WHY SHE MUST LEAD
Bridging the Gap Between Opportunities and Women of Color.
"The purpose of Why She Must Lead is to amplify women’s voices, especially those from diverse backgrounds who have fewer opportunities than men. They have to break through what feels like a concrete ceiling to succeed."
-- Vasudha Sharma, Author
CHALLENGE
When the gender gap is mentioned today, many people are shocked to hear about it.
“We see women everywhere, in every field; where’s the gap?” they will say.
The people who belong to this school of thought, unfortunately, are unaware of mounting evidence of a continuing disparity. Although, since the dawn of this century, women have made more rapid advances in the workplace and the percentage of women entering management ranks has risen steadily, progress has been uneven.
Significant racial and ethnic differences have long affected the rate of women’s advancement. For diverse women, entering the realm of leadership has been an imperfect revolution.
VALUE
This book will help you understand, through the eyes of women with diverse backgrounds, why women are missing almost completely in the corner office.
Vasudha argues that women do not voluntarily choose to miss out on opportunities to lead. Instead, a flaw in the system keeps filtering out women who desire to rise.
Unless we pay attention to the experiences of diverse women in the workplace, this flaw will only increase the leadership gap.
What you can Expect
“I believe Why She Must Lead combines all aspects of creative ideas that women of color need to be successful today. Vasudha has created a detailed account of her personal experience and women leaders’ stories that will enlighten readers with a broader perspective of the work-life experiences of women of color. I highly recommend this book to everyone regardless of their background or ethnicity so they can become the allies women of color need.”
— Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno, CEO & Co-Founder of Future for Us—Advancing Womxn of Color at Work | Forbes 30 Under 30 Nominee
“Our world is changing, and women of color are leading the way. Why She Must Lead is a much-needed investigation into how we are overcoming outdated barriers and an inspiring read for the next generation of female leaders.”
— Senator Manka Dhingra, 45th Legislative District, Washington State Senate
“Astounding and powerful. That’s what this book is. Women are often overlooked in various career fields and are not given the mentorship and proper guidance that can help them advance in their careers. Vasudha has touched a topic close to all of our hearts, which is equality for both genders.”
— Senator Mona Das, 47th Legislative District, Washington State Senate
“Why She Must Lead is a true reflection of my transition into the non-profit world from a serial entrepreneur. I owned a beauty business (Meera Beauty Parlor), then moved into the garment business, followed by manufacturing cardboard boxes for exporters, and then finally managing my own advertising business. That was when I diverted my whole focus and attention to my passion for founding a non-profit and working for the community. Leadership is not just leading some people and organizations. A leader should have commitment, passion, empathy, decision-making abilities, and the skill to motivate people in a certain direction while planning daily life with due diligence. Vasudha’s book will be a game-changer, an inspiring force for many upcoming women leaders to become powerful agents of change for a brighter tomorrow.”
— Meera Satpathy, Founder & Chairperson of Sukarya
“Vasudha is a passionate advocate for the equal—and more—representation of women. Her dedication to equality and equity shines through in this book, and her deep commitment and long-standing work in the fight for fairness can be a lesson to many. I am excited to bring her vision of women leadership into the work I do training and readying women to run for office.”
— Karen Basserman, Executive Director of Emerge Washington
“Sharma assembles interviews and reports that highlight the astonishing reality of the everyday experiences of women. A must-read for all audiences, this book empowers women leaders to manifest their goals and inspires all readers to be reverential allies for female empowerment. Why She Must Lead compels us to activate a vision of equity that can impact the world.”
— Toshiko Hasegawa, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
“Why She Must Lead is a must-read for any leader in the workplace and for women who want to become more impactful in their leadership. This book champions the cause of equality and connects us to build a better future together.”
— Christine Gail, Best-Selling Author of Unleash Your Rising, Story Breakthrough Leadership Strategist, and Book Publishing Coach
“It is hard for women of color to break through social and economic barriers; Sharma’s book highlights the struggles and issues women of color face daily, especially in their professional lives. Great to see this topic finally getting a bigger platform. This book comes at the perfect time when we are all trying to amplify our voices against racial, social, and gender-related biases and inequities.”
— Naghmana A. Sherazi, Communications Coordinator at Gonzaga University, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
“Vasudha is a fantastic writer and speaker. I congratulate her for successfully portraying how diverse cultures play a role in accessing opportunities for women. This book is truly about investigating the leadership gap microscopically and providing solutions. I wholeheartedly endorse Why She Must Lead and recommend everyone buy and read this book. My core team has all women leaders, and I genuinely believe reading it was a factor that multiplied success for us. When women start supporting each other, the sky is not the limit.”
— Gunjan Kuthiala, CEO, NRI LIFE Productions and Managing Partner—Jobgini
“This book is a must-read for all women of color trying to climb the corporate ladder; we are routinely knocked down and not given the same opportunities as the average white man. We keep reaching a glass ceiling, but we are unable to break it due to structural racism. Sharma’s book dives deep into the issues women of color face in the workplace.”
— Heena Khatri, Racial Justice Advocate
“Why She Must Lead is long overdue. It gives compelling evidence for how women of color are already key players in the workplace and deserve to be recognized as such. The face of America is changing and will continue to change, and Vasudha Sharma is here to help the rest of us change with it.”
— Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD and Award-Winning Author of Kawbawgam: The Chief, The Legend, The Man and The Gothic Wanderer