Success on Our Own Terms - by Virginia O'Brien (Hardcover)

About the Book

Through a combination of surveys and interviews which she conducted with women across America, O'Brien presents a portrait that celebrates how far women have come in corporate America and explains why merely looking at the numbers of women CEOs (of which there are very few) is an not an accurate indication of the great strides women have made.

Book Synopsis

Q: How many female CEOs does it take to break the glassceiling?

A: That's the wrong question!

Numbers alone simply don't tell the real story of how women aredoing in today's corporate world. Success on Our Own Terms does.It's filled with real stories -- stories of ordinary women who aremaking an extraordinary difference in the way corporationswork.

Success on Our Own Terms features women of different ages, ethnicbackgrounds, and educational levels. Their combined experiencesoffer a fascinating portrait of how the corporate landscape haschanged for women over the last few decades. This book is filledwith the wisdom of these experiences, from important lessons onnavigating corporate corridors and influencing the system tojuggling work and personal life, helping local communities, andmuch more.

Exploring the multidimensional definition of success shared bythese women, this book reveals how they are working hard to reachtheir goals, balance their lives, and make a positive contributionto society. It shows how they --and others like them --aretransforming the organization from the inside out through their ownunique management style, values, vision, and determination.

By designing, achieving, and owning their success, women areexploding conventional definitions of their progress in theworkplace. The female voices in Success on Our Own Terms inform, encourage, and inspire us all.

"Wonderful, timely, and absolutely refreshing. Reading this bookexcited and inspired me, and reaffirmed my belief that the futurewill be a great place for women." --Sally Helgesen, author of TheFemale Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership and EverydayRevolutionaries: Working Women and the Transformation of AmericanLife

"Virginia O'Brien tells the real story --that 'we are entering anew phase in which women are becoming full participants with men inconducting the nation's business.'. . . It's a heartening read, anda good antidote to media tales of doom and gloom." --Caryl Rivers, coauthor of She Works, He Works: How Two Income Families AreHappier, Healthier, and Better Off

"A must read to understand the multidimensional new valuessuccessful women bring to the marketplace of ideas. . . . [Readers]will find themselves, a friend, or a loved one on every page."--Carol R. Goldberg, President of the Avcar Group, Ltd. and formerPresident and COO of Stop & Shop Companies, Inc.

"Insightful and informative. This excellent work brings the storiesof successful women executives to the forefront." --Charles E.Rice, Chairman and CEO, Barnett Banks, Inc.

"These are inspiring stories, which I highly recommend." --RichardMcCormick, Chairman and CEO, US West, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Q: How many female CEOs does it take to break the glass ceiling?

A: That's the wrong question!

Numbers alone simply don't tell the real story of how women are doing in today's corporate world. Success on Our Own Terms does. It's filled with real stories--stories of ordinary women who are making an extraordinary difference in the way corporations work.

Success on Our Own Terms features women of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, and educational levels. Their combined experiences offer a fascinating portrait of how the corporate landscape has changed for women over the last few decades. This book is filled with the wisdom of these experiences, from important lessons on navigating corporate corridors and influencing the system to juggling work and personal life, helping local communities, and much more.

Exploring the multidimensional definition of success shared by these women, this book reveals how they are working hard to reach their goals, balance their lives, and make a positive contribution to society. It shows how they--and others like them--are transforming the organization from the inside out through their own unique management style, values, vision, and determination.

By designing, achieving, and owning their success, women are exploding conventional definitions of their progress in the workplace. The female voices in Success on Our Own Terms inform, encourage, and inspire us all.

Review Quotes

O'Brien's book "offers an inside look at the corporate and personal lives of women who have crashed through the glass ceiling, many of them with the help of a mentor."--Boston Globe

About the Author

VIRGINIA O'BRIEN is a freelance writer and editor who has served as the director of communication for organizations in the small business and nonprofit sectors. A member of the National Association of Female Executives and the American Association of University Women, she is the author of The Fast Forward MBA in Business, also published by Wiley.