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Lady, You're the Boss

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A new call to action from the bestselling author of Lady, You're Not a Man! 'So, do you intend to work after marriage?' 'I am the COO of an organisation. Obviously, I intend to work after marriage!' No man has ever been asked this question. For a working woman, it's par for the course. At work and home, there is latent institutional discrimination and social prejudice at play. Whether it is the assumption that a career is only a stopgap until marriage or the reluctance to promote married women for fear that they will prioritise family over work, the climb to the top is twice as steep for women. As a result, they second-guess their own abilities and hesitate to claim what is rightfully theirs. To counter these roadblocks, Purohit compiles an essential action plan for believe in yourself, never minimise or question your achievements, resist stereotypes, and constantly and fearlessly call out biases. Through personal anecdotes and real-life stories of women professionals, she offers indispensable lessons on successful leadership, with practical insights into its fundamentals, like effective communication, perseverance, prioritising and personal accountability. Deeply poignant and often hilarious, Lady, You're the Boss! is a woman leader's guide to breaking socially imposed and self-reinforced glass ceilings, and growing to her full potential.

220 pages, paperback

Published September 26, 2019

75 people are currently reading
334 people want to read

About the author

Apurva Purohit

6 books13 followers

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5 stars
48 (26%)
4 stars
75 (41%)
3 stars
41 (22%)
2 stars
15 (8%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Anusha Jayaram.
181 reviews61 followers
January 9, 2021
Loved the practicality of this book. It also does speak uniquely to Indian women, and the set of challenges they face.
I went in wondering what this book would be all about. It was refreshing to see that it did not end up a continuous rant about the evils of patriarchy (it would have been very easy to fall into that trap). Instead, it focused on providing constructive suggestions and perspectives to combat the prevailing status quo (instead of focusing purely on the fact that the current situation isn't fair; it isn't, but the whole point is, "how do you navigate it?", rather than wail about it).

Also, the leadership advise is valid for everyone, irrespective of gender. This is a pity, since I don't think too many men would end up picking up the book, assuming it is targeted at an exclusively female audience.
I know a lot of male leaders who could benefit from some of this advise.
Profile Image for Vandana Yadav.
5 reviews
May 30, 2021
This book has been written simply yet very beautifully. You don't necessarily have to be a manager to read and relate to this book. The ideas presented in the book are very very practical. Worth a read for all my lady bosses out there.

"You have the entire universe inside you, so why do you allow yourself to be condensed or minimised into a microcosm?"
Profile Image for Vijita verma.
40 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2020
Wonderful and awesomely written

I loved this book so much that i am going to keep a hard copy of it with me to read and re read it again.. It instill so much power within the reader as the reader flips through each chapter.. A wonderful book for any and all working woman..
7 reviews
January 20, 2021
For all the ones who make empowered choices, this one is a beacon of hope. Must read for those of us who are in search of women leaders to look up to. The book is not just a collection of advice, it is a gentle nudge in the direction that urges women to take charge and lead their lives with emppowered choices. Apurva is one person who I'd like to meet at the water cooler and do a bite-sized mentoring session with :)
Profile Image for Vidhya Thakkar.
1,086 reviews140 followers
November 25, 2019
a MUST read book.
The way the author explains each and every concept, the struggles, the determination and the experiences is commendable.
Divided into two parts, the first part talks about ‘Lady’ gives insights about the battles that we face, and how we can deal with the situations and the second part talks about the ‘boss’. The journey of women as a boss, her thoughts and challenges that they face. The author narrates all her learning’s, experiences in a crisp and interesting way. Each chapter has something to teach you. The short summary at the end of each chapter has some important points that we all need to understand. From menopause to midlife crisis, to what it takes to be a leader, the author talks about the corporate class, family priorities and a lot more. She tells about the ways to counter these roadblocks. The real-life stories of women professionals, practical insights are explained by the author in an interesting way. I loved the writing style of the author. It’s lucid and engaging. The author keeps the reader hooked throughout. She builds the curiosity in the reader to know what will happen next. Each chapter is different, has a different experience, a different message. Overall it’s a WONDERFUL book.
Profile Image for Shreya Prakash.
69 reviews7 followers
January 4, 2020
We often hear, and sometimes agree, that Women at work should be no different than Men at work. But the reality is that it is different, whether we are grappling with our own conditioning or with how our peers and bosses perceive and hence treat us or with managing expectations in other spheres that have a direct bearing on our professional lives.
Being a woman at work today is like being on an adventurous journey, an obstacle-course with swamps and summits, and some understanding of the lay of the land, common pitfalls and how to avoid them goes a long long way.

