Top 12 books by Female Entrepreneurs
As most of you will know, Monday March 8th is International Women's Day - a global day when we celebrate women and all their social, economic, cultural and political achievements.
One of the things that we thought we’d do to mark the event is celebrate some of the fantastic female entrepreneurs who openly share their stories and in turn inspire and empower so many others. Not only have they created successful businesses and tech startups, but they’ve also written great books too - books that we all can learn from!
We thought that we’d share some of those great books with you - inspirational one and all. So whether you buy one as a thank you gift for one of your employees or as a treat for yourself, it's entirely up to you...
1 Lara Morgan - “More balls than most: Juggle your way to success with proven company shortcuts”
Where to start with Lara! Lara Morgan was the founder and CEO of Pacific Direct and in this book, she shares all sorts of hints, tips and tricks that she has used and that can be applied to all types of startups and companies.
Her anecdotes and stories are down-to-earth, entertaining and most of all inspirational. And having built and sold a company for £20 million whilst still (almost) having a work-life balance, she knows what’s what!
2 Lu Li - Dear Female Founder
Written by Lu Li, the founder and CEO of Blooming Founders, this book features a collection of letters that have been written by successful female entrepreneurs who have made $1 billion in revenue. The letters are open, honest and inspiring.
Whether you’re just beginning your journey in creating a tech startup or you’re already there and need a little encouragement and motivation, you’ll find it here. It’s filled with insights, advice and wisdom from people who’ve been on that very same path that you’re on.
3 Deborah Meaden - Common Sense Rules: What you really need to know about business
From the entrepreneur who is synonymous with Dragon’s Den, in this book Deborah Meaden shares observations and advice based on what she has seen and experienced throughout her business career. She is frank, honest and open about the successes, the failures - including her own!
It’s a book that will not only inform you but will inspire you too. As you’d expect from Deborah, she’s straight-talking in her tone and the advice she shares is invaluable for any startup founder or a business owner.
4 Hilary Davey - Bold as Brass: My Story
Another familiar face from the Den is the author of this one - namely Hilary Davey. In this book, Hilary opens up about her personal journey towards business success. It’s a powerful story where she shares some of the challenges and issues that she has dealt with over the years as she was building her business.
She is candid about everything from her father’s bankruptcy and her failed relationships right through to her son’s addiction issues. Her strength and innate resilience shine through though. If you’re in need of a little boost to help you overcome your own challenges - whether in your business or life in general, this is the book for you.
5 Karren Brady - Strong Woman: The Truth About Getting To The Top
Whether you know her best from being Lord Sugar’s aide in The Apprentice or as Vice-Chairman of West Ham, there’s lots more that you’ll find out thanks to this book.
Karren tells all about carving out a career in an extremely male-dominated world as well as the personal health battles that she had to overcome.
She shares advice and tips, gives insight into lessons that she’s learned and how she’s tried to balance her professional life with her personal life as a wife and mother. It’s an honest account and all the more inspiring for being just that!
6 Bianca Miller-Cole - Self Made: The definitive guide to business startup success
Since we’re featuring a book by one of The Apprentice aides, we thought it only right to include a book by one of the candidates too!
Bianca Miller-Cole’s book aims to be a go-to book for entrepreneurs at all stages, featuring lessons and advice on every aspect of the startup journey.
There are interviews with famous entrepreneurs and industry experts as well as heaps of practical tips. It's all written in a jargon-free way and will help guide you from startup to exit! If you want to build your awareness of startups and the stages they generally have to go through, this is a pretty good way to do just that.
7 Jo Malone - A Nose for Success
The inspirational entrepreneur behind the globally renowned beauty business Jo Malone London and Jo Loves, tells the incredible story of her modest beginnings and how despite leaving school with no qualifications, she became a hugely successful entrepreneur.
Filled with insights into her passion, creativity and ability to innovate, the book also reveals how determination, resilience and hard work helped her succeed and overcome many of life’s challenges.
8 Patricia Bright - Heart and Hustle
With one of the fastest-growing lifestyle YouTube channels in the UK, Patricia knows what it takes to succeed. And in this book, she's sharing just that.
It features tips on everything from building your brand and running your business to strengthening your self-belief. Patricia aims to inspire all with this story of following your passion and taking control of your own future.
9 Anita Roddick - Business as Unusual: My Entrepreneurial Journey - Profits with Principles
Perhaps best known as the founder of The Body Shop, in this book the late Anita Roddick opens up about how she built the business whilst also exploring a wide range of issues - from business ethics to self-esteem.
Known for being outspoken and controversial at times, she doesn’t shy away from challenging entrepreneurs and their roles and wider responsibilities. If you’re creating a startup that’s trying to make a difference, this is for you.
10 Michelle Mone - My Fight to the Top
In this autobiography, Michelle Mone tells her tale of her humble beginnings in Scotland and how she ended up creating a hugely successful fashion brand. It’s about overcoming barriers and challenges and how having an innate drive can lead to success.
She is open and honest in her tone but what is most evident is her persistence and belief in what she was building. For any startup entrepreneur in need of a little proof that anything is possible, this is the one!
11 Tamara Mellon - In My Shoes
From the co-founder of Jimmy Choo, this book reveals all about creating a hugely successful fashion brand. However, even if the world of fashion does nothing for you, you’ll learn lots from this book. There are insights into raising finance, boardroom takeovers and most importantly some of the challenges that female founders typically have to face.
It’s gossipy at times but there are lots of useful tips too that would be beneficial to any startup entrepreneur. A memoir you can learn from!
12 Vicki Psarias - Mumboss: The Honest Mum's Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home
In this book, Vicki Psarias, founder of HonestMum.com reveals all about turning a passion into a business. As an award-winning blogger and vlogger, Vicky’s book is filled with tips on crafting a brand, building a digital business whilst also balancing work and family commitments.
She covers everything from imposter syndrome to rebuilding your confidence after having a baby. There is practical advice on being a #mumboss as well as lots of personal insights and it’s all written in a really down-to-earth relatable tone. Read it and be inspired!
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