There’s something powerful about the right book landing in your hands at just the right moment. Whether it’s a quiet revelation during your morning commute or a bold shift in thinking sparked over a weekend read, books have a way of meeting us where we are—and guiding us forward.
For women navigating the fast-paced, often complex world of tech, this guidance isn’t just welcome—it’s essential. In a landscape still shaped by inequity and underrepresentation, stories of leadership, courage, fairness, and reinvention can light the path ahead. With National Book Lovers Day recently behind us, it’s an ideal moment to honor the stories and voices shaping the future of tech—and those who lead within it.
That’s why we’ve curated this list of eight compelling reads—each written by or for women in tech who are redefining what it means to lead, build, grow, and thrive. These books are as varied as the careers they touch: practical guides to leadership, intimate memoirs, data-driven manifestos, and metaphor-rich inspirationals. Yet they share one powerful thread: they were written to empower.
Whether you’re taking your first step into the tech world, climbing the leadership ladder, or building something entirely your own, these stories are here to remind you—you’re not alone, and you’re capable of more than you think.
Anna Radulovski is an award-winning founder, angel investor, startup mentor, and the author of Chief in Tech: How Women Are Breaking the Silicon Ceiling and Leading with Impact. She is the Founder & Global CEO of WomenTech Network, a global community with over 150,000 members across 179 countries. Anna is also the visionary behind major international events, including the Women in Tech Global Conference, the Chief in Tech Summit, and the Startup & Innovation Summit—platforms known for championing diversity and driving meaningful change in tech.
She has spoken at Fortune 50 boardrooms and on prestigious global stages such as TechEx North America, Dublin Tech Summit, and Web Summit, often aligning her message with global movements like the UN's call for inclusive innovation and ethical tech leadership.
A passionate mentor and early-stage investor, Anna has advised over 100 founders on strategy, growth, and leadership. She sits on the boards of Coding Girls and Executive Women in Tech (EWIT), and is a Director at Founder Institute, where she supports the next wave of global tech talent.
Featured in Forbes, Bloomberg TV, and Fortune, Anna is recognized as a powerful voice shaping the future of tech—where leadership is inclusive, ethical, and bold.
Chief in Tech
Through exclusive insights from over 50 C-level executives and real-world frameworks like MOSAIC for mentorship and the Personal Brand Formula, this book equips readers with practical tools to build visibility, negotiate with confidence, and lead with lasting impact. Whether you're navigating your first promotion or eyeing a board seat, Chief in Tech gives you the playbook to make bold career moves, foster meaningful relationships with mentors and allies, and champion causes that matter.
With women still holding only 12% of C-suite positions in STEM, Radulovski makes a compelling case: the future of tech needs more women at the top—and this book shows exactly how to get there.
Jenny Wood is a New York Times bestselling author, fierce speaker, and former Google executive who spent nearly two decades transforming corporate culture and careers. Rising from an entry-level role to executive leadership, she built and led one of Google’s most transformative career development programs, Own Your Career, which reached tens of thousands of employees across nearly 100 countries.
Her debut book, Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, is a bold, energizing manifesto built on nine traits—Weird, Selfish, Shameless, Obsessed, Nosy, Manipulative, Brutal, Reckless, Bossy—that defy conventional advice and unlock audacious leadership. An instant New York Times bestseller, it invites readers to embrace their boldest selves and shatter the invisible barriers holding them back.
A former Harvard Business School researcher, Jenny has also contributed to Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Inc., and Forbes, providing tactical career guidance and mindset shifts that empower ambitious professionals
Wild Courage
Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It is an instant New York Times bestseller that turns conventional career advice upside down. At its core, the book is about giving yourself permission to be unapologetically ambitious—and to embrace traits that are often misunderstood or discouraged.
Through nine reclaimed “rule-breaking” qualities—Weird, Selfish, Shameless, Obsessed, Nosy, Manipulative, Brutal, Reckless, and Bossy—Wild Courage offers a fresh, actionable blueprint for professional growth. Each chapter breaks down how to transform these words from perceived flaws into strategic advantages.
Packed with practical exercises, real-life examples, and a lively, encouraging tone, Wild Courage is equal parts inspiration and strategy. It’s for anyone who wants to ditch fear, push past judgment, and chase their goals with unstoppable determination.
Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School, where she focuses on developing and testing concrete solutions to eliminate inequities in organizations. Her work spans the full spectrum of workplace fairness—covering women’s advancement, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), unconscious bias, behavioral science, the gender pay gap, parental leave, flexible and remote work, and talent processes such as hiring, performance reviews, promotions, retention, and compensation.
Siri partners with organizations ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations, helping them bridge the gap between research and practice through speaking engagements, consulting, workshops, and training programs. She is a sought-after speaker at global conferences, and her insights have been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, BBC, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others.
She is the co-author, alongside Iris Bohnet, of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results (HarperBusiness, January 2025), a practical, evidence-based guide to embedding fairness and gender equity into the fabric of workplace culture.