This book is all that and more. It's divided into two parts, the first one a rich account of Apurva's insights into how women can rise above all that tends to hold them back, both external and internal factors. It's peppered with engaging anecdotes, lived experiences and research, has something for every life-stage, whether you are starting out, or have achieved success and looking ahead to a second innings. The second part is leadership lessons to drive teams, targets and businesses, and again come from her own experiences of having led and excelled at multiple such.

To be honest, this book is great reading for anyone, man or woman. But it is a must-must read for women.

#womenatwork #leadershiplessons #bookreview
322 reviews5 followers
October 6, 2022
Society subjects women to subtle or blatant biases every other day which has been normalized to such an extent that no one bothers to call out on the stereotypes we are encased into.
It is very common for people to ask an woman, "Will you be working after marriage?", while the men gets to answer questions regarding their 'ambitions' and 'career goals'.

The author has done a tremendous job in highlighting the plight of women in a work environment and the prevalent biases that they are subjected to which subtly hinders the appraisals and promotions.
The author did not mince words while showing a mirror to the society for the double standards employed to judge a career oriented male vs female.

I liked the fact that the author has shared a quintessential list of do's and don'ts for women in professional space in an attempt to motivate them not to undermine their efforts or voice.

The author has hit the bulls-eye in spelling out the deep-rooted causes of stereotypes and gender biases, one of them being different style of upbringing and social conditioning with which a son or daughter raised. Men are automatically raised to be assertive while it is considered a 'ladylike ' trait to be submissive and quiet.

The author has deeply emphasized and entreated the women folks through this book not to discount their hardwork, intelligence and leadership qualities just because they have been made to believe otherwise.

I liked the deployment of humour to narrate important instances and precise examples added credibility to the topic being discussed.

I would recommend this book to all the working and aspiring women as a reminder to never give up on their ambitions because we are very much capable of breaking out of our cocoon that has been constructed by others. I urge the men to read this book to understand type of biases against women that they intentionally or unintentionally become a part of which can demoralise their female colleagues in the long run.
Profile Image for Tanvi Shivgan.
194 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2022
"As we see the numbers of single women increasing in a more open and diverse world, we need to stand in support with them so that they have the space and the empowerment to live life on their terms."

Only 17% of start-ups have a woman partner, and just 5% of senior management roles in organizations are filled by women. This difference in the number of men and women in the corporate sector shows how patriarchy and biases due to patriarchy have engulfed the system.

Lady, You're The Boss! is a blunt and encouraging account, inspired by the author's anecdotes and real-life stories of women professionals. Throughout the book, not only she debunks the old beliefs regarding a working woman but also gives wonderful leadership lessons along with communication, accountability, perseverance, listening skill, team building, etc.

A kick-start to diminish biases against women (such as a woman shouldn't work after marriage, she shouldn't get educated because she is anyways going to take care of her family sitting at home) can be accelerated from childhood only. A neutral upbringing should be performed to raise kids.

"Our boys grow up seeing themselves as doctors, CEOs and presidents. Our girls grow up thinking they are worth only the contextual roles defined by their relationships - mother, daughter, wife, etc."

But now it's time to change. Every woman possesses a leadership quality. Lady, You're the Boss! is a great and much-needed guide for today's era when it's high time that we need to break social imposed patriarchal barriers and fly with our wings using our full potential.

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Just READ IT!!! ✨👏
Profile Image for Suyogaya Awasthy .
341 reviews5 followers
September 20, 2022
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

✔️“You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously.”

