So many women leading in higher education have stories to tell and advice to give - but don’t yet have a platform. This book is our first foray into providing that platform.

Throughout this collection of 34 essays, you will hear voices from every level of leadership and across every sector of higher education. You will read stories of strength, advocacy, and support as well as be privy to the pain, anger, and resilience that is part of being a woman in higher education. Most importantly, you will hear their advice for moving forward - whether it’s during those pivotal moments in meetings … to making career-impacting decisions … to launching campus-wide initiatives. The contributors, ranging from faculty and mid-level directors in offices across the institution to past and current university presidents, offer strategies for:

Risk taking and authentic leadership Confronting the imposter syndrome Conflict management Influencing without authority Leading and thriving as women of color Relationship building and opening the door for others Making the case for yourself and your initiatives Advocating for equity in hiring and allocation of work Negotiation Defining your success

We hope our contributors’ stories and advice will be useful to you and yourcolleagues!

No matter where you are in your leadership journey, there is something here for you. I especially appreciate the intentionality behind each chapter, making sure all voices are heard and the varying experiences of women are being shared… I highly recommend this book. - Kyra Lobbins, Deputy Chief of Staff, Clemson University