When Women Lead: What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them

by Julia Boorstin

This groundbreaking, deeply reported work from CNBC’s Julia Boorstin reveals the key characteristics that help top female leaders thrive as they innovate, grow businesses, and navigate crises —“a must-read for all leaders as they consider the future of work” (Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space)

Julia Boorstin was thirteen when her mother told her that, by the time she grew up, women could be just as powerful as men, “captains of industry, running the biggest companies!” A decade later, working at a top business publication and seeing the dearth of women in positions of leadership, Boorstin assumed her mom had been wrong. But over the following two decades as a TV reporter and creator of CNBC’s Disruptor 50 franchise, interviewing, and studying thousands of executives, she realized that a gender-equity utopia shouldn’t be a pipe dream. Yes, women faced massive social and institutional headwinds, and struggled with double standards and what psychologists call “pattern matching.” Yet those who thrived, Boorstin found, shared key commonalities that made them uniquely equipped to lead, grow businesses, and navigate crises. They were highly adaptive to change, deeply empathetic in their management style, and much more likely to integrate diverse points of view into their business strategies, filling voids that their male counterparts had overlooked for generations. By utilizing those strengths, they had invented new business models, disrupted industries, and made massive profits along the way.

Here, in When Women Lead, Boorstin brings together the stories of over sixty of those female CEOs and leaders, and provides “critical insights into how women-founded companies begin, operate, and prosper” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Her combination of narrative and research reveals how once-underestimated characteristics, from vulnerability and gratitude to divergent thinking, can be vital superpowers—and that anyone can work these approaches to their advantage. Featuring new interviews with Katrina Lake, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jenn Hyman, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Lena Waithe, Shivani Siroya, Julia Collins, and more, Boorstein’s revelatory book “lays out a new, inclusive vision for leadership and our world at large that we all will benefit from” (Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive).

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Leadership, Feminism, Womens, Audiobook, Personal Development

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2022

Reviews

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Avid Reader Press, for the advanced copy of When Women Lead! Full disclosure: I work at a company led by one of the women CEOs profiled in this book, but that has no impact on my review and my opinions here are 100% my own.

When Women Lead is part data, part stories, all women. It not only highlights the fact that women founders and CEOs tend to post better business results — despite something like 2% of venture capital dollars — but offers plenty of case studies to help explain why. Boorstin introduces us to so many women leaders in the book, and they each have inspiration and wisdom to offer. She then loops in plenty of cold, hard facts and data to underscore and legitimize the common threads.

While I’m not sure I’m QUITE so optimistic as Boorstin that these trends will inevitably tip the scales, I did appreciate the hope she offered. I also loved hearing more about how all the sausage got made at some of these major brands (Bumble, Rent the Runway, The RealReal, Goop, etc.). The interview style of these chapters was great for the subject matter, and Boorstin weaves them together in a way that feels natural, engaging, and enlightening.

[Cath ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall theme and messages are relevant and feel relatable. Failed to sustain my attention partly because it’s non fiction but partly because of how the stories are paced. A lot of the takeaways are apparent from the sub headers and within the first few chapters.

Women make good leaders because they are forced to be more resourceful, risk-averse, good listeners, empathetic, and resilient. They tend to offer different perspectives and disrupt existing societal structures. This message doesn’t feel so new and nothing Boorstin wrote was especially ground breaking but a overall good view of women leaders in business.

[Sabrina Yudelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, I really hate to rate this a 3, just under a 3 tbh. The bottom line is I don’t think the thesis added much novelty to the gender gap conversation. It felt flung together with a passable, but a bit too obvious/overdone narrative.

The best part was learning about the amazing founder stories — that part was awesome, and what Boorstin has done in her career is so insanely cool — but I felt like she got wrapped up in telling those stories and I didn’t see how they were pushing the thesis forward.

Also, she concluded most chapters with a list of reasons the stories discussed are examples of basic qualities like “gratitude.” Like okay, sure, women are grateful. But isn’t gratitude important and beneficial for everyone? Isn’t there anything a bit richer and deep we can conclude beyond “women are grateful”? Maybe I missed the point here, but if that’s the case then I do think it could have been written a bit more persuasively.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE best book on leadership I have read. While the struggles and successes of women leaders is shared, the strategies are not necessarily gender specific. Empathy is something that we can all benefit from.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. Practical examples of females in leadership positions. So great to finally read a great book by an amazing journalist

