Beyond the Label
Women, Leadership, and Success on Our Own Terms
-
- $7.99
-
- $7.99
Publisher Description
The former global CEO of Chanel charts her unlikely path from literature major to global chief executive, guiding readers to move beyond the confines of staid expectations and discover their own true paths, strengths, and leadership values.
Driven. Shy. Leader. Wife. Mother. We live in a world of categories — labels designed to tell the world, and ourselves, who we are and ought to be. Some we may covet, others we may fear or disdain; but creating a life that’s truly your own, means learning to define yourself on your own terms.
In Beyond the Label, Maureen Chiquet charts her unlikely path from literature major to global chief executive. Sharing the inklings, risks and (re)defining moments that have shaped her exemplary career, Chiquet seeks to inspire a new generation of women, liberal arts grads, and unconventional thinkers to cultivate a way of living and leading that is all their own.
Through vivid storytelling and provocative insights, Chiquet guides readers to consider the pressing questions and inherent paradoxes of creating a successful, fulfilling life in today’s increasingly complex and competitive world.
"Why should we separate art from business, feelings from logic, intuition from judgment?" Chiquet poses. "Who decided you can’t be determined and flexible, introspective and attuned, mother and top executive? And where does it state standing unflinchingly in your vulnerability, embracing your femininity, won’t make you stronger?"
Wise, inspiring, and deeply felt, Beyond the Label is for anyone who longs for a life without limits on who she is or who she will become.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Chiquet, former global CEO of Chanel, champions the idea of defying conformity and charting one's unique career path in this well-written and engaging memoir. She shares stories demonstrating her loyalty to this credo for both good and ill, including convincing a reticent boss to launch a line of palazzo pants at the Gap and taking one of the biggest face-plants of her career while attempting to shake up Chanel's corporate culture. She also details her love affair with France in general and Paris in particular. She was a Francophile from a young age, and she recounts her delight in her first taste of goat cheese as a teenager visiting Provence. Later on, an important friendship with a French student during a term spent abroad inspired Chiquet to take a more freewheeling approach to life. She fills out the book by recounting key learning experiences during her climb to the top of the ladder, including a memorable performance by Dizzy Gillespie, a disastrous leadership evaluation at the Gap, and a five-hour session with a corporate psychologist who was incongruously surrounded by pink teddy bears. This entertaining and informative chronicle offers teaching moments for those who want to succeed professionally while still honoring their own uniqueness.