Why She Must Lead: Bridging the Gap Between Opportunities and Women of Color

Vasudha Sharma’s new book Why She Must Lead: Bridging the Gap Between Opportunities and Women of Color is a manifesto about the situation of women, especially women of color, but embraces all women, including minority and transgender women, in the United States today. Vasudha is herself an immigrant to the United States. Originally from New Delhi, India, today she resides in the Seattle suburbs, where she is a wife, mother of two boys, and doctor of physical therapy. Her educated voice of advocacy is what this country needs as America’s racial landscape changes. As Vasudha states in the book, drawing upon a study by the US census, by the year 2045, people of color will be the majority in the United States, and by 2060, women of color will represent the majority of women. That reflects the world our children and grandchildren will inherit, and they do not deserve to experience the same sexist and racial issues we currently face. As a result, it is time women’s voices are heard. Making use of painstaking research, Why She Must Lead explores the situation of women of color today, primarily in the workplace, and then discusses ways to improve this situation. Vasudha draws on her personal experiences in India and the United States as a woman seeking to help other women. Early on, she realized the importance of feminism and came to believe that equity is a human right. In these pages, she shares the barriers and biases that stand in the way of making equity a reality for women. While women are making progress in senior leadership positions, they are still underrepresented at every level of the workforce. Vasudha explores numerous steps to promote fairness and inclusion, including through workplace recruiting and retention. She advocates for more mentorship and sponsorship of women of color. She discusses the role men can play as allies in advocating for women’s advancement in the workplace. While admitting the concept of “empowerment” may seem threatening to men and organizations, Vasudha reveals how those fears are based on myths and a misunderstanding of what equity and empowerment means. Finally, Vasudha encourages successful women to pay it forward by helping their sisters. Throughout the book, Vasudha does not shy away from stating hard facts and revealing the truths many don’t wish to talk about. Based on her personal and professional experiences, she states, “the most prominent attribute of a successful woman is her ability to speak up for herself.” If women do not speak up for themselves, they are often ignored or passed over for advancement. Often, biases exist that management is not even aware of in promoting men over women. Some of these include a belief that a woman will just work until she gets married, that she will leave when she has children, or that advancement is not as important to her as her family life. Such myths need to be dismissed. While women have long talked about the need to break the glass ceiling, Vasudha reveals that for women of color, it is a concrete ceiling. However, the most pressing problem is not a ceiling but a broken step on the ladder of advancement. She offers solutions for how to repair the ladder. Vasudha highlights that while many men are open to helping women advance, they do not always realize the false biases and prejudices that may cloud their judgment and make them unfair to their female colleagues. They may also make sexist assumptions. For example, mansplaining often happens in the workplace, in which a man feels he must speak down to a woman to explain something to her. Because our society has come to believe women should be advocated for, the discrimination against women has become more subtle and results in microaggressive behaviors, like mansplaining, that are often invisible. Vasudha brings all these issues into the open while embracing men as allies and providing clear processes for how they can help women move ahead. One of my favorite passages in the book centers on Vasudha’s role as a mother to two boys: “People often ask me, since I am a mother of two boys, why I am still such an advocate for women. Wouldn’t this make men secondary? I always have the same answer; I am responsible for my sisterhood, who face the same challenges as I do because of the broken system, and I have an obligation to help my boys understand and acknowledge the importance of equality in the household and professional world. I want my boys to step up and take the central role in the conversation. “Even when I was waiting for my sons’ arrival in the world, I envisioned for my sons: compassion, good citizenship, excellent college educations, successful careers, and achieving whatever they strove for in their lives. Also, I wanted them to be feminists like their dad.” Vasudha’s meticulous research and well-thought-out arguments will open the eyes of male and female readers. I believe every manager and human resources professional needs to read this book. I also believe all women, especially women of color, will benefit from reading it. Perhaps most importantly, Why She Must Lead reveals “why she must speak up.” Vasudha has spoken up with this book, and hopefully, her message will spread. As she states near the end: “I don’t believe change can happen one person or one couple at a time. Currents of culture carry the wave of change. To create those currents, we need to stir the stories and bring them to the surface. That’s why I am sharing mine. Also, I don’t want to project that I know it all when it comes to finding solutions to equality. I had a good set of challenges and flaws. The truth is, I learned more by sharing them.”

