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Work Like a Woman: A Manifesto For Change
Work Like a Woman is a bold manifesto about why the way we work now is in desperate need of change, how you can campaign to help make this happen and why we will all – men and women – profit from this.
Women today are working in a man’s culture - and it’s holding us back. In Work Like a Woman, Mary Portas examines the world of employment, how it works against women and what needs to change, as she tells the story of her career – and learning to rewrite the rules.
Taking us through her working life, Mary looks at a range of topics from workplace bullying and accessing promotion, to combining a career with children and the affect that getting divorced and becoming a single parent had on her professional life. Speaking candidly about the traps she fell into – from aping the behaviour seen in aggressive corporate environments to recreating a male working culture within her own business – Mary will explode the myth of women ‘having it all’. She will also track her evolution as a business leader and the decision to rebuild her company from the ground up on a model that today embraces female values.
Examining practical issues, including flexible working and equal pay, and also cultural ones - such as gender bias - Mary will argue for a revolution in the way we work.
Work Like a Woman is a manifesto for all: from young women entering the workforce and older women trying to integrate professional and family ambitions, to executives running businesses and creating best practice and the businesses that employ them. Honest, accessible and entertaining, it is a bold and inspiring vision of the future world of work.
Women today are working in a man’s culture - and it’s holding us back. In Work Like a Woman, Mary Portas examines the world of employment, how it works against women and what needs to change, as she tells the story of her career – and learning to rewrite the rules.
Taking us through her working life, Mary looks at a range of topics from workplace bullying and accessing promotion, to combining a career with children and the affect that getting divorced and becoming a single parent had on her professional life. Speaking candidly about the traps she fell into – from aping the behaviour seen in aggressive corporate environments to recreating a male working culture within her own business – Mary will explode the myth of women ‘having it all’. She will also track her evolution as a business leader and the decision to rebuild her company from the ground up on a model that today embraces female values.
Examining practical issues, including flexible working and equal pay, and also cultural ones - such as gender bias - Mary will argue for a revolution in the way we work.
Work Like a Woman is a manifesto for all: from young women entering the workforce and older women trying to integrate professional and family ambitions, to executives running businesses and creating best practice and the businesses that employ them. Honest, accessible and entertaining, it is a bold and inspiring vision of the future world of work.
Audiobook
Published November 1, 2018
153 people are currently reading
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About the author
Mary Portas
10 books33 followersWidely recognized as the UK’s foremost authority on retail and brand communication, Mary Portas has a multitude of expertise; business woman, advertising executive, retail expert, Government adviser, broadcaster and consumer champion. The British media crowned her “Queen of Shops”.
Beginning her retail career in John Lewis, Harrods and Topshop, she joined Harvey Nichols, progressing to the Board as Creative Director in 1989. She was credited with leading its transformation into a world renowned fashion store. In 1997 she launched her own agency, Yellowdoor (now called Portas) which has made its mark in the creative advertising landscape, producing category challenging campaigns and championing brand development for clients including Clarks, Louis Vuitton, Oasis, Swarovski, Dunhill, Boden, Thomas Pink, Patek Philippe and Westfield.
In January 2013 she re-launched her agency as Portas with a new offer reflecting today's retail landscape, and how consumers behave today.
Alongside her work with the agency, Mary has embarked on a number of personal projects. She has published three books, Windows: The Art of Retail Display, and How to Shop. In February 2015 she released Shopgirl, a memoir of her early years.
Inspired by her weekly ‘Shop!’ column in the Telegraph Magazine, Mary began her television career in 2007 when her efforts to rescue failing independent boutiques were documented by the BBC2 series Mary Queen of Shops. The show was nominated for two Royal Television Society Awards and a BAFTA.
Mary became Global Retail Ambassador for Save the Children when she transformed the Charity’s worst performing shop – Orpington – into its best. Mary created a new charity shop format with her Living and Giving stores. The concept is now being rolled out across the country providing a human, ethical and community shopping experience. To date they have generated in excess of £10 million for Save the Children. Again, her journey was documented by the BBC for Mary Queen of Charity Shops.
In January 2011, Channel 4 aired Mary Portas: Secret Shopper. This new format saw Mary championing the often “underserviced” customer on the British high street, giving a voice to disgruntled consumers. With two more series being commissioned in 2015.
Through Mary’s personal experiences, and those of her growing consumer database, Mary identified a ‘lost generation’ of older women who were not being served by the British High Street. She decided that they needed clothes, shoes and accessories made for them and went on to create her own shop within House of Fraser, aimed at “women not girls”. This received huge commercial and critical acclaim and was followed by the documentary, Mary Queen of Frocks.
Her next project was an attempt to revitalize the UK’s manufacturing industry; Mary’s Bottom Line. Mary reopened a factory in Manchester and staffed it with handpicked apprentices. The product was “Kinky Knickers” which have been stocked by top UK retailers Liberty, Boots and ASOS.com.