[Zahra Saedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب به رهبری زنان در سازمان‌های مختلف، موانع پیش رویشان و حل کردن این موانع به روش خاص خودشان می‌پردازد. کتاب برای من جالب و خواندنی بود از این جهت که داستان مدیرعامل‌ها را با داده‌های پژوهش ترکیب می‌کرد و به نکات جالبی اشاره می‌کرد. در آمریکا زنان سهم کمی از استارتاپ‌ها و جذب سرمایه دارند و قطعا در ایران این نابرابری ناعادلانه‌تر‌ است. و طبق پژوهش‌های عنوان شده در کتاب رهبری زنان باعث بهره‌وری بیشتر سازمان‌ها می‌شود و سازمان‌ها از برابری سود بیشتری می‌برند. امیدوارم در آینده شاهد کاهش تبعیض علیه زنان باشیم.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars? It's great information, but I wasn't super interested. By the end it just felt like a lot of research being thrown at me all saying the same stuff.

The biggest takeaway from the book and something I've been learning a lot about lately is about the importance of diversity in leadership (which includes men, woman, people of color, etc). It just makes sense. Sadly, it seems like it's taken so long to realize that if you're trying to appeal to a wide audience, you need a diverse group behind it.

Even though women and leadership is not quite normalized yet and women still struggle with proving themselves as competent leaders, the book was still very encouraging and actually more positive than I thought it was going to be. Worth the read if this topic is interesting to you or you're in a position of leadership.

[Winston Solsrud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book but could’ve been 100 pages shorter

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read chapters 7 & 9 for work.

[Kristina J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when women!!!

[Anne Tomsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the start-up stories about awesome women leaders, but as far as how to become a better female leader, I felt this book lacking and/or too niche in its advice. Still many good takeaways and an enjoyable read.

[Ana Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shines in its collection of stories about female leaders and founders, and what sets it apart from other titles in the space is its focus on the venture capital industry. These narratives provide a much-needed spotlight on the achievements and challenges of women in leadership roles. My only critique is that the thesis of the book doesn't seem to bring much new to the table regarding the gender gap conversation. It's a topic that's been widely discussed, and in this case, the narrative felt a bit cobbled together - passable, but lacking in novelty and a bit too predictable. It wouldn't be my first recommendation for someone who is trying to learn more about gender equality.

[Allie McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boorstin thoughtfully talks about Women’s experience in the workforce through compelling narratives interwoven with hard facts. The stories in this book were about entrepreneurs who made it to the elite, but the lessons learned from them can be reflected into even the smallest of leaderships roles within any company. Boorstin makes a captivating and data backed argument that more businesses should include diversity in leadership because companies do best when men and women are able to collaborate effectively.

[Natalie (booknerdalie)]

I picked up Women Who Lead by julia boorstin because I saw it zoomed in on female leaders of startups. As some of y’all know, I’m a journalist and I cover startups and tech in Houston, so I knew I just had to read it!

Throughout my career, I have heard and read alllll about the disparities in venture capital investment for women. It’s an absolute ridiculous stat that women-led companies receive less than 3 percent of VC investment. It’s even worse for women of color.

So starting the book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to learn anything new or just continue to be infuriated by this inequitable system. But the author piles onto these depressing stats with stories of female founders who defied the odds across industries, how they identified problems and market opportunities, and took the risk and initiative to provide tech solutions.

I really loved the book’s sections that went industry by industry — especially the fashion and entertainment industries. Those are two worlds I don’t really get to cover, and seeing the movers and shakers in those industries and how they innovated

I had the physical book for reference but I also snagged the audiobook from librofm (thanks for the gifted audiobook!) I REALLY enjoyed the audio — gave me podcast vibes at parts.

Pick up this book if you love reading/hearing stories of diverse, successful women and want some girl boss energy to inspire ya! 💃🏼🙌

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really liked this audiobook, despite what I found to be an uninspiring title. I think creating a new book in this space is challenging, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quantity and quality of stories, real people, and unique statistics and data that were presented. The author was not only well connected in people she knows, but drew useful conclusions between differing experiences. Worthwhile. And not just for women.

Rec from Alison T

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book. The data and VC funding stories sometimes felt overwhelming, but was used well as supporting evidence for how women can thrive and make businesses successful even during troubling times and circumstances. Loved the stories she told and how she pulled it back to the ways women lead in atypical ways (in a patriarchal world) but can create something truly fantastic.