Make Work Fair
Make Work Fair delivers a bold rethinking of workplace equity from Harvard researchers Iris Bohnet and Siri Chilazi. Instead of relying solely on traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs—which can unintentionally shift the burden onto those they’re meant to support—the authors argue for redesigning the systems, processes, and environments where inequity takes root.
Grounded in behavioral science and backed by rigorous data, their approach focuses on embedding fairness into the everyday fabric of work. Using a practical three-part framework tested in organizations worldwide, Make Work Fair shows how to apply evidence-based changes to hiring, promotions, performance reviews, pay structures, and more.
The result is a blueprint for professionals at all levels—whether you’re leading a multinational team or contributing as an individual—to make better, fairer decisions that benefit both people and performance. This is not just a call for equal opportunity; it’s a step-by-step guide to making it happen.
Kweilin Ellingrud is a director of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) and leads Diversity and Inclusion for McKinsey globally. She has broad experience redesigning operating models in financial services and beyond to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness through process redesign, digital, and analytics. She also works with multilateral organizations, global philanthropies, and companies on how to move towards gender and racial equality. She previously led McKinsey’s Life Insurance Practice in North America.
At MGI, Kweilin has led research on gender equality (Power of Parity), racial equity, generative AI, the future of work, productivity, and sustainable and inclusive growth. She is a frequent speaker at global conferences and is a contributing columnist for Forbes. She is also the co-author of the book The Broken Rung to help women navigate their careers.
The Broken Rung
The Broken Rung is the hidden barrier that holds women back from the very first step into management—and its effects compound throughout their careers. In The Broken Rung, McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez unpack why this early promotion gap exists and how to overcome it.
Despite graduating at higher rates than men and often with better academic performance, women lose ground almost immediately after entering the workforce. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women—and just 77 women of color—make that leap. Drawing on over a decade of McKinsey research, 50+ interviews with inspiring leaders, and their own experience at the highest levels of corporate strategy, the authors reveal that the key lies in building “experience capital”—the skills, networks, and opportunities that boost earning potential and career momentum.
This book blends data-driven insights with real-life success stories, offering practical strategies for women to claim their first promotion and keep rising, and for organizations to dismantle structural barriers that limit diverse leadership. The Broken Rung is both a wake-up call and a roadmap for turning early career potential into long-term success.
Lorraine K. Lee is an award-winning keynote speaker, best-selling author, and a recognized LinkedIn Top Voice. Her debut book, Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career—a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Next Big Idea Club Must Read—offers ambitious professionals a roadmap for turning visibility into influence and impact.
Lorraine also reaches global audiences through her role as an instructor at Stanford Continuing Studies and LinkedIn Learning, where she teaches high-rated courses on professional presence and communication.
Her insights have appeared in major media outlets like CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and Entrepreneur
Unforgettable Presence
Selected as a Next Big Idea Club Must Read, Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career is a practical guide for ambitious professionals who are ready to be recognized, not overlooked. In today’s competitive workplace, being good at your job isn’t enough—you also need to master how and where you show up.
Drawing on research-backed strategies, personal stories, and insights from dozens of industry leaders, Lorraine K. Lee shares proven frameworks for building executive presence, mastering virtual communication, and delivering presentations with authority. Readers will learn how to stand out in virtual and in-person settings, leverage LinkedIn for visibility, lead meetings that energize rather than drain, give and receive feedback that sparks growth, and amplify their team’s impact.
Whether you’re an introvert seeking greater visibility or a leader looking to strengthen your influence, Unforgettable Presence offers the tools to ensure you’re remembered for all the right reasons—at every stage of your career.
Miri Rodriguez is a two-time bestselling author, acclaimed expert in digital storytelling, and the founding CEO of Empressa.ai—a pioneering AI-powered networking platform designed to elevate women’s visibility and equity in the corporate world. With over 15 years of experience, she has built an impressive career shaping narratives that resonate deeply and inspire action.
In her role as Senior Storyteller at Microsoft, Miri crafts compelling stories that bridge technology, leadership, and empathy, particularly across public sector industries. Her storytelling excellence is rooted in both emotional insight and strategic communication—roots she shares on global stages and in her bestselling book Brand Storytelling, translated into four languages and widely praised for its narrative power.
A passionate advocate for social impact, Miri mentors emerging leaders through initiatives in Africa and the U.S., guiding them toward branding with empathy, purpose, and clarity. She brings mindfulness and authenticity to her work through her platform Be Mindful Be Happy, and continues to infuse her professional and personal life with global perspective—traveling the world as a digital nomad while living in Miami with her family
The Women of Microsoft
The Women of Microsoft: Empowering Stories from the Minds that Coded the World is an inspiring tribute to the women who have shaped, guided, and led Microsoft over the past five decades. Through a rich collection of personal stories and behind-the-scenes insights, the book captures the highs and lows, challenges and triumphs, of women who have made a lasting impact on the tech industry.
