moments relative to the MeToo movement.
I appreciate the author's efforts toward diversity and inclusion throughout the book. I encourage her to continue to delve into the issues of women of color because their challenges are often far more intense.
I also appreciate the discussion about the wage gap for women. I notice that women influence this gap by not asking for more. When this occurs, it doesn't just hurt the candidate; it hurts all women. I've had to tell a female job candidate: "you have every right to ask for what you deserve. I will do my best to make room for your request in the budget."
Some key takeaways from the book that I walked away with include:
"Meet the person where they are and communicate, so they can understand the message you want them to hear:" Create a script or talking points to prepare for challenging situations and practice for them. This way, you can respond with grace and feel empowered.
"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you:" Maintain your integrity and boundaries, and find a constructive way to promote a positive change.
Don't be afraid of giving or receiving constructive feedback.
Place yourself where opportunities exist, e.g., you might not be a high-powered executive, yet. However, if you surround yourself with high-powered executives and are open to learning, you will become one.
Create a personal strategic plan for the year and revisit it every month.
"We can help change the world through the stories we tell and the experiences we provide."
January 20, 2021
A highly relatable and personal account of some of the injustices in the workplace, perfectly balanced with real stories and end of chapter checklists for success. An important book for both for empowering womxn and allies in the workplace alike.
This book was equally eye-opening and thought-invoking. I have finished the book feeling inspired to ask my Managing Director for 'that' opportunity, to better my own work experience and of my team. This book has subconsciously taught me more about managing a team in a few hours than a mentor has in a couple of years.
Kiner draws from personal experiences and interviews with womxn to demonstrate key points throughout. The book is broken down into two sections. Part one highlights the stories of inspiring womxn, providing background information as well as an insight into their individual journey. A clear effort has been made to be inclusive of womxn with different backgrounds and experiences including LBGTQIA+ and BIPOC. Part two covers specific workplace issues in more depth and provides checklists for improvement at the end of each chapter for reflection.
Whilst this audiobook was not narrated by the author of the book, Eickhoff does a fantastic job of bringing the book to life and gives the listener the feeling of taking part in a conference, lecture, or even a podcast. The pacing was good and each chapter separated clearly.
Having enjoyed the audiobook and consequently purchased an ebook copy, I believe that this book is best suited to print or ebook in order to fully appreciate the end of chapter checklists, quotes, and tips. Ideal for highlighting and future referencing!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher, Greenleaf, for this free audiobook for review.
This book was equally eye-opening and thought-invoking. I have finished the book feeling inspired to ask my Managing Director for 'that' opportunity, to better my own work experience and of my team. This book has subconsciously taught me more about managing a team in a few hours than a mentor has in a couple of years.
Kiner draws from personal experiences and interviews with womxn to demonstrate key points throughout. The book is broken down into two sections. Part one highlights the stories of inspiring womxn, providing background information as well as an insight into their individual journey. A clear effort has been made to be inclusive of womxn with different backgrounds and experiences including LBGTQIA+ and BIPOC. Part two covers specific workplace issues in more depth and provides checklists for improvement at the end of each chapter for reflection.
Whilst this audiobook was not narrated by the author of the book, Eickhoff does a fantastic job of bringing the book to life and gives the listener the feeling of taking part in a conference, lecture, or even a podcast. The pacing was good and each chapter separated clearly.
Having enjoyed the audiobook and consequently purchased an ebook copy, I believe that this book is best suited to print or ebook in order to fully appreciate the end of chapter checklists, quotes, and tips. Ideal for highlighting and future referencing!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher, Greenleaf, for this free audiobook for review.
December 18, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for access to an audiobook version of this in exchange for my honest review.
Female Firebrands by Mikaela Kiner bills itself as a “practical, actionable guide to advocating for yourself and others at work”. It highlights 13 CEO level women from diverse backgrounds and talks about how they stand out as “firebrands” as well as their experiences in a male-dominated work culture. This book does not shy away from discussing tense topics, such as the #MeToo movement, racial biases, and privilege, and the shared experience of being a woman at work. Listening to the audiobook and I found the narration EXTREMELY slow; I ended up listening at 1.75x speed and it sounded like normal speaking cadence at that level.
I found this book very interesting and helpful (the end of chapter checklists were fantastic reflection points), although at times I wasn’t sure who it was written for. For example, we are introduced to a group of Female Firebrands in the first section and given brief backgrounds as to why they are admirable. Then in part two, the author goes in-depth explaining why problematic things are problematic, as though she is addressing a group who is unfamiliar with what it’s like being a woman in the workplace. I wish we had more opportunities to hear from these Firebrands speaking on their experiences in these situations.
