Embrace the Power of You: Owning Your Identity at Work

by Tricia Montalvo Timm

“An inspiring story of embracing one’s true self, with practical advice”
Publishers Weekly , BookLife Review (Editor’s Pick)

*****

Embrace the Power of You

In the competitive world of Silicon Valley, corporate lawyer Tricia Montalvo Timm knew that talent and drive weren’t enough to succeed. She had to belong. Timm took a cue from her days as a child actor, when she had to change her name to get auditions. As an adult, she downplayed her Latino heritage and her life as a mother to fit in. But after two decades of hiding and feeling exhausted and frustrated, she realized that to truly belong she needed to accept herself first. It worked. After showing up at work as her authentic self, her career soared. At the height of her success, she led the sale of software company Looker to Google for $2.6 billion.

If you’ve ever hidden your real self to belong, Embrace the Power of You will resonate. Timm’s journey toward self-acceptance provides a wealth of insight into the reasons why people feel alienated and invisible in the workplace. Timm knows firsthand the fear and shame that comes from hiding your identity, and shows how to overcome those feelings one small step at a time. Through her own story and those of other top executives, she offers powerful strategies and simple tools on how you too can show up as your authentic self at work.

If you’ve ever hidden your identity to fit in, this book will set you on the path to succeed at levels higher than you ever thought possible. A singular book from one of the only Latinas to have attained the triple achievements of reaching the C-Suite, joining the boardroom and cracking the venture capital ceiling, Embrace the Power of You is a warm and courageous guide to finding success through choosing your authentic self.

Genres: Nonfiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book in a different part of my life than when I finished, but it still held the same message. In Embrace the Power of You Timm speaks to people who have had to hide parts of themselves in the workplace due to their gender, race, or sexual orientation. Using examples from her own life she demonstrates how she navigated working in high profile career where nobody looked like her while trying to raise a family. It was her challenging experiences that made Timm want to make it easier for people to bring their full selves to work. I liked the actionable steps at the end of each chapter and the tips for managers. A read for anybody who has felt the need to tuck part of themselves away in the workplace.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Embrace the Power of You" is an inspiring guide for self-acceptance and personal growth. It unveils implicit biases in the workplace with real-life examples and transformative exercises. This book promotes empathy, bridging understanding between minorities and non-minorities regarding the challenges faced by those in the minority.

This book resonated with me because I have often grappled with the sensation of being the "Other." Although this feeling has been a recurring theme, the hurt it causes remains fresh. Discovering that I'm not alone and learning coping strategies has been a profound and comforting experience. As I continue reading, I increasingly find comfort in embracing my authentic self.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone, not just minorities.

[Lisa]

This book will help you answer the question that no doubt have already crossed your mind. I found myself nodding in agreement throughout, and occasionally jotting down a few notes. Worth a read if you manage a diverse team or if you are struggling with how to bring your authentic self to work.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep down we all want to be acknowledged and sometimes if not all times this is hard at the workplace where often we get in via a resume, and have to fulfill a set of duties as per our job descriptions so much so that personality and well being is shoved aside. This book reminded me of the importance of empathy, of how we talk to and include each other in conversations at the workplace.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Kimberly Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, the company I work for bought the book for us and hosted an in person book club with the author Tricia and it was a really special experience from reading her book to meeting her in person to make the connection. I loved all of the stories of other people that she shared, how you cannot see privilege, and how important it is to be authentically you wherever you are especially at work and why it matters! Thank you!

[Cassandra Thurston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned so much! Love the leadership insights and statistics to reinforce Tricia’s ideas.