Two women with fast-paced lives strike up a conversation on the sidelines of meetings held across the globe. Since 2011, they have been attending the same global events as chairs of major international development funds and discussing the challenging path women must take to become political leaders. These two women are none other than Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the newly elected head of the World Trade Organisation, and Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia. United by a passionate belief in gender equality and the gnawing frustration of not having yet achieved it, they decide to distil and share their experiences with women across the world, regardless of whether they aspire to pursuing a political career. The book is an in-depth exploration of the ways in which gender impacts access to positions of power and the extremely difficult struggle women face in climbing the ladder to a respected role - it is no coincidence that less than 10% of national leaders around the world are female. Through a series of conversations with some of the world’s most powerful and interesting women today, including Jacinda Ardern, Hillary Clinton, Christine Lagarde, Michelle Bachelet, and Theresa May, this book explores gender bias through true stories, real-life examples, and first-hand experiences told with disarming candour and frankness. These stories seek to be a new starting point, vital lessons for all those who wish to make their mark but are hindered on their way by sexism. A powerful call to arms for women all over the world.
“Much-needed, frank talk from exceptional female leaders about how they’ve dealt with sexism in the line of duty. The case for female leadership is a moral one: People should see in leaders a reflection of the full diversity of society”.
Kirkus Reviews
Julia Gillard was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, a role she held from 2010 to 2013.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). She is the first woman, and the first African, to hold this position. A Harvard graduate, she holds a master's degree in economics from MIT. She was Minister of Finance in the Nigerian government from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2011 to 2015. In 2020, she was appointed African Union Special Envoy for the mobilisation of international economic support in the continent's fight against Covid-19.
Two women with fast-paced lives strike up a conversation on the sidelines of meetings held across the globe. Since 2011, they have been attending the same global events as chairs of major international development funds and discussing the challenging path women must take to become political leaders. These two women are none other than Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the newly elected head of the World Trade Organisation, and Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia. United by a passionate belief in gender equality and the gnawing frustration of not having yet achieved it, they decide to distil and share their experiences with women across the world, regardless of whether they aspire to pursuing a political career. The book is an in-depth exploration of the ways in which gender impacts access to positions of power and the extremely difficult struggle women face in climbing the ladder to a respected role - it is no coincidence that less than 10% of national leaders around the world are female. Through a series of conversations with some of the world’s most powerful and interesting women today, including Jacinda Ardern, Hillary Clinton, Christine Lagarde, Michelle Bachelet, and Theresa May, this book explores gender bias through true stories, real-life examples, and first-hand experiences told with disarming candour and frankness. These stories seek to be a new starting point, vital lessons for all those who wish to make their mark but are hindered on their way by sexism. A powerful call to arms for women all over the world.
“Much-needed, frank talk from exceptional female leaders about how they’ve dealt with sexism in the line of duty. The case for female leadership is a moral one: People should see in leaders a reflection of the full diversity of society”.
Kirkus Reviews
Julia Gillard was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, a role she held from 2010 to 2013.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). She is the first woman, and the first African, to hold this position. A Harvard graduate, she holds a master's degree in economics from MIT. She was Minister of Finance in the Nigerian government from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2011 to 2015. In 2020, she was appointed African Union Special Envoy for the mobilisation of international economic support in the continent's fight against Covid-19.