Ultimately, this is an ok workday listen when you need something motivating as you climb your own corporate ladder. There isn’t anything too earth-shattering, but enough to make you pause and nod your head in agreement.
Female Firebrands by Mikaela Kiner bills itself as a “practical, actionable guide to advocating for yourself and others at work”. It highlights 13 CEO level women from diverse backgrounds and talks about how they stand out as “firebrands” as well as their experiences in a male-dominated work culture. This book does not shy away from discussing tense topics, such as the #MeToo movement, racial biases, and privilege, and the shared experience of being a woman at work. Listening to the audiobook and I found the narration EXTREMELY slow; I ended up listening at 1.75x speed and it sounded like normal speaking cadence at that level.
I found this book very interesting and helpful (the end of chapter checklists were fantastic reflection points), although at times I wasn’t sure who it was written for. For example, we are introduced to a group of Female Firebrands in the first section and given brief backgrounds as to why they are admirable. Then in part two, the author goes in-depth explaining why problematic things are problematic, as though she is addressing a group who is unfamiliar with what it’s like being a woman in the workplace. I wish we had more opportunities to hear from these Firebrands speaking on their experiences in these situations.
Ultimately, this is an ok workday listen when you need something motivating as you climb your own corporate ladder. There isn’t anything too earth-shattering, but enough to make you pause and nod your head in agreement.
January 23, 2021
This book focuses on working within the USA tech sector. Mikaela Kiner is a HR professional and gives personal insight into working in this area at different points in her career, which I respected and appreciated. The beginning of the book wasn't something I could easily relate to - I'm UK based and have worked in the creative and charity sector. However, as the scope broadens there's a lot of really good stuff here that as a mid-career woman I completely related to (and even had a sore neck from nodding throughout some chapters!). Although, at the beginning of the book I enjoyed listening to the varied stories/biographies of other female firebrands - I began to find it tiresome. Partly, because of the narrator's voice (which I found quite irritating and off-putting) and because for a book like this it seemed like a missed opportunity not to hear other women's voices.
However, this book examined real issues facing women today and it was a relief to listen to these stories and to receive techniques to manage situations and responses. It taught me a new language and provided tools and context to aid my understanding of past experiences. As a woman of colour I hadn't heard of the 'concrete ceiling' but have definitely experienced it! This book doesn't shy away from difficult topics and I found the chapter on female rivalry illuminating. The glossary at the end is well thought out and useful and so is the free online resources. This book is a necessary read, for all genders and generations - I only wish it was available earlier in my career!
However, this book examined real issues facing women today and it was a relief to listen to these stories and to receive techniques to manage situations and responses. It taught me a new language and provided tools and context to aid my understanding of past experiences. As a woman of colour I hadn't heard of the 'concrete ceiling' but have definitely experienced it! This book doesn't shy away from difficult topics and I found the chapter on female rivalry illuminating. The glossary at the end is well thought out and useful and so is the free online resources. This book is a necessary read, for all genders and generations - I only wish it was available earlier in my career!
August 12, 2020
This book is geared towards female professionals who want a bit of reassurance that not only are we entitled to be treated fairly, it's actually the law.
Overall, this book is like every other on the subject. It gives great examples of successful women and talks about the struggles and discrimination they've faced, and serves as a good, entry-level read. It's easy to understand, doesn't go too far into numbers that it's incomprehensible, and it feels very empowering. One gripe is that it falls into the post-modern trap of talking constantly about "all genders" that face discrimination, rather than recognising that there's a SEX that gets the short straw in every interaction, and it dilutes the book's point a bit.
The narrator Julie Eickhoff is great. She has a history of performing books of a similar nature and is clearly good at it. She sounds friendly and also authoritative; if you have written a book and you want people to absorb its content, hire her.
I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
Overall, this book is like every other on the subject. It gives great examples of successful women and talks about the struggles and discrimination they've faced, and serves as a good, entry-level read. It's easy to understand, doesn't go too far into numbers that it's incomprehensible, and it feels very empowering. One gripe is that it falls into the post-modern trap of talking constantly about "all genders" that face discrimination, rather than recognising that there's a SEX that gets the short straw in every interaction, and it dilutes the book's point a bit.
The narrator Julie Eickhoff is great. She has a history of performing books of a similar nature and is clearly good at it. She sounds friendly and also authoritative; if you have written a book and you want people to absorb its content, hire her.
I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
January 19, 2021
I found this an important book for women in all positions, financial standing, and physical capabilities.
Included in this book are the experiences of 13 successful women in familiar work environments, each one giving us a peek of their challenges; the manipulations they experienced in their work; the undermining of their career paths. These anecdotes are told in this book and have been experienced by countless women worldwide.