✔️A human is bound to achieve many heights in one’s life, and a rather inclusive thought pattern has over the years pervaded our society, however, at the same time a certain section of our society faces restrictions and is not allowed to exercise their right to live and grow in its truest sense.

✔️Delving further, the 220 pages long book, mainly revolves around the subject matter of gender inclusiveness in our society with special emphasis on exercising their right to employment and to follow all the perks of life.

✔️As we go further, it must be noted that the structure of the book mainly is seen as a possible checklist of all social stigmas which prevent us from being the leaders of our life and never bowing to shallow societal standards.

✔️The writing style of the book has been kept simple and easy to comprehend as the author cuts straight to the chase by hinting at all the deliberately imposed societal limitations and further guiding the female readers to the true ways of making the most of their lives.

✔️Additionally, the book can be easily considered as a contemporaneous read as a sense of empowerment is still lacking for the women of our country.

✔️At the same time, this book must not be confined to being just a feminine read but rather one capable of generating gender sensitization for everyone.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Profile Image for Likhitha  Baggu.
91 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2022
Nowadays, women have become significant in workplaces. They are working and excelling in different fields, including the ones which were dominated by men earlier. However, when one looks at the leadership positions in organisations and governments, most of them are men. At promotion times, many organisations and managers believe that women can't handle the pressure of "big jobs". Is the world not recognising and believing in the capabilities and skills of women or is it the women who are limiting themselves to certain roles only?

"Lady, you are the boss!" discusses the roots of gender inequality, gender stereotypes, prejudices, imposter syndrome, conscious and unconscious gender bias in the workplace, the way society treats a single independent woman and many more things. She also stresses the importance of having women in senior-level positions in an organisation and how it affects the people around her and the organization. With personal experiences, research and advice, this book holds great lessons to excel in your career and life.

The writing style is captivating and blunt. This book is not only for women but also for anyone, who is willing to understand, educate themselves about these issues and combat the bias and stereotypes.
Profile Image for Arthi Jayaprakasham.
5 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2020
For me this is the first of its kinda read from a woman author of my land .hence there is so much I could relate (bare the bollywood examples or hindi lines) such sorted out chapters and examples and crisply laid pointers .loved it entirely. Will order the hardcopy and re read it again. I could relate to APJ sir s autobiography cause he outlined how indians lacked in leadership qualities though they were hardworking passionate and all .It was neutral and not gender specific. Here the author tries to inculcate the same qualities to women majorly . Who more can put it rightly than a married woman who has faced all the hassles and have climbed the rungs of the corporate ladder . The points for leadership qualities are not anything new to us but the approach and the viewpoint is totally new as first she addresses the women centric problems and then she comes to the approach.This makes the read coherent and complete to me!
Profile Image for Enakshi J..
Author 8 books53 followers
October 8, 2022
Women! Women! Women! They are marvelous when it comes to managing themselves and others around them in adverse situations but when the same 'others' put them down and try to pin-point flaws, these women give in easily, for they love self-depreciation. Hence, they often end up needing a shoulder to cry on. Lady, You're the Boss is a self-help book that's like a beacon of hope for all the women who wish to see themselves up the ladder of success in terms of personal as well as professional growth.

Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
Profile Image for Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ).
2,221 reviews82 followers
October 27, 2022
Expect a book that focuses on the biased environment in which women grow and continue living.
Expect a book that describes how women suffocate in the workplace for the prejudices they face.
Expect a book that will talk on behalf of every working female who also dons multiple roles in life.
Expect a book about leadership and skills and how to showcase them when needed.
Expect a book that says women are also capable of feeling proud and boasting about their achievements aloud!.

Complete review is up here:
https://issuu.com/storizen/docs/stori...
Profile Image for Praveen.
86 reviews4 followers
May 16, 2020
To all girls, ladies who want to get motivated and want to know is there any other women facing a similar issue like you and they have achieved it.
Please spend sometime on this.
Language used in this book is good.
The best part is IN SHORT.
Profile Image for Mithila Rao.
1 review25 followers
August 25, 2020
Loved it !