Mary’s continued advocacy of our High Streets led to her receiving a commission from the British Government to lead an independent review. She delivered her report on the future of our High Streets to the Prime Minister, in December 2011. The Portas Review outlined 28 recommendations to rescue failing High Streets. The Government, retailers and the public supported her plan, and Mary’s work has been a catalyst for community regeneration, and the re-visioning of high streets across the country. The Government committed funds in excess of £10million to support the findings of her Review. The TV show Mary Queen of the High Streets followed Mary’s journey in trying to help revive Britain’s failing high streets, by putting local people at the heart of the solution.
Mary continues to present Channel 4’s annual December documentary, What Britain Bought in which she offers an eye-opening look into the shopping trends of the year.
Mary was
Beginning her retail career in John Lewis, Harrods and Topshop, she joined Harvey Nichols, progressing to the Board as Creative Director in 1989. She was credited with leading its transformation into a world renowned fashion store. In 1997 she launched her own agency, Yellowdoor (now called Portas) which has made its mark in the creative advertising landscape, producing category challenging campaigns and championing brand development for clients including Clarks, Louis Vuitton, Oasis, Swarovski, Dunhill, Boden, Thomas Pink, Patek Philippe and Westfield.
In January 2013 she re-launched her agency as Portas with a new offer reflecting today's retail landscape, and how consumers behave today.
Alongside her work with the agency, Mary has embarked on a number of personal projects. She has published three books, Windows: The Art of Retail Display, and How to Shop. In February 2015 she released Shopgirl, a memoir of her early years.
Inspired by her weekly ‘Shop!’ column in the Telegraph Magazine, Mary began her television career in 2007 when her efforts to rescue failing independent boutiques were documented by the BBC2 series Mary Queen of Shops. The show was nominated for two Royal Television Society Awards and a BAFTA.
Mary became Global Retail Ambassador for Save the Children when she transformed the Charity’s worst performing shop – Orpington – into its best. Mary created a new charity shop format with her Living and Giving stores. The concept is now being rolled out across the country providing a human, ethical and community shopping experience. To date they have generated in excess of £10 million for Save the Children. Again, her journey was documented by the BBC for Mary Queen of Charity Shops.
In January 2011, Channel 4 aired Mary Portas: Secret Shopper. This new format saw Mary championing the often “underserviced” customer on the British high street, giving a voice to disgruntled consumers. With two more series being commissioned in 2015.
Through Mary’s personal experiences, and those of her growing consumer database, Mary identified a ‘lost generation’ of older women who were not being served by the British High Street. She decided that they needed clothes, shoes and accessories made for them and went on to create her own shop within House of Fraser, aimed at “women not girls”. This received huge commercial and critical acclaim and was followed by the documentary, Mary Queen of Frocks.
Her next project was an attempt to revitalize the UK’s manufacturing industry; Mary’s Bottom Line. Mary reopened a factory in Manchester and staffed it with handpicked apprentices. The product was “Kinky Knickers” which have been stocked by top UK retailers Liberty, Boots and ASOS.com.
Mary’s continued advocacy of our High Streets led to her receiving a commission from the British Government to lead an independent review. She delivered her report on the future of our High Streets to the Prime Minister, in December 2011. The Portas Review outlined 28 recommendations to rescue failing High Streets. The Government, retailers and the public supported her plan, and Mary’s work has been a catalyst for community regeneration, and the re-visioning of high streets across the country. The Government committed funds in excess of £10million to support the findings of her Review. The TV show Mary Queen of the High Streets followed Mary’s journey in trying to help revive Britain’s failing high streets, by putting local people at the heart of the solution.
Mary continues to present Channel 4’s annual December documentary, What Britain Bought in which she offers an eye-opening look into the shopping trends of the year.
Mary was
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
May 29, 2019
Well, this was a disappointment.
Whilst I generally agree with most things she says, I'm more bothered with 80-90% of this book being her own story of a shopwindow decorator on path to business leadership. I did not (really) know Mary Portas before, so it may have startled me more than an English person would have been startled by it?
Who knows.
There is nothing controversial about the book, its overall agreeable. However, nothing in this will be new to you, and if you are a striving woman in leadership, this is not a great place for hands on advise for your worries, but maybe a place for comfort knowing Mary Portas went through the same bs.
Whilst I generally agree with most things she says, I'm more bothered with 80-90% of this book being her own story of a shopwindow decorator on path to business leadership. I did not (really) know Mary Portas before, so it may have startled me more than an English person would have been startled by it?
Who knows.
There is nothing controversial about the book, its overall agreeable. However, nothing in this will be new to you, and if you are a striving woman in leadership, this is not a great place for hands on advise for your worries, but maybe a place for comfort knowing Mary Portas went through the same bs.