My only criticism of this book would be, it was a perfect starting point as a consultancy introduction, but I wanted it to be a more in-depth book, to know more about these women’s stories.
I would also like to note that the narrator Julie Eickhoff, had a voice that made me feel like I was part of the conversation.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity of reading/listening this audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
Included in this book are the experiences of 13 successful women in familiar work environments, each one giving us a peek of their challenges; the manipulations they experienced in their work; the undermining of their career paths. These anecdotes are told in this book and have been experienced by countless women worldwide.
My only criticism of this book would be, it was a perfect starting point as a consultancy introduction, but I wanted it to be a more in-depth book, to know more about these women’s stories.
I would also like to note that the narrator Julie Eickhoff, had a voice that made me feel like I was part of the conversation.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity of reading/listening this audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2020
Please note that my reviews aren't really review, they are more like my cliff notes that I take while reading books.
The book features a baker's dozen of successful women rewriting the rules
Take the Implicit Association test to help uncover unconscious biases
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit...
The most shocking take away is that every one of these women had a #metoo story.
This tells us just how prevalent harassment is in the workplace.
Remember, it's never the victim's fault.
Men who are accused of assault and discrimination are often giving more sympathy than the victim. Think of Anita Hill vs Clarence Thomas or more recently with Judge Kavanaugh.
One negative unintended consequence of the #metoo movement is that some men are now scared to have business meetings or dinners alone with women. This means women are being treated differently and excluded from one on one coaching, mentoring, etc.
A key thing to look for are the little indignities. Assuming the women will get the coffee for example or checking her out when she bends over and then making a comment.
Remember, the people doing this are in a position of power. We need everyone to speak up and tell people it's wrong
Women are also often given assignments like planning parties and cleaning up. It's fine to pitch in, but not at the expense of missing more meaningful assignments and they shouldn't be doing all/most of that type of work
Interestingly, women and men both hold women to higher standards. Which may be we its often said they have to work twice as hard to succeed.
https://reverbpeople.com/femalefirebr...
The book features a baker's dozen of successful women rewriting the rules
Take the Implicit Association test to help uncover unconscious biases
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit...
The most shocking take away is that every one of these women had a #metoo story.
This tells us just how prevalent harassment is in the workplace.
Remember, it's never the victim's fault.
Men who are accused of assault and discrimination are often giving more sympathy than the victim. Think of Anita Hill vs Clarence Thomas or more recently with Judge Kavanaugh.
One negative unintended consequence of the #metoo movement is that some men are now scared to have business meetings or dinners alone with women. This means women are being treated differently and excluded from one on one coaching, mentoring, etc.
A key thing to look for are the little indignities. Assuming the women will get the coffee for example or checking her out when she bends over and then making a comment.
Remember, the people doing this are in a position of power. We need everyone to speak up and tell people it's wrong
Women are also often given assignments like planning parties and cleaning up. It's fine to pitch in, but not at the expense of missing more meaningful assignments and they shouldn't be doing all/most of that type of work
Interestingly, women and men both hold women to higher standards. Which may be we its often said they have to work twice as hard to succeed.
https://reverbpeople.com/femalefirebr...
August 4, 2020
This is a must read (or listen) not only for women in the business world, but also the men.
The content and message in this book is SO IMPORTANT. I found myself shaking my head at some of the stories and constantly asking myself: HOW IS THIS STILL A THING?
Mikaela does a great job of not only pointing out the flaws in large corporate situations, but also strategies on how to confront sexism and racism when you are faced with it. The most important message was that being a woman, BIPOC, or a parent doesn’t make you unemployable. It makes you an ideal candidate for any job. Take extra note to each “end of chapter checklist”; they are great tools to remind you of how to be successful.
The content and message in this book is SO IMPORTANT. I found myself shaking my head at some of the stories and constantly asking myself: HOW IS THIS STILL A THING?
Mikaela does a great job of not only pointing out the flaws in large corporate situations, but also strategies on how to confront sexism and racism when you are faced with it. The most important message was that being a woman, BIPOC, or a parent doesn’t make you unemployable. It makes you an ideal candidate for any job. Take extra note to each “end of chapter checklist”; they are great tools to remind you of how to be successful.
January 24, 2021
I enjoyed listening to this on audio. This book should be essential for all managers or employees in HR in the corporate world. This book addresses the many issues with gender equality in the workforce. It's frustrating and disheartening that gender inequality still exists in 2020. Kiner did a great job at highlighting many scenarios where women are considered less capable than man. She conducted thorough research to emphasize the trend for all women - regardless of race, sexuality, and religion. This book should be mandatory for all CEOs and should be put into the hands of many powerful men.