Very well written book. One of the best that I have read so far on gender equity. The combination of Vasudha's personal experience on this topic and the actual facts made it very interesting. I loved the questions at the end of each chapter which made me think about my experiences on this matter. I could really relate to it. A goal of every woman to achieve equal rights. I really liked the tips Vasudha gave on career growth especially in Chapter 5 about communication, how important communication is in the workplace. Vasudha took a stand and I really hope we’ll get there one day. A must read for sure.

The story is a traditional immigrant narrative that follows the life of the author as she works hard to achieve the American Dream.Her strength reminded me of the women of my community, who had crossed the border searching for a better life for their families. The book walks you through a lot of structural inequalities that make such dream difficult for many women immigrants of color, who face the added burden of gender inequality.My personal interest were the Self -Reflection Excercises added at the end of each Chapter. God Luck Vasudha !!

Sharma dives into the inequalities Women of Color face on a daily basis in the work force. She has done significant research on the topic and draws on her personal experience as an immigrant. This book is a must-read for all women of color trying to climb the corporate ladder; we are routinely knocked down and not given the same opportunities as the average white man. We keep reaching the glass ceiling but unable to break it due to structural racism.

This book discusses an important topic of our time: equal opportunity. The author discusses relevant issues related to women of color in the workplace and the biases and consequent difficulties that exist in this space. The book draws on personal experiences and stories of the author coupled with in depth research, not shying away from sharing uncomfortable facts, to make the case for equal opportunity for women of color. A must read.

Vasudha has done a marvelous job researching on and interviewing many pertinent women leaders and change-makers. Though gender equality in our boardrooms and policy making discussions have become a hot topic of late, there is still a long way to go to achieve this , so it’s all about women leaders who are actively finding ways to redress the balance that will help activate significant change moving forward.

Phenomenal Author, Vasudha has profound wisdom. She is a trailblazer. I am honored to have met her personally few months ago.

“Not only is bringing diversity, equity and inclusion to light important, but so is the empowerment of all women to speak up for themselves. In this book, Vasudha captures it all. The experiences of some of these women is painstaking, but we will pave the way. Why She Must Lead is a great start! Great read! I highly recommend!”

What an impactful book and perfect timing to share to the world. We need more inspiring, dynamic, women leaders to lead, and I believe this book will light the fire and launch many women leaders!

A practical book on women leadership!! The author enlists the challenges and shows the way to get rid off. The contents are very inclusive and authentic perspectives on women leadership and how to take charge of it. I enjoyed and learned reading it. I will recommend to my friends.

