Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape is written by Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell with Linda Villarosa. It's Bell's second book, with her first being Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity (co-authored with Stella M. Nkomo); and continues on the struggle of women on the corporate ladder (or anywhere, for that matter).
Coaching for the 21st Century
But Career GPS is far more than that – and actually should be recommended for anyone seeking higher end employment within today's competitive market. While the stories recounted all pertain to women (with specific emphasis for women of minority cultures), the advice for advancement is universal. More importantly, Bell takes the reader forward, not back. She reaches to future strategies rather than focusing on what's worked before and what works for now. One theme stressed is the need to create and maintain social relationships with upper management. In effect, coaching for the 21st century.
The book is divided into eleven chapters plus an introduction and a required reading afterward. Each chapter has some type of hands-on exercise to be completed, plus a summary (The Essentials) and a "What's Next" paragraph to prepare the reader for the following section.
This is a book based on personal journey but filled with pertinent information. How refreshing to see a truly updated resume without the jargon but with an example that can be followed, with quick tips on why and how. And the importance of social networking within the company is clearly explained and promoted, with specific details. It is no longer a world of 'get the job and if you continue to work hard, you will excel'. Corporations need to know their employees: their strengths and talents. Yes, it brings one back to the old adage that "it's not what you know, but who". With a twist.
Based on Personal Experience and Observation
Note though, as this is based on personal experience and observation, that some of the advice must be taken with a grain of salt. Bell asks the reader to "be careful not to "brag on yourself" too much...you can't always your family when there's a success and definitely don't tell anyone when there's a failure" [p. xv]. While Bell admonishes new recruits to shed the old way up the corporate ladder, she unfortunately still holds onto the belief of secrecy – that those from a less privileged background should not blow their own horn – for better or for worse (as compared to those from a more privileged background who have learned to promote their own success from an early age). While details of necessity should be confidential, tomorrow's corporate leaders should rejoice in success and be prepared to learn from failure. There is no shame in either.
Bottom Line
Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape by Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell (with Linda Villarosa) is a how-to book written for women of all nationalities on entering and rising in today's corporate markets. It's filled with personal observations by not just Bell, but other women's stories of how to succeed. The stress is on the change from the old ways, with specific stress on forging social relationships with upper management.
Book courtesy of FSB Associates.
Reference
Edmondson Bell, Ella L.J. Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape. New York, NY USA: Amistad, HarperCollins Publishers, 2010.
Edmondson Bell, Ella L.J. Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity. Boston, MA USA: Harvard Business School Press, 2001.
Paym Bergson - Paym Bergson - freelance entrepreneur & career coach with extensive experience working in the educational/professional development ...
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