The Best Biographies About Women in Business
I read about 100 books a year and I’ve done that for 14 years [1]. Naturally, I end up recommending books a lot and usually that has to do with the person I’m recommending to.
I’m sick and tired of there not being enough popular biographies written about badass women for me to recommend to my younger sisters and to friend who are girls/women (especially younger). This is actually an extremely serious problem. We all need someone to admire and look up to. It shatters our limiting beliefs and makes us realize. “Oh, if she can do it, I totally can too.”
Would I be where I am today if I didn’t read Theodore Roosevelt’s and Benjamin Franklin’s biographies when I was young? Hell no. Would I have snuck into that Forbes conference by climbing on the roof if I hadn’t read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biography earlier that year where he literally sneaks out of his military barracks, agains officer’s orders, to compete in the Mr. Olympia Competition? Maybe not. Arnold won the world title for Mr. Olympia, I ended up getting named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, his win is way bigger, but you get the picture — inspiration matters.[2] I sure as hell would not have hired 10 freelancers in the Philippines to find and apply to scholarships for me full time (how I paid for college) if I hadn’t read Tim Ferris’s book when I was 18.
Fueled by my frustration I went on a research rampage to find the best biographies about women ever written. I included the best ones I’ve read, and the ones I’m most excited to read next. Please add in the comments which ones you’ve loved that we should also add to this list. Please ALSO comment the links to the wikipedia articles about inspiring women that should have biographies about them but don’t yet: Think Gwynne Shotwell (SpaceX COO) and a TOTAL badass OR Melanie Parkings super young CEO of Canva — started in her dorm room now worth over $2.5 Billion). Here are some lists to start with The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women and America’s Wealthiest Self-Made Women 2019.
Arianna Huffington
“Thrive” https://www.audible.com/pd/Thrive-Audiobook/B00HUW3DTQ
AND https://www.audible.com/pd/On-Becoming-Fearlessin-Love-Work-and-Life-Audiobook/B002V0TNKU
Sallie Krawcheck, CEO Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
“Own It”, https://www.audible.com/pd/Own-It-Audiobook/B01MXTQSQ1
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“My Own Words” Autobiography + thoughts, long https://www.audible.com/pd/My-Own-Words-Audiobook/B01K3KUJ5C
And, Biography, short, “The Notorious RBG” https://www.audible.com/pd/Notorious-RBG-Audiobook/B00YI0CYQG
Sara Blakely, Spanx
23rd richest self-made female billionaire, has 4 kids. (out in May 2020) https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Spanx-Story-Audiobook/1400216214
“The Book of Gutsy Women” Hillary & Chelsea Clinton
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Book-of-Gutsy-Women-Audiobook/1508299234
Sheryl Sandberg (FB COO, Google exec) “Lean In”
https://www.audible.com/pd/Lean-In-Audiobook/B00B3YURD2
Michelle Mone, $60M lingerie company, “My Fight to the Top”
https://www.amazon.com/My-Fight-Top-Michelle-Mone/dp/1910536660
Oprah
Long: https://www.audible.com/pd/Oprah-A-Biography-Audiobook/B003F3OIRU
At least read her wikipedia page, specifically about her childhood Oprah’s story is unbelievable she is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey use Speechify if helpful — web/Mac iPhone or Android.
Jo Malone
Fragrance and scented candle business sold to Estee Lauder, (she is dyslexic), “My Story” https://www.amazon.com/Jo-Malone-My-Story/dp/1501110594
Lori Greiner (QVC + Shark Tank)
https://www.amazon.com/Invent-Sell-Bank-Million-Dollar-Reality/dp/0804176434
Alexis Maybank & Alexandra Wilkis Wilson,
Founders of Gilt, “By Invitation Only” https://www.amazon.com/Invitation-Only-Built-Changed-Millions/dp/1591846269/
Non-Business Special Mentions :
Melinda Gates (must read)
“The Moment of Lift” https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Moment-of-Lift-Audiobook/1250317045
Michelle Obama
“Becoming” https://www.audible.com/pd/Becoming-Audiobook/B07B3BCZ9S
Malala
“I am Malala” (her dad is one of my favorite characters in any book) https://www.audible.com/pd/I-Am-Malala-Audiobook/B00F9F8K8K
Tiffany Haddish
“The Last Black Unicorn” https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Last-Black-Unicorn-Audiobook/B074VH75H5
Tina Fay (Too fun of a read not to mention it)
“Bossy Pants”, https://www.audible.com/pd/Bossypants-Audiobook/B004RCBFII
For more book and biography recs go here https://medium.com/the-mission/books-that-made-me-20-times-more-capable-1767e4a68675
Know other books that we should add? Comment them below.
Know women/girls who would enjoy this list? Comment their name below.
Read one of these books? Write a sentence about why you think it’s good.
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❤️ Cliff
[1] And by “read” I mean listen with Speechify
[2] If you want to quickly learn more of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s incredible early story, here is a rap album I wrote about him (Think Hamilton by Lin Manuel Miranda but about the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger).