Vasudha Sharma’s new book Why She Must Lead: Bridging the Gap Between Opportunities and Women of Color is a manifesto about the situation of women, especially women of color, but embraces all women, including minority and transgender women, in the United States today. Vasudha is herself an immigrant to the United States. Originally from New Delhi, India, today she resides in the Seattle suburbs, where she is a wife, mother of two boys, and doctor of physical therapy. Her educated voice of advocacy is what this country needs as America’s racial landscape changes. As Vasudha states in the book, drawing upon a study by the US census, by the year 2045, people of color will be the majority in the United States, and by 2060, women of color will represent the majority of women. That reflects the world our children and grandchildren will inherit, and they do not deserve to experience the same sexist and racial issues we currently face. As a result, it is time women’s voices are heard. Making use of painstaking research, Why She Must Lead explores the situation of women of color today, primarily in the workplace, and then discusses ways to improve this situation. Vasudha draws on her personal experiences in India and the United States as a woman seeking to help other women. Early on, she realized the importance of feminism and came to believe that equity is a human right. In these pages, she shares the barriers and biases that stand in the way of making equity a reality for women. While women are making progress in senior leadership positions, they are still underrepresented at every level of the workforce. Vasudha explores numerous steps to promote fairness and inclusion, including through workplace recruiting and retention. She advocates for more mentorship and sponsorship of women of color. She discusses the role men can play as allies in advocating for women’s advancement in the workplace. While admitting the concept of “empowerment” may seem threatening to men and organizations, Vasudha reveals how those fears are based on myths and a misunderstanding of what equity and empowerment means. Finally, Vasudha encourages successful women to pay it forward by helping their sisters. Throughout the book, Vasudha does not shy away from stating hard facts and revealing the truths many don’t wish to talk about. Based on her personal and professional experiences, she states, “the most prominent attribute of a successful woman is her ability to speak up for herself.” If women do not speak up for themselves, they are often ignored or passed over for advancement. Often, biases exist that management is not even aware of in promoting men over women. Some of these include a belief that a woman will just work until she gets married, that she will leave when she has children, or that advancement is not as important to her as her family life. Such myths need to be dismissed. While women have long talked about the need to break the glass ceiling, Vasudha reveals that for women of color, it is a concrete ceiling. However, the most pressing problem is not a ceiling but a broken step on the ladder of advancement. She offers solutions for how to repair the ladder. Vasudha highlights that while many men are open to helping women advance, they do not always realize the false biases and prejudices that may cloud their judgment and make them unfair to their female colleagues. They may also make sexist assumptions. For example, mansplaining often happens in the workplace, in which a man feels he must speak down to a woman to explain something to her. Because our society has come to believe women should be advocated for, the discrimination against women has become more subtle and results in microaggressive behaviors, like mansplaining, that are often invisible. Vasudha brings all these issues into the open while embracing men as allies and providing clear processes for how they can help women move ahead. One of my favorite passages in the book centers on Vasudha’s role as a mother to two boys: “People often ask me, since I am a mother of two boys, why I am still such an advocate for women. Wouldn’t this make men secondary? I always have the same answer; I am responsible for my sisterhood, who face the same challenges as I do because of the broken system, and I have an obligation to help my boys understand and acknowledge the importance of equality in the household and professional world. I want my boys to step up and take the central role in the conversation. “Even when I was waiting for my sons’ arrival in the world, I envisioned for my sons: compassion, good citizenship, excellent college educations, successful careers, and achieving whatever they strove for in their lives. Also, I wanted them to be feminists like their dad.” Vasudha’s meticulous research and well-thought-out arguments will open the eyes of male and female readers. I believe every manager and human resources professional needs to read this book. I also believe all women, especially women of color, will benefit from reading it. Perhaps most importantly, Why She Must Lead reveals “why she must speak up.” Vasudha has spoken up with this book, and hopefully, her message will spread. As she states near the end: “I don’t believe change can happen one person or one couple at a time. Currents of culture carry the wave of change. To create those currents, we need to stir the stories and bring them to the surface. That’s why I am sharing mine. Also, I don’t want to project that I know it all when it comes to finding solutions to equality. I had a good set of challenges and flaws. The truth is, I learned more by sharing them.”

Very well written book. One of the best that I have read so far on gender equity. The combination of Vasudha's personal experience on this topic and the actual facts made it very interesting. I loved the questions at the end of each chapter which made me think about my experiences on this matter. I could really relate to it. A goal of every woman to achieve equal rights. I really liked the tips Vasudha gave on career growth especially in Chapter 5 about communication, how important communication is in the workplace. Vasudha took a stand and I really hope we’ll get there one day. A must read for sure.

The story is a traditional immigrant narrative that follows the life of the author as she works hard to achieve the American Dream.Her strength reminded me of the women of my community, who had crossed the border searching for a better life for their families. The book walks you through a lot of structural inequalities that make such dream difficult for many women immigrants of color, who face the added burden of gender inequality.My personal interest were the Self -Reflection Excercises added at the end of each Chapter. God Luck Vasudha !!

Sharma dives into the inequalities Women of Color face on a daily basis in the work force. She has done significant research on the topic and draws on her personal experience as an immigrant. This book is a must-read for all women of color trying to climb the corporate ladder; we are routinely knocked down and not given the same opportunities as the average white man. We keep reaching the glass ceiling but unable to break it due to structural racism.

This book discusses an important topic of our time: equal opportunity. The author discusses relevant issues related to women of color in the workplace and the biases and consequent difficulties that exist in this space. The book draws on personal experiences and stories of the author coupled with in depth research, not shying away from sharing uncomfortable facts, to make the case for equal opportunity for women of color. A must read.

Vasudha has done a marvelous job researching on and interviewing many pertinent women leaders and change-makers. Though gender equality in our boardrooms and policy making discussions have become a hot topic of late, there is still a long way to go to achieve this , so it’s all about women leaders who are actively finding ways to redress the balance that will help activate significant change moving forward.