August 26, 2022
A lot of whats in this book is just common sense. But there is something missing - thats the single woman with no children.
There are chapters dedicated to childcare. Towards the end of the book there is a statement that if you aren’t a mother by your 30/40’s don’t worry- we all come to these things in time. Or if you want to be successful choose who you spend your life with carefully - as you will need their support etc.
But what if you’ve been divorced and have no plans to have children? You cant be successful?
There are chapters dedicated to childcare. Towards the end of the book there is a statement that if you aren’t a mother by your 30/40’s don’t worry- we all come to these things in time. Or if you want to be successful choose who you spend your life with carefully - as you will need their support etc.
But what if you’ve been divorced and have no plans to have children? You cant be successful?
November 8, 2018
I'm a big fan of Mary Portas after watching her Queen of Shops and reading both her book on retail and her illuminating biography. This book just confirmed that my respect for her is well placed. She makes well reasoned pleas for a change in attitudes in all walks of life to lead to equality both in and outside of the workplace. I read this book cover to cover in 24 hours because Mary writes in a conversational and very easy to follow manner and because everything she was saying about inequality really riled me up. I hope more people read this manifesto and get angry too, and then make changes up and down the country to make things better rather than putting up with the status quo.
August 22, 2019
So much great advice. Mary is passionate and eloquent as always. I can't wait to get started 💪🏻
May 8, 2021
I wish I read this when I first started working! A lot resonates and I loved that it was part memoir. Wasn’t a huge fan of the ‘guide’ style at the very end though. Will be interesting to see how things develop in a few years, particularly as we rethink the workplace post-COVID
May 27, 2021
Really enjoyed this one. Loved her honesty in admitting that she played the game early on in her career, and how she changed her leadership style to be more in tune with her core beliefs. Inspiring read!
August 28, 2021
This could have been a pamphlet, each chapter is the same as the one before.
Too focused on Mary's life rather than offer general concepts.
Disappointing
Too focused on Mary's life rather than offer general concepts.
Disappointing
January 26, 2025
First half was quite bad, seemed to be adding to the problem of women in the workplace rather than helping and was all about her life, which I quite frankly didn't care about, it wasn't why I picked up the book. Also seemed very unnecessarily against men in the first half, with her main advice being that women should just leave companies and start their own - that is not how change will happen for the greater good! However, towards the end of the book it picked up into what was initially promised - advice for working women and included how men are also still important. So overall some useful advice, but not written in the best way - it was almost two separate books.
January 15, 2022
Read this as part of a work book group - somebody said she thought Mary was a bit of a Janet Street Porter figure before she read the book - and if honest that’s what I thought.
Spoiler - she isn’t! (Ok not much of a spoiler….)
Easy read, with an interesting insight into Harvey Nicks Christmas windows, Ab Fab and being a mum that works. Mix of autobiography and business.
Spoiler - she isn’t! (Ok not much of a spoiler….)
Easy read, with an interesting insight into Harvey Nicks Christmas windows, Ab Fab and being a mum that works. Mix of autobiography and business.
June 7, 2024
Slightly disappointed. No real tangible actions you can take. A lot about Portas own story which was really interesting but not what I was expecting to read?
Although it did make me realise that my workplace is very flexible and inclusive.
Other than that I knew everything already.
Although it did make me realise that my workplace is very flexible and inclusive.
Other than that I knew everything already.
April 7, 2025
Another of those books that gives me so many quotable quotes that I want to buy it and fill it with post-its. The last one was Michelle Obama's Becoming.
January 31, 2025
Listened on library app. Very easy to agree with.
January 18, 2023
Usually not one for non fiction but this was a brilliant essay on women and work. What it takes to be a senior boss girl but also the honest difficulties of balancing motherhood and career. Would recommend to all women out there.
March 30, 2019
I wouldn't call this book a manifesto. Half of it is about Mary Portas' life and half touches on the general shocking reality of many women's working (and personal) lives. There were some insightful nuggets of advice. My favourite - not to silently and constantly fill in the gaps. 'Making life happen as if by magic' - organising, planning, tidying, cooking, you name it... - we, men and women, should learn that this is not intrinsically women's work.
"Instead of valiantly marching on, slowly disappearing under the weight of office deadlines, school projects, homework and organising everyone's social diaries, women should stop asking for help as if it's a favour. Instead, we should start seeing our relationships as a lot more equal than many of them are right now."
"Instead of valiantly marching on, slowly disappearing under the weight of office deadlines, school projects, homework and organising everyone's social diaries, women should stop asking for help as if it's a favour. Instead, we should start seeing our relationships as a lot more equal than many of them are right now."
March 29, 2019
**Listened via audible**
Ohhhh I love Mary Portas!! Some excellent ideas, tips and anecdotes. Plus fascinating statistics regarding women in the work place. Definitely recommend for any one who calls themselves a feminist!
Ohhhh I love Mary Portas!! Some excellent ideas, tips and anecdotes. Plus fascinating statistics regarding women in the work place. Definitely recommend for any one who calls themselves a feminist!
December 5, 2020
This book isn’t about ‘women’, it’s about Portas as a window-dresser through the decades. Fair enough if she wishes to write a book about that but I don’t want to read a book about that, especially when it’s advertised as a book on women in the work place ...
June 18, 2023
Torn between 3 stars and 4.
I listened to the audio book and enjoyed it. I'm glad Mary Portas narrated it herself as she did so with vigour. I was entertained by the book, and enjoyed learning about her career journey.
However. While she condemned Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In' for only advising women to navigate the patriarchal business system, and not dismantling the system itself, Portas' book seemed to share a similar tone with Sandberg's.
Both are smart, plucky business women, driven by their careers, who learn as they grow their families the importance of balancing work and motherhood.
Both womens' success can be attested to a combination of 'right-place, right-time', hard work, good sponsors/mentors, and so on. I'm happy they have both have had successful careers and I'm sure inspired many other women with their success.
However, I don't really feel any less confused about my own career. I don't think either book enlightens the world of women in work in the ways they *think* they do.
I think I'd have preferred this book if it had kept its focus on Portas' own life and learnings, and had spent less time giving out universal advice to all women. Because from my understanding, luck seems the biggest factor in success, then hard work and determination and all the rest of it.
But luck determines whether you're born in a prosperous city with more career inspiration, whether you have an inspiring network of good peers/teachers/role models around you at a time when you can be receptive to their advice, whether you stumble into a career that compliments your personality and stretches you without leading to burnout. Luck, then privilege. And Portas does recognise her luck and privilege now and then, but I don't think gives either one adequate weighting.
If you're looking to emulate Portas' career journey then this is a good quick introduction on how to maybe do that. But I don't think the advice tracks across to women working in small organisations, waitresses, nurses, doctors, public sector roles, etc etc. It's a book written to advise herself and people like her. Which is fair enough.
Maybe this genre of book just isn't for me.
I listened to the audio book and enjoyed it. I'm glad Mary Portas narrated it herself as she did so with vigour. I was entertained by the book, and enjoyed learning about her career journey.
However. While she condemned Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In' for only advising women to navigate the patriarchal business system, and not dismantling the system itself, Portas' book seemed to share a similar tone with Sandberg's.
Both are smart, plucky business women, driven by their careers, who learn as they grow their families the importance of balancing work and motherhood.
Both womens' success can be attested to a combination of 'right-place, right-time', hard work, good sponsors/mentors, and so on. I'm happy they have both have had successful careers and I'm sure inspired many other women with their success.
However, I don't really feel any less confused about my own career. I don't think either book enlightens the world of women in work in the ways they *think* they do.
I think I'd have preferred this book if it had kept its focus on Portas' own life and learnings, and had spent less time giving out universal advice to all women. Because from my understanding, luck seems the biggest factor in success, then hard work and determination and all the rest of it.
But luck determines whether you're born in a prosperous city with more career inspiration, whether you have an inspiring network of good peers/teachers/role models around you at a time when you can be receptive to their advice, whether you stumble into a career that compliments your personality and stretches you without leading to burnout. Luck, then privilege. And Portas does recognise her luck and privilege now and then, but I don't think gives either one adequate weighting.
If you're looking to emulate Portas' career journey then this is a good quick introduction on how to maybe do that. But I don't think the advice tracks across to women working in small organisations, waitresses, nurses, doctors, public sector roles, etc etc. It's a book written to advise herself and people like her. Which is fair enough.
Maybe this genre of book just isn't for me.
November 7, 2021
Don’t be fooled by my read dates - I borrowed this on the Libby app, missed the return date and had to wait to reborrow 🤦🏻♀️. I *loved* this book, and would have sped through it if I’d started reading earlier during my first loan period.
In fact, I couldn’t agree more with Sali Hughes’ pull quote on the cover - “Ideas, solutions, wisdom, kindness, and zero whining.” This Last is really important, because as a working class woman who made it into some of the top board rooms in the retail industry, Portas has had her fair share of fuckwittery and bias to face down, and while she doesn’t pull any punches in sharing it, she always does so with a good lesson and often a killer punchline attached.
I also like the way she acknowledges her ex-husband, life partner and home staff who provided her with the space and time to focus on her work whilst at work. The people who looked after her kids are clearly very important to her, and it’s appropriate in a book that argues for better acknowledgement of the labour exchange in retail that she should demonstrate those principles as an employer of child care, cleaning and household management professionals.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given my own circumstances, my biggest takeaways are that it’s absolutely OK to walk away from work that others see as successful and set up independently; that the workplace really is tough for women (and especially working class women), and that it’s tougher the more old boys’ rooms you have to enter to do business. And, above all else what matters is being true to yourself and your values. Follow your gut instincts. Be kind, but take no s**t. “Work like a woman.”
