Former Nike President of Consumer Direct Christiana Smith Shi and former PepsiCo COO Grace Puma offer a groundbreaking, empowering guide for women that shows how to prioritize a career path, build professional value, and enjoy a full life both in and out of the workplace. Drawing on decades of experience reaching the top of Fortune 500 companies, Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi show women how to maximize their career journeys, get paid what they’re worth, navigate the shifts that occur in any company, build a leadership identity, and enjoy the rewards of a satisfying career.
About The Book
Navigating your career can be difficult, especially for young women who are early in their climb and at a time when many long-held workplace structures and beliefs are rapidly changing. But the challenge doesn’t have to undermine your personal life or ability to grow. Drawing on decades of experience reaching the top of Fortune 500 companies, we help show women how to get paid what they’re worth, adapt to the shifts that occur in any company, and build a leadership identity.
Packed with personal anecdotes and wisdom from women who’ve been there, and accompanied by helpful quizzes and checklists for self-evaluation, CAREER FORWARD provides a wealth of valuable lessons, including:
Think of yourself as a growth stock – Always keep your eye out for opportunities that help you expand your skillset and increase your level of meaningful impact on those around you;
Turn into the skid – Career journeys will have ups and downs, even for high performers. Dial up your self-awareness and read your environment often so you know when conditions have changed that may require you to shift or adjust your direction. You build resiliency and confidence every time you steer through skids and take control of your career;
Keep an eye out for benevolent stagnation – Beware of managers who might be keeping you in one spot because you’re good at your job;
Re-think faking it ‘til you make it – Focus more on how you’re going to make new situations work and less on how much you may have to fake it while you learn. Self-confidence is a habit you can develop with focus and practice;
Live a 360-degree life – Don’t just manage work/life-balance. Instead, be intentional about setting boundaries at work and home – ones that value self-care and allow you to prioritize what’s personally important.
It’s all about pursuing a “Career Forward” mindset: career first, job second. “Career forward” means keeping a focus on the future and recognizing that being good at your job is often not enough—that you should take every opportunity to boost your connections, take on “difficult” assignments, and work actively to broaden your skills. We challenge negative stereotypes about female ambition, and urge women to be bold, follow their dreams, and seize the chance to lead “big” lives.
This book is our response to anyone who wonders whether working hard is really worth it (the emphatic answer is “yes!”). By correctly following the blueprint in Career Forward, the rewards will far outweigh the effort.
Reviews
“Full of wisdom—an extremely valuable read for anyone interested in the art of building a successful career.”
“Invaluable (and rare) career advice that involves mastering both the short and long game to make you the first chosen when opportunity knocks. A must read.”
“Sure to be useful for anyone with big career dreams. In these pages, the authors share powerful lessons learned not just in business but in life.”
“Delivers on the need for women to have practical roadmaps—and more—by sharing the important lessons the authors have learned and mindsets they’ve cultivated. While Career Forward is written from a private-sector perspective, I found, as someone who has spent a career in the public and nonprofit sectors, that the lessons are universal.”
“A marvelous guide that is both conversational and mesmerizing. This book taught me a lot. Whether you’re a woman or a man, just entering the workforce or mere steps from the C-suite, Career Forward is indispensable.”
“Pure gold for those seeking a long-term blueprint for success. You’re going to want to recommend this book to anyone trying to find their path.”
“Reading this book is like having two great mentors who are willing to give you the tough love and real-world advice you need. Put yourself in their hands: they’ll take you out for a walk and share what enabled them to persevere when the going got tough. And you’ll leave with hints and tips many rising women leaders really deserve but rarely get.”
“With Career Forward, you’ll be able to level the playing field and chart a clear path forward. Inspiring, the book provides concrete tools to aid you in your journey, including well-timed wit that will disarm the opposition. Plus, the presentation is always captivating—seriously.”
“Engaging, practical, and hands-on with actionable insights you can put to work right away. No matter where you are on the career ladder, you’ll be able to find yourself in this book. Key to Career Forward’s appeal is the warmth and genuineness of the authors who seem to be extending themselves to be your personal guides. Don’t miss the opportunity to absorb the lessons these two amazing women have to share.”
“Career Forward will help you think bigger, act bolder, and ensure you are the architect of your success. Required reading.”