Thank you to Netgalley for the audiobook!
Thank you to Netgalley for the audiobook!
May 29, 2024
I love the structure and the layout of how this book was written. It's very empowering and inspiring to hear real life stories from female founders and even working moms! This book is about amplifying the voices of women -- who are trying to change the future of work. It's about their career advancement and work equality -- empowering the next generation of young women leaders. Very motivational.
"Ask for what you want, need, and deserve -- if not for yourself, then for the sake of women who will follow" (113).
"Ask for what you want, need, and deserve -- if not for yourself, then for the sake of women who will follow" (113).
August 3, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed listening to this book, and I would recommend it to others.
I feel incredibly lucky, that despite working in an professional industry as an accountant, my firm is very focused on gender equality and I have some very inspirational women that I work alongside to look up to. It is heartbreaking to hear about many other women who are not as lucky as I am.
I enjoyed listening to this book, and I would recommend it to others.
I feel incredibly lucky, that despite working in an professional industry as an accountant, my firm is very focused on gender equality and I have some very inspirational women that I work alongside to look up to. It is heartbreaking to hear about many other women who are not as lucky as I am.
February 4, 2021
I would say a solid 3.5. This is a book representing gender equality. She takes you through stories and give you examples on how to react in similar situations. These topics covered can never be talked about enough. It took a few chapters for me to get into it, but I was intrigued the rest of the read.
November 13, 2020
I received the audiobook of this and enjoyed it. I listened to it on the way to work for a little motivation. It was good, but didn't "wow" me
May 20, 2024
Validating for any woman who has been in the corporate workforce for any length of time.
July 18, 2022
Such a great introduction to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the workplace. Mikaela Kiner is incredibly inspiring, and she highlights a handful of other women's stories as she is cognisant of the fact that she can't speak for all women. I'd recommend for anyone entering a workplace environment.
January 19, 2020
Female Firebrands effectively shares the stories of women trying to climb the corporate ladder and maintain their careers in mostly male-dominated environments.
The book offers what I call "mentorship from afar" because the stories discussing the conflicts and struggle these women encountered also provide examples of how to gracefully conduct yourself in the most challenging moments.
When I read the book, I found myself relating so much with many of these women's experiences and having cathartic moments relative to the MeToo movement.
I appreciate the author's efforts toward diversity and inclusion throughout the book. I encourage her to continue to delve into the issues of women of color because their challenges are often far more intense.
I also appreciate the discussion about the wage gap for women. I notice that women influence this gap by not asking for more. When this occurs, it doesn't just hurt the candidate; it hurts all women. I've had to tell a female job candidate: "you have every right to ask for what you deserve. I will do my best to make room for your request in the budget."
Some key takeaways from the book that I walked away with include:
"Meet the person where they are and communicate, so they can understand the message you want them to hear:" Create a script or talking points to prepare for challenging situations and practice for them. This way, you can respond with grace and feel empowered.
"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you:" Maintain your integrity and boundaries, and find a constructive way to promote a positive change.
Don't be afraid of giving or receiving constructive feedback.
Place yourself where opportunities exist, e.g., you might not be a high-powered executive, yet. However, if you surround yourself with high-powered executives and are open to learning, you will become one.
Create a personal strategic plan for the year and revisit it every month.
"We can help change the world through the stories we tell and the experiences we provide."
The book offers what I call "mentorship from afar" because the stories discussing the conflicts and struggle these women encountered also provide examples of how to gracefully conduct yourself in the most challenging moments.
When I read the book, I found myself relating so much with many of these women's experiences and having cathartic moments relative to the MeToo movement.
I appreciate the author's efforts toward diversity and inclusion throughout the book. I encourage her to continue to delve into the issues of women of color because their challenges are often far more intense.
I also appreciate the discussion about the wage gap for women. I notice that women influence this gap by not asking for more. When this occurs, it doesn't just hurt the candidate; it hurts all women. I've had to tell a female job candidate: "you have every right to ask for what you deserve. I will do my best to make room for your request in the budget."
Some key takeaways from the book that I walked away with include:
"Meet the person where they are and communicate, so they can understand the message you want them to hear:" Create a script or talking points to prepare for challenging situations and practice for them. This way, you can respond with grace and feel empowered.
"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you:" Maintain your integrity and boundaries, and find a constructive way to promote a positive change.
Don't be afraid of giving or receiving constructive feedback.
Place yourself where opportunities exist, e.g., you might not be a high-powered executive, yet. However, if you surround yourself with high-powered executives and are open to learning, you will become one.
Create a personal strategic plan for the year and revisit it every month.
"We can help change the world through the stories we tell and the experiences we provide."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews