To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership Are Rewriting the Rules for Success - Hardcover

by Jenna C. Fisher (Author)

Wall Street Journal Bestseller

The Next-Generation Women Leadership Playbook

In To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership Are Rewriting the Rules for Success, accomplished leadership advisor Jenna Fisher reveals how the world faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the gender gap at the top of organizations today.

You'll discover how traits often held by women--including compassion, empathy, communication, mentorship, and collaboration--are now in high demand. And why, in this time of volatility and disruption, women are standing on the most solid foundation for success than ever before.

Drawing on scientific research and the powerful stories of women business leaders who have already made it to the top, the book sets out how we can seize this opportunity in front of us. You'll learn:

• Why corporate progress for women has historically been stubbornly slow and strategies for breaking through systemic biases to take a seat at the top table
• Why women are particularly well-suited to lead companies through the complex challenges facing our world
• The specific leadership skills that are in high demand and how to develop a compassionate and commanding leadership presence
• The stories of women business leaders at the top of organizations today--their success, their missteps, and their lessons for success

An essential and insightful treatment of women leadership in a world that desperately needs more of it, To the Top is the first book since Lean In that promises to energize and accelerate the potential of woman leaders everywhere.

Front Jacket

In the United States, women account for 51% of the population and 70% of high school valedictorians. Yet, only 9% of the largest 100 companies in the S&P 500 Index are led by women. The math doesn't add up. Why?

In To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership are Rewriting the Rules for Success, Russell Reynolds Associates' leadership advisor Jenna Fisher sets out the systemic roadblocks that stop many women from reaching the highest levels of career success, while calling for a radical shift in how organizations think about their leaders.

You'll learn how women possess the exact skills, character, and knowledge that's needed to lead corporations through the complex challenges facing our world--and why we now face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rewrite the rules of the game and close the gender gap at the top of business once and for all.

Combining cutting-edge research with the stories of powerful women executives from across the world, To the Top provides a data-driven roadmap for how we get more women to the top, for the benefit of our societies, economies, and businesses.

Discover how the world of work is changing (and how this opens new opportunities to accelerate the path to parity) and what leaders and organizations can actively do to retain, attract, and build high-functioning teams of capable, diverse leaders.

An essential and practical treatment of female leadership in a world that desperately needs more of it, To the Top is the first book since Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg that promises to energize and accelerate the potential of women managers, executives, founders, entrepreneurs, and board members everywhere.

Back Jacket

PRAISE FOR to the top

"It's time to accelerate the pace of change and close the gender gap in the C-suite and on boards--for the good of the world, society, and global economies. Through powerful storytelling and valuable lessons from leading women in business, Jenna offers both inspiration and practical ideas for how to move forward."
--JOHN DONAHOE, CEO, Nike

"From her unique vantage point as an advisor to world-leading companies, Jenna invites us to rethink everything we've been told about how to succeed in business. Drawing on first-class research, inspiring stories, and actionable insights, To the Top is a vital blueprint for how we reshape leadership and build organizations where everyone has an equal chance of making it to the executive team and beyond."
--SYLVIA ANN HEWLETT, founder, Coqual and author, #MeToo in the Corporate World: Power, Privilege, the Path Forward

"To the Top shows why we need to close the gender gap now and accelerate bringing women leaders into the highest echelons of business and government."
--MARC BENIOFF, Chair and CEO, Salesforce

"By sharing stories of some the fiercest women in business, Jenna offers a powerful reminder that women have exactly what it takes to lead in our fast-changing world. To the Top is a must-read for any woman who wants to take their career to the next level--and any business leader who is looking to make meaningful progress on gender equity."
--ROBIN WASHINGTON, co-founder, Black Women on Boards and board member, Alphabet, Salesforce, and Honeywell

"Drawing on her extensive experience as a partner at a leadership advisory firm as well as interviews with dozens of women business leaders, Jenna provides the playbook for taking charge and making a difference--now. Chronicling women who have led Best Buy, Nike, Walmart, and a host of other innovative corporations, she maps a way forward, offering clear, actionable insights for your proven 'path to the top.'"
--MICHAEL USEEM, Faculty Director, McNulty Leadership Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and author, The Edge: How 10 CEOs Learned to Lead--And the Lessons for Us All

Author Biography

JENNA C. FISHER is a leadership expert at Russell Reynolds Associates, a global leadership advisory firm with 46 offices in 26 countries. Her work has been published by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CFO Journal, and Agenda.