In fact, I couldn’t agree more with Sali Hughes’ pull quote on the cover - “Ideas, solutions, wisdom, kindness, and zero whining.” This Last is really important, because as a working class woman who made it into some of the top board rooms in the retail industry, Portas has had her fair share of fuckwittery and bias to face down, and while she doesn’t pull any punches in sharing it, she always does so with a good lesson and often a killer punchline attached.
I also like the way she acknowledges her ex-husband, life partner and home staff who provided her with the space and time to focus on her work whilst at work. The people who looked after her kids are clearly very important to her, and it’s appropriate in a book that argues for better acknowledgement of the labour exchange in retail that she should demonstrate those principles as an employer of child care, cleaning and household management professionals.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given my own circumstances, my biggest takeaways are that it’s absolutely OK to walk away from work that others see as successful and set up independently; that the workplace really is tough for women (and especially working class women), and that it’s tougher the more old boys’ rooms you have to enter to do business. And, above all else what matters is being true to yourself and your values. Follow your gut instincts. Be kind, but take no s**t. “Work like a woman.”
July 12, 2022
I was really interested and intrigued to read Mary’s theories about leadership using more traditionally ‘feminine’ values, but I was hugely disappointed. There seemed to be a lot of padding and repetition of the same points about gender inequality in the workplace, and very few actual ideas or examples of what she proposed. Of the few ideas she did propose, such as enhanced maternity pay, flexible working, no blame culture and not putting profit at the heart of everything, I found them unoriginal and also (can I be the only one?) already in place in my current working environment (higher education). I therefore found it a bit bizarre that she proposed these things as new and groundbreaking. I would have liked to know more about what she meant by leading by intuition and more interesting and original examples of what ‘feminine’ leadership looks like in theory and in practice. There was also very little definition of what she meant by ‘feminine’.
I also found her very self-aggrandising - this wasn’t meant to be an autobiography, so why feel the need to constantly discuss her career successes in what seemed a very vain way? I did pause and consider if I was judging her unfairly in this respect, and thinking differently because she’s a woman, but I really don’t think it was that. There was just no need for it in this book and her examples of her career triumphs and clever decisions stuck out in a very noticeable and sometimes incongruous way. They weren’t always related to leading in a ‘feminine’ style.
All in all, an interesting overall idea, but an utter waste of time spent reading.
I also found her very self-aggrandising - this wasn’t meant to be an autobiography, so why feel the need to constantly discuss her career successes in what seemed a very vain way? I did pause and consider if I was judging her unfairly in this respect, and thinking differently because she’s a woman, but I really don’t think it was that. There was just no need for it in this book and her examples of her career triumphs and clever decisions stuck out in a very noticeable and sometimes incongruous way. They weren’t always related to leading in a ‘feminine’ style.
All in all, an interesting overall idea, but an utter waste of time spent reading.
August 24, 2022
Don’t be fooled by my read dates - I borrowed this on the Libby app, missed the return date and had to wait to reborrow 🤦🏻♀️. I *loved* this book, and would have sped through it if I’d started reading earlier during my first loan period.
In fact, I couldn’t agree more with Sali Hughes’ pull quote on the cover - “Ideas, solutions, wisdom, kindness, and zero whining.” This Last is really important, because as a working class woman who made it into some of the top board rooms in the retail industry, Portas has had her fair share of fuckwittery and bias to face down, and while she doesn’t pull any punches in sharing it, she always does so with a good lesson and often a killer punchline attached.
I also like the way she acknowledges her ex-husband, life partner and home staff who provided her with the space and time to focus on her work whilst at work. The people who looked after her kids are clearly very important to her, and it’s appropriate in a book that argues for better acknowledgement of the labour exchange in retail that she should demonstrate those principles as an employer of child care, cleaning and household management professionals.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given my own circumstances, my biggest takeaways are that it’s absolutely OK to walk away from work that others see as successful and set up independently; that the workplace really is tough for women (and especially working class women), and that it’s tougher the more old boys’ rooms you have to enter to do business. And, above all else what matters is being true to yourself and your values. Follow your gut instincts. Be kind, but take no s**t. “Work like a woman.”
In fact, I couldn’t agree more with Sali Hughes’ pull quote on the cover - “Ideas, solutions, wisdom, kindness, and zero whining.” This Last is really important, because as a working class woman who made it into some of the top board rooms in the retail industry, Portas has had her fair share of fuckwittery and bias to face down, and while she doesn’t pull any punches in sharing it, she always does so with a good lesson and often a killer punchline attached.
