Synopses & Reviews
Charlotte Beers is proof that women can achieve power, pride, and joy at work—despite the odds.
In the highly competitive and often cutthroat world of advertising, Charlotte became the first female ever to head two giant, multinational advertising
agencies. In serving her demanding clients, she helped build many of the most important brands around the world. Today, Charlotte rates her current title—teacher—her most satisfying, as she travels through the United States and Europe educating women on how to ignite their own strengths, in what she calls “the era of forging ahead for women.” Her pioneering experiences have been captured in I’d Rather Be in Charge, creating a blueprint for women as they face their own challenges and strive to achieve the positions of leadership and influence they deserve.
Told in an intimate and honest style, I’d Rather Be in Charge is part personal history, part pragmatic guide, as Charlotte describes her own experiences, lessons from her peers such as Martha Stewart and Suze Orman, as well as stories of her students’ transformations. By chronicling both successes and mistakes, Charlotte proves that finding your own personal style of leadership is the only way to take charge, find satisfaction, and gain confidence in the ever-evolving workplace of today. I’d Rather Be in Charge is a breakthrough book. It is a master class for women who are ready to shatter their own glass ceilings.
Review
“Charlotte is the greatest master of knowledge I have ever met. This book will help working women remove their self-imposed blocks and become as great as they are meant to be.”
—Suze Orman, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Charlotte Beers is: Captivating. Persuasive. Charming. Disarming. Eloquent. Substantive. Successful. Modest. Strategic. Capable. Determined. Convincing. Enough said. Read this book to learn how to be in charge.”
—Martha Stewart, New York Times bestselling author
"A role model and champion to all women who want to make the most of their careers, Beers offers useful guidance on how to seize opportunities, be influential, and shape events."
—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Charlotte Beers rose through the ranks from a research job at Uncle Bens Rice to become the CEO of two worldwide ad agencies, Tatham-Laird and Kudner and Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide and undersecretary of state under General Colin Powell. Now working as a corporate troubleshooter and mentor for executive women, as well as conducting workshops in Europe and the United States, Beers offers an inspiring new path for women to follow to reach the leadership positions that have previously eluded them.
Beers begins by exposing a serious problem: even though women make up more than half the workforce, they are still rare in upper management. She explains that education, hard work, and solid experience just arent enough, and offers a solution by encouraging women to enhance their qualifications by building new kinds of relationships, ones that will help them to inspire and influence others in the more competitive and politically freighted atmosphere found at the higher levels of management. Beers contends that to accomplish this women must dive inside themselves to discover what really makes them tick, and learn to present that knowledge as they move up the ladder.
Complete with personal examples, anecdotes, and stories from successful friends like Martha Stewart and Suze Orman, Id Rather Be in Charge presents advice in an intimate, honest style sure to help women attain and nurture the self-belief they need to begin forging their own paths to success.
Synopsis
Charlotte Beers, dubbed “the most powerful woman in advertising,” takes female readers on a journey from within themselves and into the world of work, offering inspiring and practical advice in addition to guidelines for staying true to themselves while achieving their highest potential.
Synopsis
Throughout her illustrious career, Charlotte Beers has been a CEO, a Chairman, an Undersecretary of State, and the first woman to appear on the cover of Fortune magazine. But none of those titles compare to what Charlotte is called today: a Teacher, educating women across the United States and Europe on how to break the glass ceiling, in what she calls “the era of forging ahead for women.”
Now, Charlotte shares her extensive knowledge and experience in I’d Rather Be in Charge, detailing concrete solutions to the most serious issue facing working women today: Though exceptionally qualified, willing, and ready for the challenge, many are not yet in positions of influence and leadership in the industries they represent.
Told in an intimate and honest style, I’d Rather Be in Charge is part personal history, part pragmatic guide, as Charlotte describes her own experiences, stories from her students, and lessons from her peers. By chronicling both successes and mistakes, Charlotte illustrates the universal message that finding your own personal style of leadership is the only way to take charge and to find meaning and joy in the ever-evolving workplace of today.
I’d Rather Be in Charge is a breakthrough book, a master class for women who are ready to learn how to shatter the glass ceiling, reach the corner office, and—above all—develop their highest self in the workplace and beyond.
About the Author
Texas-born Charlotte Beers has combined her business insight with an innate Southern charm to become a legend in the competitive world of advertising. Featured on the covers of
Fortune and
Businessweek as one of the most powerful women in America, Charlotte and her mantra of the difference between products and brands revolutionized major ad campaigns brought unprecedented success to her clients and the advertising agencies she managed. Charlotte began her career in advertising as an account executive at J. Walter Thompson Advertising, later becoming the first female senior vice president in the firm’s history. From J. Walter Thompson, Charlotte brought her skills to Tatham-Laird & Kudner as CEO. Her success led her to her
next position as chairman/CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, a multinational advertising agency. Harvard Business School still teaches their bestselling case study on leadership entitled “Charlotte Beers at Ogilvy.” From 2001 to 2003, Charlotte served as undersecretary of state under Colin Powell. For her service, Charlotte was awarded the distinguished service medal, the State Department’s highest honor. Charlotte currently serves on the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and conducts seminars throughout the United States and Europe, teaching women the tools for transforming themselves into managers and leaders in the many industries they represent. Charlotte resides in Charleston, South Carolina.