[Anastasia Bizyayeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When Women Lead" is a compelling and insightful book that sheds light on the achievements and successes of women leaders across different fields, from politics to business, entertainment, and sports. Julia Boorstin has done an excellent job of highlighting the unique qualities and strategies that women bring to leadership roles, such as empathy, collaboration, resilience, and the ability to balance different priorities.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is its emphasis on the challenges that women face in getting the same opportunities and recognition as men. Boorstin presents numerous statistics and case studies that illustrate the persistent gender gap in leadership positions, pay, and funding, despite women's proven abilities and qualifications. For example, did you know that women hold only 7% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies, or that female-led startups receive only 2.3% of venture capital funding?

However, the book is not just about lamenting the state of affairs but also about celebrating the progress and potential of women leaders. Boorstin interviews many inspiring women who have overcome obstacles and made a positive impact in their fields, such as Christine Lagarde, Mary Barra, Shonda Rhimes, and Serena Williams. Their stories offer valuable insights into how women can navigate the often biased and unfair systems of power and make a difference for themselves and others.

One thing I would say is that the stats about how much better female-owned businesses/ female-run companies do might be misleading - since you already have to be the exception to the exception to find yourself in those roles, it may not be that women are all inherently outstanding at running companies (though we don't have enough info to say that they're not!), it may be that you need to be so exceptional to find yourself in the position or receiving funding/ being an exec that you're already basically destined for success.

Overall, "When Women Lead" is a highly informative and motivational read that should appeal to anyone interested in gender equality, leadership development, and social change. While the book may not provide easy answers to the complex issues it raises, it encourages readers to reflect on their own assumptions and biases and to take action to create a more inclusive and equitable world. Highly recommended.

[Susan Waller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected, this book focuses on women and venture capital funding. It includes interesting stories of women CEOs, and is backed up with lots of data. The author presents compelling evidence that having women in leadership positions benefits companies and shareholders. Although women currently receive only a fraction of available venture capital, the author is optimistic that the clear benefits will eventually tip the scales in favor of women in business. Even though I'm not particularly interested in venture capital I found the book engaging.

Notes:
Pg 48
"According to a Harvard Business Review study… female board members help temper the overconfidence of male CEOs and push them to be more rational."

Pg 49
"A report from McKinsey found that… companies that are more diverse are 24% more likely to deliver above-average profits."

Pg 67
"Hundreds of studies support self-determination theory, the idea that if people feel that what they are doing is of their own volition, they’ll feel more motivation and passion at work, which will result in better performance."

85
Barbara Annis
"Women tend to integrate more information into their approaches to problem solving. …women take this more comprehensive approach because the female prefrontal cortex develops earlier and more completely than the males’s.* In contrast, she says the male brain is more likely to lean toward more ‘convergent’ thinking; focusing on one topic without straying to look at connected topics."

*The author gives no citation for this assertion.

203
"UC Davis cognitive neuroscientist Mara Mather, ... have found that when subjected to stress, men become more eager to take risks, whereas women take a more practical approach. Researchers at Utrecht University in the Netherlands found that in stressful situations, when heart rates and cortisol levels run high, men pay less attention to the higher risk of losses and make bigger gambles for rewards than they typically would; women in stressful situations pursue smaller wins that are more attainable and have less downside."

[Sam Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad to have found a relatively new and unblemished hardcover copy at my local library. This read hit shelves in October of 2022 and is narrated and written by CNBC’s Senior Media and Technology Reporter, Julia Boorstin. Within 400+ pages, Boorstin details the impact of many women-led businesses and organizations, highlighting their work ethics, betterment strategies, and intelligent mindsets when leading their teams.

From building up teams to fixing broken systems, the research shows that women lead with an elevated sense of empathy and understanding, and with each real-world example, we find the proof in the pudding. Boorstin reports on organizations that survive crises and how they withstand scandals and downfalls.

It was fascinating to hear how women-led businesses approached the COVID-19 pandemic. When Feeding America announced its COVID-19 Response Fund, the supply chain shutdown and stay-at-home orders quickly encountered them and how that affected the spike in demand and lack of resources cycling through their member banks.

When some crises can send a traditional structure into flux, women-led organizations are bound together to transform these scary situations into progress through their adaptability advantage, learning from their mistakes, and applying new practices. There were many case studies into how such organizations strive and survive under female leaders. As they defied the archetypes of your average CEO, they defeated gendered biases and acquired a new sense of resilience in their industries.

I found this to be such an inspiring read for women in corporate work cultures and felt further connected to feminist virtues and values with each passing page. I look forward to consuming more of the pieces Julia Boorstin collaborates and contributes to.

[Kristin Levin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boorstin did an exceptional job of laying out the disparate realities that women and men face in the workplace, and especially in the realm of entrepreneurship, through a series of personal stories that are seamlessly interwoven with studies and data showcasing the gender divide and its implications.