I also like the way she acknowledges her ex-husband, life partner and home staff who provided her with the space and time to focus on her work whilst at work. The people who looked after her kids are clearly very important to her, and it’s appropriate in a book that argues for better acknowledgement of the labour exchange in retail that she should demonstrate those principles as an employer of child care, cleaning and household management professionals.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given my own circumstances, my biggest takeaways are that it’s absolutely OK to walk away from work that others see as successful and set up independently; that the workplace really is tough for women (and especially working class women), and that it’s tougher the more old boys’ rooms you have to enter to do business. And, above all else what matters is being true to yourself and your values. Follow your gut instincts. Be kind, but take no s**t. “Work like a woman.”
October 16, 2019
At work, a senior male colleague told me that the reason I might be held back with regards to progression and climbing the ranks at a young age is because I’m “too nice”. I was angry that a trait such as niceness might hold me back... I wasn’t quite sure who I was angry at at that moment in time. However, after reading this book I was reminded that I should be angry at the typically “alpha” dominated work environments that value traits that are more traditionally male than female.
I picked up this book after the work incident, at the airport before going on holiday as I was after a light and inspiring read. Although I have heard many of the headlines and research cited in this book (women are devalued and underpaid at work etc) I enjoyed reading these in a little more depth and there was some research I hadn’t come across before. I also enjoyed the punchy chapters and found the contents simple and easy to pick up and put down.
I also enjoyed the fun quotes, colloquial tone and Mary’s proposition and demand for change based on policies which have been implemented in other countries.
Mary is very experienced which came across in her writing. Some of her anecdotes were interesting and helpful, other times it felt a bit like an autobiography which is not what I signed up for (maybe I’m being a bit harsh).
Overall I’d recommend this book for its new ideas and “manifesto” and appreciated the descriptive referencing at the back. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a campaign to follow yet...
I picked up this book after the work incident, at the airport before going on holiday as I was after a light and inspiring read. Although I have heard many of the headlines and research cited in this book (women are devalued and underpaid at work etc) I enjoyed reading these in a little more depth and there was some research I hadn’t come across before. I also enjoyed the punchy chapters and found the contents simple and easy to pick up and put down.
I also enjoyed the fun quotes, colloquial tone and Mary’s proposition and demand for change based on policies which have been implemented in other countries.
Mary is very experienced which came across in her writing. Some of her anecdotes were interesting and helpful, other times it felt a bit like an autobiography which is not what I signed up for (maybe I’m being a bit harsh).
Overall I’d recommend this book for its new ideas and “manifesto” and appreciated the descriptive referencing at the back. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a campaign to follow yet...
November 1, 2025
I am a big fan of Mary Portas having first watched her on TV in the early 2000s. This book is part social-commentary and part-autobiography, intertwining Mary’s own working experiences with her view on women’s participation in the workplace. Her opinions are clear, although I feel she could have reflected more deeply on her own mental move away from “alpha culture”. It strikes me that Portas was able to make many of the changes within her own company precisely because she had created a name for herself by toeing the party-line for so long. It is much easier for older, established working women to take risks, but how much should we tolerate on the path to get there?
Much of what Portas (and her co-writer) talk about in this book is common knowledge. The advice is rational, and examples for change are pertinent. This book was written/published pre-pandemic and arguably, some aspects - for example, flexible working - have changed since then. However, what is resolutely clear is that responsibilities for change lie with all genders, especially when it comes to recognition of unpaid labour. Deeply entrenched societal beliefs about mothers and what is considered “women’s work” continue to go unchallenged, and I consider sometimes, to be going backwards.
Nothing new to be read about here, but an easy, enjoyable read from a slightly eccentric and feisty character.
Much of what Portas (and her co-writer) talk about in this book is common knowledge. The advice is rational, and examples for change are pertinent. This book was written/published pre-pandemic and arguably, some aspects - for example, flexible working - have changed since then. However, what is resolutely clear is that responsibilities for change lie with all genders, especially when it comes to recognition of unpaid labour. Deeply entrenched societal beliefs about mothers and what is considered “women’s work” continue to go unchallenged, and I consider sometimes, to be going backwards.
Nothing new to be read about here, but an easy, enjoyable read from a slightly eccentric and feisty character.
November 19, 2018
For me this isn't a book to sit down and read in one session - I tried and my brain just went to pieces. Instead this is a book that I found I got more of by picking it up and putting it down again - when I had the time to mull over the things Mary put forward and apply them to my situation.
I like that Mary tries not to exclude men from this, and couches terms in such a way that you know she isn't saying they apply only to, and to all, women exclusively. It shows that thought has gone into the presentation of this manifesto, as well as into the beliefs it represents.
