Make Me the Boss: Surviving as A Millennial Manager in the Corporate World

by Emily Tsitrian

Between tech saturation, social movements, and global pandemics, stepping into your role as a millennial manager is more complicated than ever before. The business world is dramatically different since the previous generation landed their first promotion, and what worked for them doesn’t work for you.

With a little help, though, you can navigate this fabulous next chapter of your career—and become the leader you always knew you’d be.

Get ready to boss up! Emily Tsitrian has spent years coaching millennials into management positions, and now she’s sharing everything that you need for the bumpy yet oh-so-rewarding journey ahead. A sassy, meme-filled guide for your first six months as a people manager, Make Me the Boss will help you survive your new business climate, stay resilient despite inevitable screw-ups, and succeed like the badass you are.

You’ll learn
· Executive leadership skills necessary to #BossUp, like handling expenses, escalation, and hiring.
· The BSPEN Method, your secret for slaying performance reviews—because empowered employees make an effective team.
· Team-building tips to create a satisfying professional experience, not just a job, for your employees.
· How to integrate #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter principles into your strategic management and leadership qualities.
· Advice for thoughtfully curating life outside of work now that there’s a lot more on your plate.

It’s time for the generation of Missy Elliott, Emoji, and avocado toast to take the lead! Get Make Me the Boss to #BossUp into your newfound power with transformative leadership that shapes a better future for everyone.

Genres: Ebooks

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2022

About the author

Emily Tsitrian is the cofounder and CEO of a payments consulting company called Yeeld. With over seven years in tech management, she’s led teams at various companies, from mature public businesses to start-ups, including a unicorn start-up that grew into a global presence while she managed one of its brand-new departments.

After her first promotion to manager, Emily had to get scrappy and creative to figure it out on her own and learn effective leadership through trial and error. Now, she hires and coaches team members into their own management careers. She also hosts the manager.flow podcast, where she interviews a diverse and experienced team of people managers about their journeys and the highs and lows along their career paths.

Emily graduated from UC Berkeley in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Her leadership expertise has been featured in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, and she is a recurring speaker for Lesbians Who Tech.

A native of South Dakota, Emily lives in Chicago, Illinois with her spouse, Robbie, and senior rescue mutt, Mar. You can usually find her hiking, learning French, or attending themed dinner parties. Learn more at www.emilytsitrian.com.
After her first promotion to manager, Emily had to get scrappy and creative to figure it out on her own and learn effective leadership through trial and error. Now, she hires and coaches team members into their own management careers. She also hosts the manager.flow podcast, where she interviews a diverse and experienced team of people managers about their journeys and the highs and lows along their career paths.

Emily graduated from UC Berkeley in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Her leadership expertise has been featured in the New York Times, and she was a featured speaker for the 2020 (Not IRL) Pride Summit.

A native of South Dakota, Emily lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her spouse, Robbie, and senior rescue mutt, Mar. You can usually find her hiking, learning French, or attending themed dinner parties. Learn more at www.emilytsitrian.com.

Reviews

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Emily Tsitrian nails management advice in the age of Millennial leaders in her book “Make Me the Boss.” playing to her audience through the use of creative memes, non-traditional career advice, and a re-write of the outdated corporate career ladder. Her experiences as a first-time manager across various teams, industries, and leadership positions held, allows her to offer actionable advice, useful tips and tricks, and much needed reassurance for Millennials at this stage in their career.

“Make Me the Boss” comes at the perfect time, with the working population of the Millennial generation, those born between 1981 and 1996 as set within the constructs of this read, smack dab in the middle of their thirties and entering a point in their career where they are likely seeking or have recently acquired a management position. Having had trouble finding books tailored to help her in her own experiences as a first-time people leader, Tsitrian decided to use her successes and failures to craft her own inclusive guide to help others where she struggled.

There are so many complexities to the current business environment, from the social movements (#MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter), to the changing work landscape brought on by COVID-19, to the variety of personalities and generations you are likely leading (Gen Z, Gen X, Baby Boomers, etc.), this read successfully grasps each of these complexities and offers readers the confidence to tackle them effectively.

Despite the nature of this read, and the seriousness of the topic at hand (leading people is no joke, individuals’ lives are in your hands), Tsitrian makes this a fun and engaging read. Cheering readers on through the most emotional and distressing topics, using phrases such as “It’s officially time to boss up, buttercup!” (p. 6) her words jump off the page as she speaks directly to the reader as a friend and as a presenter of critically useful information. No topic is off limits in this complete guide to first-time management as everything from the basics including hiring, PTO, and the ultimate transition from individual contributor to manager, to the not so fun pieces like performance reviews, escalations, and meetings/feedback. “Make Me the Boss” is so complete in fact that it even houses a chapter and discussion regarding diversity and inclusion and the responsibility/importance of this concept for new managers, as well as how managers can play a part in dismantling the systemic racism present. 