Blending real-world leadership lessons with compelling narratives, the authors showcase trailblazing innovators, leaders, and changemakers whose contributions have shaped technology and opened doors for future generations. From pivotal roles in groundbreaking products to leadership in moments of transformation, these stories illustrate how determination, resilience, and creativity have driven progress inside one of the world’s most influential tech companies.
Complete with case studies, actionable advice, and celebrations of women’s role in innovation, The Women of Microsoft is both a source of inspiration and a practical guide. It’s an essential read for current and aspiring tech leaders, corporate decision-makers, and anyone committed to advancing women’s place in technology—at Microsoft and beyond.
Pre-order now to be among the first to read these powerful stories when the book launches on August 19.
Sheena Yap Chan is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, and movement leader on a mission to make confidence visible — in leadership, in organizations, and in every room where women show up.
As the founder of the Confidence Through Visibility movement, Sheena is globally recognized for her work in helping women bridge the confidence gap and lead unapologetically through the power of visibility. Her work empowers companies to retain talent, improve engagement, and build inclusive cultures where women are seen, heard, and respected.
She is the host of The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, a globally ranked show with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews featuring women leaders, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons who have reclaimed their voice and risen to leadership.
Sheena is the author of two bestselling books, including her Wall Street Journal bestseller The Tao of Self-Confidence and her latest release, Bridging the Confidence Gap — a bold call to action for organizations to reimagine leadership development by making visibility and self-trust core competencies.
Bridging the Confidence Gap
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World is an inspiring and practical guide for women ready to step into leadership with courage and conviction. Written by celebrated executive and business leader Sheena Yap Chan, the book offers a fresh, empowering perspective on the challenges and opportunities women encounter as they take on influential roles in business.
Blending personal insight with actionable strategies, Yap Chan helps readers confront imposter syndrome, navigate double standards, and embrace self-promotion as a tool for growth. She presents a replicable formula for women’s leadership, encouraging readers to celebrate their achievements, support others on their journeys, and claim their place at the decision-making table.
From overcoming internal doubts to building a leadership style rooted in authenticity, Bridging the Confidence Gap is both a rallying cry and a step-by-step roadmap. Perfect for managers, executives, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking to strengthen their confidence and create lasting impact—in their organizations and beyond.
Shelli Brunswick is a globally recognized leader bridging the space community with the broader public, fostering collaboration and innovation. She champions strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and leadership development, ensuring that space technology serves as a catalyst for economic growth and global transformation.
A Forbes Technology Council member, Global Trends Magazine Resident Columnist, & a prolific author, Shelli’s latest book, What’s Space Got to Do With It? 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth, distills insights from 30 global thought leaders, offering a roadmap for resilience, adaptability, and leadership success.
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Technology and one of the United Nations Environment Programme’s 100 Voices for Our Planet, Shelli is committed to mentorship, sustainability, and shaping the future of the space industry.
Her 35-year career includes service in the U.S. Air Force, where she led space acquisition and policy initiatives, and as COO of Space Foundation, where she advanced workforce development and space commerce.
What’s Space Got To Do With It?
In What’s Space Got To Do With It? 10 Life Lessons for Personal Growth, aerospace leader Shelli Brunswick distills over 35 years of experience—from her career in the U.S. Air Force to her global advocacy in the space industry—into a set of powerful, practical lessons for thriving in work and life. Using the space sector as a unique backdrop, she explores universal principles of leadership, resilience, and innovation that transcend industries.
Blending personal stories with insights from global thought leaders, Brunswick offers actionable strategies to seize opportunities, overcome self-doubt, build meaningful networks, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. Each chapter provides clear steps for turning lessons into results, making it an invaluable resource for leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals at every stage of their journey.
The first in a planned series on personal and professional growth, What’s Space Got To Do With It? invites readers to reach for the stars—both literally and metaphorically—by harnessing the same curiosity, vision, and determination that drive exploration of the cosmos. Whether you’re aiming to level up your career, achieve a personal goal, or simply expand your horizons, this book offers a fresh perspective on unlocking your full potential.
Your Next Chapter in Tech Leadership
From boardrooms to coding labs, from the launchpads of the aerospace industry to the virtual stages of global conferences, the women behind these eight books are rewriting the narrative of what it means to lead, innovate, and thrive in tech. Their stories aren’t just about breaking barriers—they’re about building ladders for others to climb, and creating workplaces where diverse voices shape the future.
Whether you’re seeking a bold boost of confidence, a blueprint for fairer workplaces, strategies for career advancement, or simply the inspiration to take your next leap, these books deliver the wisdom, tools, and motivation to get you there. They remind us that progress in tech isn’t just measured by the products we build, but by the people we empower along the way.
Start Your Leadership Library by picking one of these books today and taking the first step toward your next big career move.