I do think some of the things Mary suggests are a tad pie in the sky, but you never know - if enough people did change their thought processes maybe a more equitable workplace is something we will see in our life times, rather than something our grandchildren will benefit from. I'll certainly take some thoughts away from this and will start to apply them to my own life - even if one of my key talents is organisation (I'm pretty good at arranging meetings and meeting rooms if I do say so myself) - a typically feminine trait according to this! ;)
I like that Mary tries not to exclude men from this, and couches terms in such a way that you know she isn't saying they apply only to, and to all, women exclusively. It shows that thought has gone into the presentation of this manifesto, as well as into the beliefs it represents.
I do think some of the things Mary suggests are a tad pie in the sky, but you never know - if enough people did change their thought processes maybe a more equitable workplace is something we will see in our life times, rather than something our grandchildren will benefit from. I'll certainly take some thoughts away from this and will start to apply them to my own life - even if one of my key talents is organisation (I'm pretty good at arranging meetings and meeting rooms if I do say so myself) - a typically feminine trait according to this! ;)
December 6, 2018
I've always admired Mary Portas, as she has made such an influential name for herself within the retail industry and has had a fascinating life at home and at work.
In 'Work Like a Woman' Mary exclusively challenges women's experiences within the workplace, and outlines the ways in which employers, colleagues and families need to change in order to support women and promote equality.
She also writes about the values in embracing typically 'feminine' qualities within work, steering away from the usual hierarchical alpha-style working practices of offices, businesses and boardrooms. She suggests (using examples from her own business practices) that being more flexible, more open minded and more supportive of each other could really transform the quality of employees' working experiences and could help to bridge gender gaps.
I found this book to be accessible and engaging, but it was (naturally) drawn from her own experiences and often felt very much directed at women who are in similar careers and with similar backgrounds to her own. 'Work Like a Women' scratches the surface of a topic that we all need to talk a lot more about.
In 'Work Like a Woman' Mary exclusively challenges women's experiences within the workplace, and outlines the ways in which employers, colleagues and families need to change in order to support women and promote equality.
She also writes about the values in embracing typically 'feminine' qualities within work, steering away from the usual hierarchical alpha-style working practices of offices, businesses and boardrooms. She suggests (using examples from her own business practices) that being more flexible, more open minded and more supportive of each other could really transform the quality of employees' working experiences and could help to bridge gender gaps.
I found this book to be accessible and engaging, but it was (naturally) drawn from her own experiences and often felt very much directed at women who are in similar careers and with similar backgrounds to her own. 'Work Like a Women' scratches the surface of a topic that we all need to talk a lot more about.
February 21, 2019
Loved this book and Mary’s conversational style of writing - you can imagine her saying every line. Referencing her own experiences of work in an alpha-male world, Mary challenges the typical workplace and how ‘working like a woman’ and bringing equality into both the workplace and the home can have benefits for both women and men. Mary has got it spot on with what millennials in particular are looking for in their working life, and there’s very few companies taking into consideration sharing childcare, collaboration, letting people be their real self and standing up for what they believe in, I’d love to work’s at the Portas agency. I can only hope that every company moves to this way of thinking in the future and we create a more equal working culture.
I’ll keep reading back over this book throughout my own career and hope I can make changes in my own workplace to bring Mary’s points to life.
I enjoyed the quotes at the start of every chapter so I’ll end on this one:
‘I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass’ Maya Angelou
I’ll keep reading back over this book throughout my own career and hope I can make changes in my own workplace to bring Mary’s points to life.
I enjoyed the quotes at the start of every chapter so I’ll end on this one:
‘I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass’ Maya Angelou
August 16, 2019
I was sent a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
I don't review many non-fiction or self-help books so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.
This is half-memoir and half-advice, which actually worked really well for me. Each chapter starts with Mary Portas telling part of her story and it seamlessly changes into advice that links to what she as talking about at the start of the chapter. It makes for both easy reading and it shows how Mary knows what she is talking about and has experienced the advice she is giving. She has had a fascinating life and career where she had to work incredibly hard to get where she is now.
As a self-employed woman it was great to read this. I don't work in an office/board environment but there were definitely parts of the book that I could take away and think about. And regardless of how much you can personally put the advice into practical every-day life it's still a fascinating, empowering read.
If you're considering picking this up you really should!
I don't review many non-fiction or self-help books so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.
This is half-memoir and half-advice, which actually worked really well for me. Each chapter starts with Mary Portas telling part of her story and it seamlessly changes into advice that links to what she as talking about at the start of the chapter. It makes for both easy reading and it shows how Mary knows what she is talking about and has experienced the advice she is giving. She has had a fascinating life and career where she had to work incredibly hard to get where she is now.
As a self-employed woman it was great to read this. I don't work in an office/board environment but there were definitely parts of the book that I could take away and think about. And regardless of how much you can personally put the advice into practical every-day life it's still a fascinating, empowering read.
If you're considering picking this up you really should!
