Climb: Taking Every Step with Conviction, Courage, and Calculated Risk to Achieve a Thriving Career and a Successful Life

Book excerpt: "Gadsden-Williams is an award-winning global diversity expert who launched Ceiling Breakers LLC to help women and professionals of color to reach their potential. In her book, she talks about her journey as a woman of color who's had top senior-level positions in corporate America while managing a chronic illness. She also provides solutions to address the challenges women face navigating the business world, essentially a playbook for dealing with some of the most demanding workplace issues." --Ebony Magazine "The first book from diversity expert, philanthropist, and Accenture lead executive Gadsden-Williams incorporates both memoir and career guide...Hers is a realistic, pragmatic discussion of what it takes to make it in Fortune 500 companies, and in life." --Booklist "In this memoir and guidebook, Gadsden-Williams interweaves the story of her life as a black female executive with research statistics and savvy career tips for minority women also seeking to occupy the 'C-Suite'...Always candid about the realities of corporate life, the author offers sound advice for minority women seeking advancement, recognition, and meaningful lives. Illuminating and useful." --Kirkus Reviews "Michelle Gadsden-Williams has accomplished something rare for a black woman in America: maintained a successful corporate career at the highest level. Climb is the story of her journey to the top, and her generous effort to send the elevator back down for the rest of us." --Tiffany Dufu, author of Drop the Ball "Gadsden-Williams has written a brilliant book that reveals how companies can leverage diversity as a competitive advantage in today's marketplace. With vivid stories from her twenty-five years [of experience], Climb is a book that will reframe HR into a powerful strategy function for twenty-first century organizations." --John Gerzema, New York Times best-selling author of The Athena Doctrine "Gadsden-Williams has used her personal story of resiliency to provide invaluable insight into how to build a fulfilling life, not just a career. She pulls no punches when sharing her experiences as an African American woman determined to fulfill her dream to help others live up to their potential." --Linda A. Hill, professor, Harvard Business School, and author of Being the Boss "Most organizations were not designed for women of color. [In Climb] Gadsden-Williams takes us on a journey of her career--the winding road of making tough career and family decisions, seeking out and shaping opportunities, and walking away when others thought she should stay. There is raw, sincere vulnerability displayed in this book...[and there] is also a call to action--intentionally shape your career and be an active partner in shaping the organizations you are a part of. Thank you for sharing your story! I am sure it will be an inspiration to its readers. Keep climbing!" --Katherine W. Phillips, Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Columbia Business School "A frank memoir plus career guide, Michelle Gadsden-Williams shares personal stories of self-assurance, resilience, and bravery that serve as lessons for women in the workplace. This book is essential reading." --Angela Rye, CEO, IMPACT Strategies Renowned as a diversity and inclusion strategist, Gadsden-Williams held C-Suite positions at major organizations for many years...and then took the off-ramp to probe a different career path, launching Ceiling Breakers LLC, with the primary goal to help women and professionals of color reach their full potential. As a woman of color and corporate executive who has worked and traveled the world for several Fortune 500 companies--all while managing a chronic illness--she provides insight into overcoming the barriers facing professionals in today's workplace. In Climb, Gadsden-Williams combines her inspirational life story with pragmatic solutions to address problems facing women in corporate America, offering a professional playbook for tackling today's most pressing workplace issues.