Inspirational , practical and extremely interesting, would highly recommend it to every woman. Its a surprisingly light read , no usage of corporate jargon. Despite being from non corporate background thoroughly enjoyed it
Profile Image for Rutuja Ramteke.
1,995 reviews97 followers
September 29, 2022

❤️What an amazing book, deeply moving and insightful. A book that is very easy to read and understand and yes it's not boring just because of the genre. A book that positively gives wings. Yayy!! Definitely recommended.
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Rating: 4.25🌟
29 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2020
Inspiring book

So uplifting and filled with enthusiasm for all, a must for all working women. Hats off to Apurva purohit for writing this masterpiece. Thank you.
3 reviews
April 11, 2020
All women should read this book! Every chapter is interesting and has great examples! And I'm feeling really motivated! :)
Profile Image for Cdt.
20 reviews
December 17, 2021
Recommended for all working women.

Must read for all working women. Gives great insight on the leadership quality as well as the issues women have to face
16 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2023
Apurva has shared several real life facts of what an average woman goes through and her journey up the career ladder. Very relatable. Book marked a few guidances.
26 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2021
While I was working, I came across Lady, You're not a man and got intrigued by the title and read the book. I connected in many ways and loved the book. In fact, I recommended it to my colleagues as well.

Now, I read Lady, You're a boss is a homemaker and couldn't connect much in few scenarios, and also it's mostly for women in leadership roles. That being said, definitely, it will be useful for women in entry-level or who want to make an impact. But, it's a must-read for aspiring women leaders. Her examples are lively and we will connect at one point in time.
Profile Image for Ekta Singh.
109 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2019
Awsome book

A must read for all working ( be at home or outside) women & a bible for the male bosses as it will help to mentor the female counterparts of organisations !!
Profile Image for Olivia Deka.
1 review7 followers
May 30, 2020
Exceptional storytelling

One of the best Leadership book by an Indian woman author that should be read by everyone regardless of their gender.
Also I loved the way she inserted those anecdotes, those relatable Bollywood movie scenes and dialogues to give perspective.

You're phenomenal Apurva Purohit.
Profile Image for Pallavi.
175 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2020
A wonderful book. Leadership lessons very simply put.
leadership is how we positively improve individuals and the teams we lead; what is effective communication, qualities essential on the tough road that is being the leader of an organisation and many more valuable titbits. The language and Narrative is impressive. It is almost like I am listening to Apurva during a mentorship session.
Profile Image for Simi.
2 reviews
March 6, 2020
Absolutely relevant today more than ever!!
Must read for all 'ladies' for sure and for all men who want to make better corporate managers and above all better human beings as dads/ husbands/ friends.
For the ladies the one single take away is to never give up.. it's not just you who faces these challenges.. all fight their own battles.. set your vision on a higher goal and rest all falls on place eventually.. remember the shah rukh khans famous 'kaynaat' dialogue:)
Loved the sharing of real life experiences and humour interjections that made it an easy read and page turner as well.
Note for Apurva Purohit.. if you could do one on more generic corporate tips with just that special attention to a balanced gender workforce.. that would get you much larger audience. You have it in you to reach out and touch the right chords.
Cheers to womankind!!
1 review1 follower
October 8, 2019
Stories are everything. They bind us together, open a window to another perspective. At times, they come in the form of tiny little anecdotes, filled into boxes to make it a whole. However, when personal life incidents along with nuggets of wisdom are added, the flavour of the stories change. This is exactly what the book 'Lady, you're the Boss' brings forth. The author along with a combination of sweet and spice, a slice of humour packed with her razor sharp words, leaves no stone unturned in keeping the reader gripped till the last page. Life altering lessons, ranging from leadership skills to perseverance and her own personalised life hack truths makes it truly captivating for the reader. For those couple of hours I felt, I was walking beside a friend, listening to her dole out experiences on her own carefully crafted journey filled with stories and good reasoning, which made me feel inspired beyond measure.
Finally, there is a grain of truth in what the accomplished writer Vivek Shanbag says, "Words after all are nothing by themselves. They burst into meaning only in the minds they have entered."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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