September 22, 2020
Work Like a Woman: A Manifesto for Change is more memoir than instruction for any working woman entering the corporate world of work.
Portas reflects on her career progression starting in the early '80s outlining the alpha culture that was apparent and the decisions that she made on the way to create a career where she felt she had more control. The creation of her own organisation allowed her to shape a culture of compassion, her decision to change her role in the same organisation again giving her the freedom to do the kind of work that she wanted.
As a writer, her matter of fact style works.
However, I have reflected on how to pitch this review, my own career started at the same time as Portas and the anecdotes of alpha culture are all too familiar. Regretfully, not everyone is able to take control and start their own organisation in the same way as Portas did. Equally, I do not agree that it is a Sandberg vs Steinman debate, how we all behave in the working world (both male and female) is a question of balance and change on both sides.
Portas reflects on her career progression starting in the early '80s outlining the alpha culture that was apparent and the decisions that she made on the way to create a career where she felt she had more control. The creation of her own organisation allowed her to shape a culture of compassion, her decision to change her role in the same organisation again giving her the freedom to do the kind of work that she wanted.
As a writer, her matter of fact style works.
However, I have reflected on how to pitch this review, my own career started at the same time as Portas and the anecdotes of alpha culture are all too familiar. Regretfully, not everyone is able to take control and start their own organisation in the same way as Portas did. Equally, I do not agree that it is a Sandberg vs Steinman debate, how we all behave in the working world (both male and female) is a question of balance and change on both sides.
October 24, 2022
This book written by Mary Portas about her life is a memoir to feminism and all women who are fighting against alpha culture in the workplace✨
Portas takes inspiration from her own experiences as she acknowledges the struggles faced by many women to climb the career ladder in a world ruled by men. It’s both funny and serious simultaneously as Portas uses stories from her times working at big brands like Topshop and Harvey Nics to showcase how she managed to get ahead in her career. Her story about how she managed to get Harvey Nics get featured in the hit series Ab Fab is my favourite!!
a pioneer of change in her industry, Portas is a real inspiration for many women and men alike who work within fashion and marketing. however, I learned that she is also a huge ambassador for many charities and champions a lot of smaller charities who you may not have even heard of before, whilst she also set one up herself!
a really pleasant read which makes you question the world as we know it when it comes to careers and the gender pay gap💫☕️
Portas takes inspiration from her own experiences as she acknowledges the struggles faced by many women to climb the career ladder in a world ruled by men. It’s both funny and serious simultaneously as Portas uses stories from her times working at big brands like Topshop and Harvey Nics to showcase how she managed to get ahead in her career. Her story about how she managed to get Harvey Nics get featured in the hit series Ab Fab is my favourite!!
a pioneer of change in her industry, Portas is a real inspiration for many women and men alike who work within fashion and marketing. however, I learned that she is also a huge ambassador for many charities and champions a lot of smaller charities who you may not have even heard of before, whilst she also set one up herself!
a really pleasant read which makes you question the world as we know it when it comes to careers and the gender pay gap💫☕️
December 8, 2022
This was a engaging read in which Mary draws from her own career experiences, and although fascinating, it felt at times as though she was directing her focus to women of similar experience/career background. I did love that she sees the value in embracing typically 'feminine' qualities within work, and not using the usual hierarchical alpha-style working practices of offices, and boardrooms.
The book very much focussed on only on the female experiences and challenges within the workplace.
What I did love was how well she outlines the ways in which employers, colleagues and families need to change in order to support women and promote equality and how we can each contribute to transforming the workplace and increase the quality of each womans (person's)work experiences, assisting to bridge the gender gaps which we all know still exist in all workplaces.
Overall I recommend reading this book, but as a contributory perspective to a wider learning experience, gained from other authors in addition.
October 25, 2018
A well thought-through and well-written manifesto for cultural change across businesses. Portas makes a great case for nurturing non 'Alpha male' personality types, and for implementing important gender equality policies to create parity in areas such as caregiving. My favourite part was actually at the end where Portas gives women at various stages of their career words of advice - she is almost like a feminist mentor for your career here and I think we all need that.
The ethos of the book vibes with so many conversations in the media at the moment around gender equality, but takes a very specific view of how this impacts us in every element of our work: in our creativity; in our leadership ability; in the way we speak to others and the sacrifices we feel we have to make to be successful in the traditional sense. I'd highly recommend it to women of all ages. It's a strong advocate for confidence and self-acceptance, no matter who you are and what your working style.
The ethos of the book vibes with so many conversations in the media at the moment around gender equality, but takes a very specific view of how this impacts us in every element of our work: in our creativity; in our leadership ability; in the way we speak to others and the sacrifices we feel we have to make to be successful in the traditional sense. I'd highly recommend it to women of all ages. It's a strong advocate for confidence and self-acceptance, no matter who you are and what your working style.
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