Audacious - by Marty McDonald (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The founder of Boss Women Media and Black Girl Magic summit shares tips on how to stop playing it safe--and start creating a life that's truly your own.

Marty McDonald's pivotal career moment was nothing if not audacious: she stopped the CEO of a candy company in a hallway, pitched her idea for a special gummy bear flavor, and was soon promoting the Black Girl Magic gummy bear at Sugarfina stores around the country.

Now, Marty has penned a guide to help women go after their most audacious goals in work and everyday life, and make them a reality. With unflinching honesty, McDonald recounts her personal stories of triumph and failure, offering an intimate look into the audacious decisions that propelled her from uncertainty to success. From navigating the unknown to breaking through barriers that seemed insurmountable, McDonald reveals the mindset, strategies, and bold actions required to turn fear into fuel and transform dreams into reality. She helps women:

-Set aside fear and write a different narrative
-Grow comfortable taking risks
-Understand the investments you must make in yourself
-Understand that "no" is just the beginning of the conversation
-Learn other ways to make a difference beyond themselves

Whether you're looking to level up in your career, create a life of meaning, or embrace the wild unknown of new possibilities, Audacious provides the blueprint to help women find their authentic selves, reach for their wildest dreams, and craft the life they want and deserve.

Review Quotes

"McDonald's enthusiasm is infectious, and the lessons on how she built her company are mostly instructive... entrepreneurs will be energized."
--Publishers Weekly

"Thank you for giving us the courage to walk boldly in audacity!"--Tabitha Brown, American actress, social media personality, entrepreneur, author, and Emmy-winning host

"I've long admired and respected Marty McDonald--not just for her audacity in movement, but even more so for the clarity and power of her audacious vision. Audacious is a beautiful reflection of the boldness she lives with every day as mother, wife; daughter, child of the Most High and maverick entrepreneur. Audacious reflects principles that resonate with me profoundly as an entrepreneur and woman of impact. It is a reminder that affirming ourselves, moving with purpose, connecting deeply with like-valued people, and resetting when needed are essential parts of building a life we actually want to live. Marty doesn't just talk about transformation--she embodies it.This book is equal parts fire and fuel for anyone ready to stop playing small.Marty is a force, and this book will push you to be one too."

--Tai Beauchamp, Founder, Tai Life Media, LLC and Morning Mindset with Tai

"Offers both step-by-step guidance to the aspiring Boss Woman, in concert with Marty's own heartfelt and personal reflections on a decade of balancing ambition, motherhood and business. Her writing is vulnerable, conversational, authentic and ultimately triumphant... Jumping off the pages here is the devotion that Marty has for other entrepreneurs like herself, who are looking to find their own audacious footing."

--Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, Founder of Blackbird House

"Marty McDonald's Audacious is a must-read for anyone ready to move beyond self-doubt and step boldly into the life and career they were meant for. With clarity, compassion and undeniable authenticity, Marty offers a practical framework rooted in lived experience. Her insights don't just inspire, they empower."--Jana Etheridge, Senior Vice President Capital One

"My favorite thing about is Marty doesn't just talk the talk--she embodies audacity as a wife, mom & CEO while giving others permission to do the same. Audacious is the blueprint for any woman ready to stop playing small and start building the abundant life she knows she deserves."--Mattie James, Lifestyle Authority & author of Everyday MAGIC

About the Author

Dallas-based entrepreneur and designer Marty McDonald left her career in corporate America to launch her first company, Boss Women Media, in 2017. Implementing her business savvy from years of partnerships with various Fortune 500 companies, Marty took an idea for connecting ambitious women and turned Boss Women Media into not just a company, but a movement--including the multi-city Black Girl Magic Tour, the annual Boss Woman of the Year Summit, and a loyal membership community of over 200,000 women. Because Marty knows many women allow fear to hold them back from accomplishing their goals, she founded Boss Women Media with a mission to help women achieve more and remove fear as the barrier to their big goals and dreams.

In addition to Boss Women Media, Marty also runs a successful children's wear company, Elle Olivia. Marty was inspired to create this brand after her daughter, Elle, was born in 2021 with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, which meant she would need immediate surgery and a thirty-five-day NICU stay afterward to heal. During that time, Marty quickly realized her daughter would need two key things to navigate the world: advocacy and representation. From this realization, Marty and her husband dedicated their energies to addressing some systematic issues Black parents face, such as representation in children's clothing. The Elle Olivia brand is dedicated to showing girls big possibilities through the clothes they wear. Since its launch in 2022, the Elle Olivia brand is now carried in over 400 Target locations nationwide. Marty lives in Dallas with her husband and daughter, Elle Olivia, and twin son and daughter, Ryan and Laila. Marty enjoys time with family and friends all while building the future of her dreams!