This book really resonated with me. It was upsetting to see how much of Boorstin’s experiences and those of the women that she interviewed mirrored my own, and undoubtedly reflect the circumstances that countless women endure on a daily basis in their professional lives.

I really appreciated how Boorstin highlighted the advantages of having females in leadership with quantifiable data and facts. It helped reinforce something that I believe myself and many other women are already aware of, and I almost thought it would be more helpful for men to read this book to gain a deeper understanding of the advantages that women bring to the table.

I do wish there had been a greater focus on how to navigate these challenges. For example, Boorstin mentioned that female CEOs of start-ups tend to have more success obtaining funding if their business has a social purpose. I thought that this was a very useful and practical bit of advice that could be applied on an individual level, and would have liked to see more similar tips. However, Boorstin makes it clear that systemic change is needed to address a majority of the problems facing female leaders, and, accordingly, this book just left me feeling largely frustrated and upset about the current state of the world.

It truly was an exceptionally done inside look at women who lead, and I’m very glad that I read this one.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the writing style and various vignettes and profiles of very capable, resilient, entrepreneurial women the book highlights. The book read like watching various news segments in its transitions from story to story and chapter to chapter which makes sense given the author’s tv journalism background.

Very pleased that the book didn’t get too depressing, as the topic, challenges and societal conscious and unconscious biases facing women founders and leaders are an uphill battle and the double standard and lower numbers of natural networks for funding, sponsorship and connection are just different between men and women starting out and starting new.

There are some valid criticisms of various founders and companies that are glossed over, but it did not detract from the overall narrative of what the author was trying to accomplish so long as the reader is able to think critically and objectively.

The book is a quick, easy and interesting read. Recommend for those interested in founder stories and entrepreneurial challenges. The book was a little lighter on the “what can we learn from them” vs what specific women were able to achieve in a specific time, place and circumstance leading to a 3-star review from me, but it is more due to my lack of interest in starting my own company from ground up more than anything. I had hoped fore more takeaways on the “what next” and how can we leapfrog women leaders but that wasn’t the focus of this book (unless you are a woman founder) so I was not the perfect target audience member.

That said, the book reads very well and has great profiles of a number of highly successful women and highlighys their journey to a successful venture.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ IF YOU LIKE...
• Women executive leaders
• The world of startups and venture capital
• Learning leadership skills

I THOUGHT IT WAS...
A mostly engaging compilation of research and stories of women, both white and of other marginalized groups, who are leading nonprofits, startups, large public companies, and more. In doing so, Boorstin discovered leadership traits and tendencies most often exhibited by women that are incredibly effective, proving that to be successful in business, women shouldn't simply strive to operate like men.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Boorstin interviewed interesting, noteworthy and a diverse group of women in the course of writing this book, and I really liked hearing their stories. (Of note for the @reesesbookclub fans, she profiles the story behind Hello Sunshine and I'm now quite impressed with the purpose and intention behind what Reese has built.) Much of the research included in this book was also incredibly fascinating. Some of it was unsurprising, but necessary to pack a punch, like the shockingly low percentage of venture capital funds that go to female founders vs. male founders, not to mention the even smaller percentage (less than 1%, in some cases) that goes to women of color.

This book could easily have been a lament, but instead it's an energetic look at the progress that has been made -- largely driven by women, especially women of color -- and the strengths that women already have, but that we need to embrace. Unfortunately, I feel these great takeaways are often buried within the back and forth between research and interviews. Some portions can get repetitive. And there's a profile of Gwyneth Paltrow and goop that doesn't quite acknowledge the validity behind the criticism she received for marketing products with unsubstantiated health claims. (Those pesky lawsuits can't keep a girl boss down, right?)

Even despite these slight pain points, this is a great exploration of the ambition and power of women, particularly in the world of entrepreneurship.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book filled with data on and concrete examples about successful female leaders.

