Publisher's Weekly Review
Harts, an assistant professor of public service at NYU's Wagner School and CEO of career-coaching company The Memo, issues a direct rejoinder to Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In in this urgent career guide. While reading Sandberg's book, Harts recalls, she realized that all of the books she had read about female business success came from a white perspective. Moreover, she had no interest in a narrative of overcoming career roadblocks by just working harder, when systemic injustice is the obstacle in place. By writing this book, Harts explains, she wants to keep women of color from leaning out of the workforce because of bias and limited opportunity. Buoyed up by examples from her own experiences, such as how she confronted a white colleague who consistently called her "the black girl," Harts provides a necessary guide written from and to women of color, focusing on "building your squad," navigating office politics, managing in a world that is anything but postracial, and investing in oneself and one's career. "Don't take sh- from anyone," she advises, followed by a much-needed wake-up call for her white readers, in how-and how not-to be an ally. The result is a much-needed new perspective on an overwhelmingly white genre. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Women of color face unique challenges in the workplace, yet there are few career guides written by those with first-hand experience. Harts, the founder of The Memo, a career development company for women of color, starts with what she calls the ugly truth, covering topics that women of color face at work, such as dealing with micro-aggressions or outright racism and building a network without the privilege of opportunity and wealth. Harts offers plenty of advice, as well. In Invest in Yo'Self, she advocates for creating a career blueprint and hiring a career coach to help advance skills. Other tips include how to find career allies in positions of power and the importance of negotiation. She also offers insights for my white readers and wraps up with the chapter Let's Werk, which has valuable resources like email introduction templates, podcast suggestions, do's and don'ts, and more. The book has been dubbed a Lean In for women of color and will surely be popular, especially among young professional women and those interested in diversity and inclusion.--Jennifer Adams Copyright 2010 Booklist