Phenomenal Author, Vasudha has profound wisdom. She is a trailblazer. I am honored to have met her personally few months ago.

“Not only is bringing diversity, equity and inclusion to light important, but so is the empowerment of all women to speak up for themselves. In this book, Vasudha captures it all. The experiences of some of these women is painstaking, but we will pave the way. Why She Must Lead is a great start! Great read! I highly recommend!”

What an impactful book and perfect timing to share to the world. We need more inspiring, dynamic, women leaders to lead, and I believe this book will light the fire and launch many women leaders!

A practical book on women leadership!! The author enlists the challenges and shows the way to get rid off. The contents are very inclusive and authentic perspectives on women leadership and how to take charge of it. I enjoyed and learned reading it. I will recommend to my friends.

Really like it this book!! I will never ever rate this lower than 5 stars. BEAUTIFUL. There are no words to do this book justice

Great to see the voice raised for Women of color and should be included in leadership roles.

Easy to read. However, initial start is little slow.

Author Vasudha Sharma is on a mission to promote awareness of inequality in the workplace pertaining to women in higher level positions and to change that pattern by advocating for leadership opportunities for women of color and minorities. Although progress has been made in this area over the years, there's still a long way to go and Vasudha presents the cold hard facts of this reality. With much research to back up her claims and through her own experiences and interviews with others, her main vision is to change the future by being an advocate for women and to get them to "speak up" for what is fair and just. She also gives helpful advice on how the transition to equity can be achieved. With all kinds of prejudices abounding in our world, this is a much-needed wake up call for people to recognize and honor the fact that women are fully capable of holding executive positions by the nature of their skills and not their gender.

“Do not let your voice become an echo,” shares Vasudha Sharma in her brilliant book about leadership. As a father of two teenage daughters who humbly see the world as a place that needs their help and guidance, I cannot imagine better advice for them than what is found in this book. Vasudha’s global awareness and wisdom born of experience allow her to offer and promote powerful ways for woman to lead. She implores each of us to rise up and, thanks to her lessons, we will.

Why She Must Lead is a must-read for any leader in the workplace and for women who want to become more impactful in their leadership. This book champions the cause of equality and connects us to build a better future together.

Outstanding book that brings awareness of the challenges and struggles to the forefront. Also provides empowering mindset shifts that allow women to rise up and lead as champions.

Why she must lead is an excellent resource for those who want to make a difference for women of color in the workplace and the struggle and issues faced daily. This book encourages women in leadership positions to realize that everything they do has a ripple effect and we can create greater influence and positive change within and far beyond ourselves!

This is an excellent book that brings awareness to the unfair treatment minority women in the workplace are up against. Vasudha has done her research and presents it in a way that is well thought out. Her book truly enlightened me on the inequality of minority women in the workplace and she is a wonderful advocate for fair treatment.

Vasudha did a great Job putting her feelings into beautiful words I am so amazed how she explained the gap between abilities and opportunities. Must Read

I felt the power in the words of Vasudha, when she mentioned that by 2060, women of color will be the majority and how our future generations do not deserve to experience the same sexist and racial issues we face today! I cannot agree more! This book is needed and highly recommended!”

Women in general are struggling for their rights and when it comes to women of color, it is indeed must to give her a hand and make her succeed. I am very happy that Vasudha Sharma took lead in this direction with her thoughts shared in the book.

Vasudha Sharma has skillfully written this book highlighting the power of leadership among minority women. I endorse Vasudha’s mission and I am awed by her as a writer and an influencer.

Awesome book and what a great eye opener about workplace inequality and challenges faced by minority women and how they can empower themselves to reach their goals.

Awesome !!!

Nice reading

good composition.

Why She Must Lead is an amazing book that will inspire women all over the world as well as men. Vasudha has done a great job showing her own experiences and why women must speak up. As a career woman in a male dominant industry, the powerful message this book portrays encourages me to never give up on my dreams!!

This book differs from the books written about non-immigrant women of color trying to break through boundaries to achieve success to explain what is unique about the journey of women of color who immigrate to the US and take this journey. It serves as a great mentoring story as well.

This book is vital to bring awareness to women of colour leading in the workforce! It has been very well researched and is inspiring. It is time this minority were recognised for the incredible contribution they can make to the workplace. A great book!