Theme of data:
- women, and even more so women of color, are vastly underrepresented in the leadership, the VC world, VC funding and amount
- women tend to be put in positions of power in tougher situations, i.e. glass cliffs
- while in earlier stages of funding, VCs are less favorable to women founders, from series C onwards, the tide actually turns

Theme of takeaways/examples:
- women often lead differently than men -- i.e. leading with empathy, humility and gratitude -- and women should lean in to those strengths rather than trying to impersonate the male versions of themselves. Interestingly notes that those traits are socialized into women rather than innate
- one of women's best strengths is their leadership in times of crisis, by being able to recognize and act conservatively with risks, finding a way despite adversities, and being personable
- diversity improves performance and is more economically

[Caity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly this book almost lost me in the beginning; it opens with a statistic heavy chapter and takes awhile to get to a more narrative expression encapsulating the trials, errors, and triumphs of women in leadership positions. But as I moved through the book, I realized that the focus on the statistics was necessary to highlight the gross disparity in the C-suite and leadership world, all while further reinforcing the resilience and determination of the selected women. While I myself am nowhere near a C-suite position in my career, I have recently moved into supervising and managerial roles from what were previously “worker bee” roles, and the chapters gave me insight on what the uphill battle may look like as well as what avenues I can take to be a successful leader for my teams. While Silicon Valley, VCs, and cap tables aren’t my concern, plenty of other resonating points will stick with me.

[Joanna Wendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book is slightly misleading. Most of the case studies in the book concern women who’ve founded successful startups. It makes sense, since the author is a business journalist, but I was expecting more general insights about women in leadership positions of all kinds. The only chapter that came close was the one about how women in leadership roles in government and the social sector responded to the Covid-19 crisis.

I would have enjoyed reading about a wider variety of women in leadership positions, and their achievements aside from being successful at starting and running a business. For example, are women in leadership positions more likely to advocate for better working conditions and benefits for their employees? Are women more likely to increase the rate of corporate charitable giving (I believe there’s some evidence that they are)?

It’s a well-written book, just more narrow in scope than I expected.

[Darshana Bala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. The author takes us through stories of women founders and the very glaring issues they face, simply because they are women. Some of the statistics shared from studies are unbelievable.

It also focuses on how women leaders bring data backed benefits to the table, with their unique leadership styles.

It also discusses the intersection of more challenges posed by belonging to a minority that extends beyond m/f gender - race, immigration, privilege, education, and identifying as LGBTQ+.

I appreciated the stories of the founders, as it not only discusses challenges, but more so solutions and creative/critical thinking that that sets women apart from men, simply by how they choose to go about it.

We have a long way to go before we can achieve gender equity. Remember, equality is not the same as equity.

[Eva St.]

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a review

It's been a while since I've read a nonfiction, and it's been even longer since I've read feminist literature. This book definitely grabbed my attention, although we've been talking about leadership in science for quite a while.

First of all, I'm genuinely shocked by author's personal experience. Right from the beginning we are put into to the world where you have to put on a mask of resilience and "genderlessness" in order to be acknowledged by your colleagues.

From my personal experience as a woman in science it was never as harsh as for Julia. When she cites her mother saying "when you grow up, you can be anything you want" (loosely phrased here) and later tells us that she still agrees with this statement only partially, I rather disagree. BUT it hurts to know that in other professions, maybe in other countries women still cannot get leading positions just cause they are not males.

The book reads like a mémoir with many personal stories, rather than a study. The sense of admiration for women Julia interviewed is almost palpable so overall it felt like a nice touch.

[Nienke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive book on what entails true leadership these days; leadership that helps companies be sustainable and its employees thrive by clarifying some of the insights of female super powers. Offering these insights to leaders regardless of gender, color, sexual orientation and the likes.

Very well researched it underpins all outcomes really well and the stories of many female entrepreneurs makes for an enjoyable read.
.
The last part somehow read somewhat tougher, maybe because there were less stories, maybe because the part on disparities in equity confirmed again the other differences already highlighted in the book.

In any case, a book worth reading for anyone wanting to increase their leadership impact.

[Eira Deneb | the coffee brew bookclub ☕︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really good because it has so many insights, however (and this is my thing) what I have caught myself doing whilst listening to these kind of audiobooks (also particularly this narrator didn’t help) is that I get triggered with all the data that supports the whole storyline, so I got a sense that the author was providing more bad news than solutions overall. I liked that she mentioned some examples of internationally know women that have nailed it, however these women were either celebrities or politicians, which was kind of hard to related to. Overall is a good book, I just got annoyed sometimes and this is why I ended up taking forever to finish it. I so recommend it, don’t get me wrong, I just wasn’t left at the end with a solid sense of hope, that’s all.

[Karalynn Shade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really good as a reminder that we need women in more spaces, especially women of color. It was also a great encourager highlighting how many women have faced the challenges of being the minority and pushed through to see their vision come to life and become CEO of their own company. I just wish at the end it showed ways that people who come from disadvantaged states could get help to see their projects come to life. A way to bridge the gap. Other than that though it did a really good job of highlighting what women bring to the table and how men see that and just what makes women great leaders.

I would recommend this book to any women trying to go into business or create their own business. I feel it is an essential read.