This easy read is jam-packed with targeted knowledge, helpful guidance, and successful career advice, rolled into the guise of being delivered by a friend and trusted confidant. For Millennials and other first-time managers alike, this should be the FIRST read you pick up as you accept or consider a promotion to a manager’s role

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Emily Tsitrian nails management advice in the age of Millennial leaders in her book “Make Me the Boss.” playing to her audience through the use of creative memes, non-traditional career advice, and a re-write of the outdated corporate career ladder. Her experiences as a first-time manager across various teams, industries, and leadership positions held, allows her to offer actionable advice, useful tips and tricks, and much needed reassurance for Millennials at this stage in their career.

“Make Me the Boss” comes at the perfect time, with the working population of the Millennial generation, those born between 1981 and 1996 as set within the constructs of this read, smack dab in the middle of their thirties and entering a point in their career where they are likely seeking or have recently acquired a management position. Having had trouble finding books tailored to help her in her own experiences as a first-time people leader, Tsitrian decided to use her successes and failures to craft her own inclusive guide to help others where she struggled.

There are so many complexities to the current business environment, from the social movements (#MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter), to the changing work landscape brought on by COVID-19, to the variety of personalities and generations you are likely leading (Gen Z, Gen X, Baby Boomers, etc.), this read successfully grasps each of these complexities and offers readers the confidence to tackle them effectively.

Despite the nature of this read, and the seriousness of the topic at hand (leading people is no joke, individuals’ lives are in your hands), Tsitrian makes this a fun and engaging read. Cheering readers on through the most emotional and distressing topics, using phrases such as “It’s officially time to boss up, buttercup!” (p. 6) her words jump off the page as she speaks directly to the reader as a friend and as a presenter of critically useful information. No topic is off limits in this complete guide to first-time management as everything from the basics including hiring, PTO, and the ultimate transition from individual contributor to manager, to the not so fun pieces like performance reviews, escalations, and meetings/feedback. “Make Me the Boss” is so complete in fact that it even houses a chapter and discussion regarding diversity and inclusion and the responsibility/importance of this concept for new managers, as well as how managers can play a part in dismantling the systemic racism present.

This easy read is jam-packed with targeted knowledge, helpful guidance, and successful career advice, rolled into the guise of being delivered by a friend and trusted confidant. For Millennials and other first-time managers alike, this should be the FIRST read you pick up as you accept or consider a promotion to a manager’s role.

[Dr. Mansur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book fills a major hole in the literature. Too many books in this space are written by academics who have never practically worked in executive roles or experienced the real world problems that every new manager faces. Thus, their books are based on academic research and summaries of “best practices” and have limited application in the real world. I actually faced this situation in my early 30s when I was thrust into “management” without a title, authority, or compensation, one week after being hired as an analyst and asked to read, “Who Moved my Cheese?” I faced almost all of the situations, problems, and emotions covered in the book. I wish I had this book to guide me at that time and not have to rely solely on my survival instincts.

This book isn’t about leadership or management styles. Rather it’s practical and action oriented. I enjoyed the informal and sarcastic language; it made the book relatable, conversational, and easy to read. It’s clear that the author knows that management is a blend of leadership and administration and covers both well. The book is full of practical advice and insights that will help any new manager - regardless of age. It would have been nice to have this book to prepare me for what I would face instead of being hit by all the problems under severe duress with dire career consequences in the event of failure. Given my executive leadership experiences, for me, the most useful section was towards the end where the author shares insights on how to relate to various generational employees - though with the appropriate caveat that everyone will not fit the mold.

I enjoyed the innovative ideas suggested for running useful and enjoyable team meetings. New managers are typically weak in this area. The people dynamics described were real and the advice to tackle them was good. Leading with positive reinforcements and genuine interest in the success of others are stressed and these ideas resonated with me and my experiences bore them out. I’ve seen my share of managers who fail to run useful meetings. Team building, tackling bullies, multi-level communications (both written and oral), dealing with email or text wars could be added in future editions of the book.

While the author intended the book for millennials and the language could be appropriate for them, the book could be revised for broader appeal. Perhaps it’s my age showing, but I was taken aback by the use of curse words throughout. These words did not add to the insights shared in the book and detracted value from the insights. Due to this, it’s unlikely my manager would have recommended or bought it for us using company funds. A few word substitutions would enhance the appeal of the book to a wider audience and also make the book more timeless.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make Me the Boss was the book I wish someone had given me 20 years ago when I jumped my early career leadership and manager roles. I had all the confidence in the world and was celebrating myself like the author of this book said I should do but I quickly started eating pieces of humble pie when the work of managing began. I have also seen many others go through the same struggles. I wish I had written this book myself.

I am admittedly not a millennial but still found that the many topics this book touches on are very pertinent to be successful in managing, balancing interpersonal relationships, giving back to the world at large through social justice causes, and the importance of saying and doing the difficult things to make your team better. The less exciting but equally important things are in written about in the book too like expense accounts and a variety of HR topics. You can’t be successful in today’s world without knowing about those things and if you choose to ignore them you do so at your own peril.

I enjoyed the writer’s voice, humor, and the occasional edginess sprinkled in here and there made her voice authentic to me as she punctuated her advice with, not only passion for making those around her better, but also with solid principles. I appreciated the relational nature of the writing and how it wasn’t jammed full of stats and metrics and yawners.

