10 Best Business Books Written by Women

Download our FREE Essential Booklist of 40 inspiring books for female entrepreneurs and women in business.

When you’re entrepreneuring as female, finding a business book that speaks to you and your specific concerns can be hard. 

Sure, there are some great business books out there. But many are written by men who are less hampered by the responsibilities of home, family, or just good old-fashioned gender politics to understand the particular advice, information and inspiring words that are most helpful to a woman in business. 

According to recent stats, there are about 252 million female entrepreneurs in the world. So, you would think that finding a book or three written specifically from and about their experiences would be done in less time than it takes to say "Madame CJ Walker". 

Yet that’s not always the case.

Check out any Top 10 Business Books list online and you’ll be hard pressed to find one that features a single female-authored business book, let alone more than that.

But those books do exist.

And not only that, many are damn good and written by women who’ve been there, done that, and built the globally-successful business.

So, I've decided to create a list of 10 of the best business books - all written by women.

And all perfect for female entrepreneurs trying to find their purpose, their voice and the time in-between morning feeds and school pickups (if that’s where you’re at in life) to rethink and own what it means to be a woman in business today.

Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs by Nathalie Molina Niño

This is one of my favourite no-BS biz books. 

In it, Nathalie Molina Niño, an investor, educator and retired global tech entrepreneur, offers a smart, unapologetic collection of 50 proven hacks for women entrepreneurs to leapfrog over obstacles and succeed in business.

BUY IT NOW: Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs by Nathalie Molina Niño - €16,53

 

Women Who Don’t Wait in Line: Break the Mold, Lead the Way - by Reshma Saujani

A wake-up call in ink from Reshma Saujani, the former New York City Deputy Public Advocate and founder of the national nonprofit Girls Who Code. 

Saujani argues that aversion to risk and failure is the final hurdle holding women back in the workplace - and shows us how to get over it.

 

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A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard - by Elia VanCort

As women, we often feel the pressure to make ourselves small in private, professional, and public spaces. 

And this is exactly why best-selling author, teacher, consultant and speaker, Eliza VanCort provides the necessary tools in this book for women to use their voice and body and reclaim their rightful space, stop self-sabotage and other negative behaviours, and unite with other women, especially those in targeted groups, to build successful businesses. 

Now, that’s what I’m talking about.

 

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

If Brené Brown wrote a shopping list, I’d be interested in reading it – She’s just a superb and inspirational writer.

In Dare to Lead, the best-selling author and researcher show us what empathy, connection and vulnerability really have to do with being a great leader. 

And, yes, it’s a damn good read (even if it’s not a shopping list!)

BUY IT NOW:  Dare to Lead by Brené Brown - €19,55

 

Girl Code: Unlocking the Secret to Success, Sanity and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur - by Cara Alwill Leyba

Women supporting women is one of the ways we reach success.

In Girl Code, the best-selling personal development author and entrepreneur, Cara Alwill Leyba, discusses why it’s so important to reach out to other women, share our wisdom, and, ultimately, help each other in getting our voices heard.

 

I Know How She Does It (How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time) by Laura Vanderkam

Ever felt there just aren’t enough hours in the day?

Yep. Well, you’re not alone.

That’s why, author and time management expert, Laura Vanderkam,decided tocollect hour-by-hour time logs from 1,001 days in the lives ofsuccessful businesswomento find out whether they have a secret they’re not telling us!

Truth is,Vanderkamdiscovered some surprising patterns in how these womenmanage to juggle their 168 hoursa week.

Among some interesting others, they include getting creative, splitting shifts and guarding your leisure time like it’s the last tub of Hagan Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake ice-cream left in the refrigerator (What? Just me then? Oh, well.)

BUY IT NOW: I Know How She Does It (How Successful Women Make the Most of their Time by Laura Vanderkam - €16,30

 

Year of Yes - by Shonda Rhimes

Not a business book perse, Shonda Rhimes’ fun and enlightening read do nonetheless offer powerful lessons and inspiration to all the shy introverts out there. 

Rhimes is female, a woman of colour and a self-confessed social recluse. She’s also the highest-paid showrunner on modern television. 

In this book, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton teaches us how to say yes to opportunities that scare us, and in doing so, also shows us how that one little word can lead to giant steps in life and work. 

WANT IT? GET IT: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes - €16,97

 

Own the Room - by Amy Jen Su, Muriel Wilkins

Cofounders of Paravis Partners, an executive business coaching company, Amy Jen Su and Muriel Wilkins wrote Own the Room to help women move past the cultural and social norms that have continued to hold them back in the workplace and business and to confidently find their authentic selves and leadership style.

 

Chill and Prosper: The New Way to Grow Your Business, Make Millions, and Change the World - by Denise Duffield Thomas

In her laidback and charming style, the hugely successful money mindset coach, Denise Duffield-Thomas shares invaluable business and counterintuitive millionaire mindset practices. 

Her lessons sidestep the blood, sweat and tears we’ve long been told are necessary to be (financially) successful and embrace a path of abundance – without all the hard work.

 

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth and Gaining Economic Power - by Rachel Rodgers

Another book based on gathering in the green – because, hey, we’re building businesses to make money, right?! 

Rachel Rodgers— a Black woman, mother of four, attorney, business owner, and self-made millionaire — is very upfront about that. And in We Should All be Millionaires, she details a realistic, achievable, step-by-step path to create the support, confidence, and plan you need to own your success and wield the kind of economic power that will create lasting equality for women. 

 

Looking for more great business books written by women? Download our FREE Essential Booklistof 40 inspiring books for female entrepreneurs and women in business.