Women Courageous

Women Courageous is about leaders fearlessly inhabiting their full power and changing the world.

-- Sally Helgesen, Author, How Women Rise, The Female Advantage, The Web of Inclusion

Courageous leadership and heroism often come with an unconscious bias as 'masculine' traits. Women Courageous: Leading Through the Labyrinth is a major contribution toward the recognition of the extraordinary courage, leadership, and heroism of women every day. Many of the chapter authors did not realize their roles as courageous leaders, but this very fact speaks to their often-overlooked contributions, and helps other women recognize the depth of their own courage.

-- Allan Combs, Ph.D., Author of Thomas Berry, Dreamer of the Earth; Changing Visions, etc., Professor of Transformative Studies, California Institute for Integral Studies, USA

The authors challenge the reader to deepen and expand the definition of courage as they present compelling stories of crisis and opportunity across personal, interpersonal, social group, and organizational contexts. Women Courageous is emergent reading for women and men.

-- Kevin Kane, Ed.D., Creighton University

Women Courageous invites practitioners and scholars to into their stories of courage, vulnerability, and in some cases triumph. This is not a 'how to' book but instead, a welcome companion for women who journey through the labyrinth. These stories remind us that sometimes courage roars, but more frequently courage is that steady heartbeat to try again tomorrow.

-- Leah Georges, Ph.D., Creighton University

In a world where so much of leadership seems driven by the cowardice of excessive self-interest, Women Courageous: Leading through the Labyrinth proves that courage is the element that can change the world.

-- Thomas A. Kolditz, Ph.D., Brigadier General, USA (ret), Author of Leadership Reckoning: Can Higher Education Develop the Leaders We Need?, Founding Director, Ann & John Doerr Institute for New Leaders, Director, Doerr Institute for New Leaders, Rice University

This is a major contribution to our understanding of real women leading across the globe and the role courage can play in a VUCA world where there are many challenges that at times go unforeseen. The 'real' stories provide a true picture of the amazing capacity and perseverance at the core of each woman.

-- Almarie E. Donaldson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Leadership, Indiana Wesleyan University.

The authors of Women Courageous use powerful stories to convey and contextualize leadership by women through the labyrinth of life. Each chapter guides the reader through applicable leadership concepts and theories that come alive in every engaging personal story.

-- Gill Robinson Hickman, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Jepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond

Women Courageous has its foundation fascinating and powerful women's stories from around the globe. It doesn't stop there. The authors analyze the stories using research theories and in doing so bring deeper learning from the stories. Each chapter is structured just like good teaching.

-- Susan M. Fritz, Executive Vice President and Provost and the Dean of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska

Never before has the texture and nuance of courage been so beautifully and generously shared in ways that expand even the most scholarly views about what courage actually is.

-- Susan MacKenty Brady, M.Ed., Simmons University, Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership, CEO, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

This is a great read, particularly for those who feel that the glass ceiling is virtually impenetrable. The stories of women who have overcome significant challenges in forging their own path of influence and purpose are captivating.

-- Pauline van der Meer Mohr, Supervisory Board Chair and Deputy Chair of EY Netherlands and DSM N.V. respectively, Independent non-executive director, HSBC

This book is a treasure! Its tales of courage are original and inspiring. It is, however, not only a book about overcoming adversity. It's about the courage to be fully alive - to say yes to life!

-- Grant Ashfield, CEO LeadershipWorks, South Africa

This very timely and uplifting collection of stories inspires people and women worldwide to lead through their careers and their lives with passion, conviction, courage and purpose - a must-read for anyone navigating the complexity of managing oneself, others and organisations.

-- Eric Cornuel, Ph.D., Professor, General Director, and CEO of European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)

When you read this book you accept an invitation to witness beautifully told journeys of remarkable, yet deeply human women. As much as this book is about them, it is a book for all of us. Their accounts inspire not only reflection, but the mindset and heartset that we need to encourage us to take our next steps forward.

-- Professor Nicola Kleyn, DBA, Dean of Executive Education, Executive Director RSM B.V., Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus Univer