This book would be a great primer to those jumping into the corporate work world but I liked it because it helped give an old Gen Xer like myself some perspective and insight into how to better understand and empower a talented and driven younger generation who doesn’t just want to change the work place for the better but wants to change the world.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful guide for first time managers, as long as you're at a large company.

Make Me the Boss provides advice and guidance for first time managers as they navigate their jobs for the first year, particularly in the first 90 days. There are chapters discussing getting started, building relationships with your team, coaching your team members to develop skills, doing performance reviews, transitioning the role, and handling tough conversations.

Overall, the advice seems useful. It does take into account the modern workplace in a way that many management books do not. I also really appreciated the section on upleveling and skills development rather than always striving for a particular title, useful when coaching team members. The opening did kind of annoy me though; acting as if all millennials don't know how to actually call someone is annoying. I also felt that the inclusion of some of the Black Lives Matter topics, while important, felt a bit disingenuous, even though they are important to discuss and consider in the workplace. The section on diversity and inclusion awareness and how to improve hiring processes felt much more useful and well-thought-out.

For me, the biggest struggle with this book was that it's really designed for larger companies with several layers of hierarchy and relatively large HR departments. That makes the advice less useful to me personally, given the structure of my company, but I don't think that's a problem with the book in general, just something to be aware of when you go into it.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent addition to the catalogue of management guides and provides a unique and necessary perspective. This book manages to both be a (literal) checklist for how to get started with management as well as a guide to help navigate some of the more complicated and amorphous aspects of professional relationships and corporate management. Emily provides guides and overview for the many mundane-but-necessarily parts of the job, while also firmly recognizing the role a manager plays in bigger and more complex corporate issues like growth & development and diversity & inclusion.

Even experienced managers will find useful content in this book. How many of us have 1:1s every week but never thoughtfully designed our approach to them, or how many of us think we could level-up in our approach to performance reviews?

As a manager myself I appreciate Emily's direct approach to complex issues, and am grateful to see her voice added to the many management guides on the market today.

[Trevor Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tsitrian gives honest and practical advice on how to navigate the professional world while wholly acknowledging the generational differences in the workplace. It was enlightening to get confirmation that my generational mindset doesn't have to be at odds with my professional one!

I'm sure this will be said countless times, but oh how I WISH this was book was a resource for me when I was starting in management - from the Captain/Community boss model to the countless relatable examples of workplace scenarios to "how to make team meetings not suck" (lol), the info within is invaluable to someone starting out in the management world. Or (if you're like me), this can be a huge help in trying to reframe your perspective on leadership and unlearn some of the toxic traits that you've inherited.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE LOVE this book! It is so refreshing to read a leadership book that is geared toward the younger generation. Not only did this book help me think of management in a different way, but it will make me a better communicator with employees that are younger than me. AND it is fun! How could a leadership book with memes not be?? It was like I was sitting down for coffee with Emily and she had me enthralled the entire time. Her depth of understand in leading others, the simple way she lays out how to be an outstanding leader, and her ability to address current issues with kindness, empathy and compassion are beyond compare. This book will become the dog-eared manual I come back to again and again as I strive to grow as a people leader in today's workplace. Thank you Emily for sharing what you've learned! You are amazing.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Reedsy and the author for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

I will confess right up front. I am not a millennial manager but rather a relatively new (3 years) Gen X Director. Did this matter? No, not a bit. It also didn't matter too much that I don't work in the private sector. Emily Tsitrian has an easy flow to her writing, and the book reads as if you are sitting across from her, having a delicious coffee, and benefitting from her mentorship. The book provides advice to help new managers make a difference, influence team members and colleagues, learn the soft skills needed to succeed, and become the boss you've always wanted to work for.

My full review is available on Reedsy

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the book. It’s a good jumping off point for new managers. My only recommendation would have been a few more specific situations and how to deal with them. For example, when to know to jump ship from a company, how to deal with a company that doesn’t align with your morals, what to do when you gently push for more inclusive policies and are met with overt racism. I appreciate the tone of the book and the things she does go into. It’s well written and researched but I would have liked a slightly deeper dive into a few things.

[Loy Maierhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came out at the perfect time for me- it was exactly what I needed as I stepped into a management role a few weeks before it arrived. While some of the more corporate related parts of this book were not relevant to me in a small, local company, this book was full of practical, concrete advice for that I could put into practice immediately. Tsitrian is funny, engaging, relatable, and I know my management skills have grown since reading this book!!

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a management book by/for millennials before and enjoyed this. I didn't really understand the memes throughout but otherwise thought it was useful, esp the part of managing other generations and the ladder of influence and impact.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

a Goodreads giveaway, i do believe. out on January 13, 2022. business mentoring & coaching (kindle & books). business management. i think this can give you some great ideas, tips and tricks. check it out!! go on. good luck.

[Elizabeth Leddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent content and a fun read. I wish this type of book was not needed. My only complaint is that sometimes the side notes distract from the core content.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome!!! I’m not a new manager but I found the content so on point!!! The content from this book will help me relate to the millennials I supervise. I highly recommend this book!!!