Top 9 Leadership Books for Women to Read in 2025

Women are stepping into leadership roles at historic rates, as highlighted in the latest Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org. At the same time, leaders everywhere are navigating complex shifts, from digital disruption and economic uncertainty to the rise of hybrid work models, according to a global survey conducted by Harvard Business Publishing.

In the evolving environment, women need leadership resources that go beyond inspiration. The most impactful books for women in leadership offer practical, evidence-based strategies that address real-world challenges and support meaningful career advancement. Let’s look into the nine women's leadership books you should read to transform your leadership skills.

“Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. ”

Sheri Nasim

CEO | Author | Speaker | Leadership Consultant

Why Leadership Books Matter for Women in Leadership Roles

Books for women in leadership offer practical guidance and inspiration to help them thrive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing work environment. These resources delve into challenges such as impostor syndrome, gender bias, and work-life integration, equipping women with tools to lead confidently. For instance, Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In emphasizes the importance of women asserting themselves professionally.​

Moreover, women leadership books often highlight the unique strengths women bring to leadership, such as collaboration, empathy, and adaptability. Research indicates that organizations led by women often experience increased productivity and enhanced team dynamics. Books like Sally Helgesen's The Female Advantage focus on these inherent qualities, offering insights into how women can leverage their natural leadership styles.​

With the evolving workplace dynamics and the increasing emphasis on diversity and inclusion, these books serve as essential guides for women aiming to make impactful decisions and drive change. Titles such as Fearless Female Leadership by Marguerite Allolding provide strategies to overcome gender biases and build confidence, empowering women to navigate their careers with purpose and resilience.​

9 Empowering Leadership Books Every Women In Leadership Should Read in 2025

1. Lean In (Sheryl Sandberg)

The book highlights the challenges women face in leadership and urges them to embrace their ambition without guilt. It explores the internal and external barriers that often prevent women from advancing into top roles, such as confidence gaps and unequal expectations.

Why It’s Empowering:

Lean In inspires women to believe in themselves and take action, reminding us that leadership starts from within. It offers practical tips for speaking up in meetings, asking for promotions, and confidently claiming your place at the table. The book encourages women to push back against limiting stereotypes and lead with confidence.

2. Dare to Lead (Brené Brown)

Brown introduces the importance of vulnerability, courage, and empathy in leadership, traits often under-recognized but essential for effective women leaders. It reframes emotional intelligence as a strength in leading teams and managing conflict.

Why It’s Empowering:

Dare to Lead inspires women to lead with courage and honesty. It challenges the old idea that leaders must always be tough and emotionless. Instead, it shows how empathy and connection can be powerful leadership tools. Through real lessons, it helps women build trust, tackle hard conversations, and lead with impact.

3. How Women Rise (Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith)

The book explores 12 habits that specifically hold women back in their careers, including reluctance to self-promote and overvaluing loyalty. It directly addresses behavioral patterns that sabotage advancement.

Why It’s Empowering:

How Women Rise empowers women by helping them recognize self-limiting habits and replace them with success-driven behaviors. The book delivers practical strategies to help women shift their mindset, speak with more influence, and seek advancement without hesitation. It positions change as achievable and necessary for sustainable leadership.

4. Women and Leadership (Julia Gillard & Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala)

Drawing on interviews with powerful women across politics and business, this book unpacks the complex relationship between gender and leadership success on a global stage. It showcases how women navigate power, criticism, and expectation.

Why It’s Empowering:

Women and Leadership empowers women through helping them see that their struggles are part of a broader systemic challenge. It validates their leadership experience while providing insights on thriving despite bias.

5. Radical Candor (Kim Scott)

The book outlines a framework for giving feedback that balances personal care with directness, a style of communication critical for effective leadership but often tricky for women navigating likability dynamics.

Why It’s Empowering:

Radical Candor empowers women to communicate clearly and lead with strength without sacrificing empathy. It helps them build high-performing teams, earn respect, and make tough calls with confidence. The approach allows women to maintain authority while preserving team trust and cohesion.

6. The Confidence Code (Katty Kay & Claire Shipman)

This book uses neuroscience and real-life stories to explore the reasons why women often underestimate themselves, even when highly capable. It addresses how confidence, not just competence, drives success in leadership.

Why It’s Empowering:

The Confidence Code gives women the tools to rewire their mindset and take decisive action. It shows that confidence is a learnable trait and that risk-taking, speaking up, and owning accomplishments are key to leadership. The book helps women lead with conviction.

7. Lead from the Outside (Stacey Abrams)

The book is part memoir, part guide for outsiders who want to lead with impact. It focuses on overcoming systemic limitations regarding race, gender, and class, making it especially relevant for underrepresented voices.

Why It’s Empowering:

Lead from the Outside helps women recognize that leadership doesn’t require permission; it requires purpose and preparation. It encourages women to own their identities and use them as sources of strength. The book helps build courage, political awareness, and strategic planning skills essential for powerful leadership.

8. She Thinks Like a Boss (Jemma Roedel)

This hands-on guide focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset and the habits needed for business success. It’s especially geared toward women building brands or leading solo ventures.

Why It’s Empowering:

She Thinks Like a Boss empowers women to take full control of their goals by creating structure, setting boundaries, and thinking like a leader. It blends motivation with productivity tactics, making it easy for women to implement change and scale their impact.

9. The Likeability Trap (Alicia Menendez)

The book explores the double bind women face: be competent or be liked, but rarely both. It dissects how expectations of likability limit women’s leadership progression.

Why It’s Empowering:

The Likeability Trap helps women break free from performative behaviors and lead authentically. It teaches them to embrace their unique leadership style, regardless of outdated social norms. The book offers a blueprint for building confidence and redefining success on their terms.

How to Choose the Right Women's Leadership Book

1. Clarify Your Leadership Goals

Before picking up any book, think about what you want to develop, whether it's confidence, strategic thinking, or communication. When you're clear on your goals, it's easier to find a book that speaks directly to your needs.

2. Match the Book to Your Career Stage

Leadership challenges differ across career levels. If you're early in your journey, you might benefit from foundational skills, while more seasoned professionals may need guidance on influence or executive presence. Choose a book that reflects where you are right now.

3. Prioritise Credible Authors with Real-World Experience

Books written by seasoned leaders, coaches, or industry experts tend to offer more than just theory. Look for authors who’ve led teams, navigated real challenges, and speak from a place of lived experience, it adds richness and relatability to their insights.

Case Study: Deloitte Case Study Brief: Empowering Future Generations of Finance

Background

Deloitte, a leading global consulting firm, examined the state of gender representation in financial executive roles across Australia’s top companies. Despite women making up nearly half of finance graduates, there has been little movement in female representation at the CFO level in the ASX100.

Only 23 women currently hold CFO positions within those top companies, a number that has remained stagnant in recent years. This prompted Deloitte to conduct a deeper investigation through interviews with 15 prominent female CFOs to understand the barriers and opportunities.

Problem

The study revealed a persistent gender gap in senior finance roles, despite years of progress in education and entry-level workforce participation. Female finance professionals continue to face invisible barriers that prevent upward mobility, such as a lack of mentorship, limited networking opportunities, and cultural expectations. These systemic challenges hinder the creation of a strong, diverse leadership pipeline in corporate finance.

Solutions

Deloitte identified five key strategies to help women advance into leadership roles: choosing employers who support diversity, building strong support networks, engaging with mentors, embracing lateral career moves, and confidently advocating for themselves. The report also calls for organizations to take visible leadership in fostering inclusive cultures and transparent pathways to senior roles. By addressing these areas, companies can unlock competitive advantage and drive meaningful change in gender representation.

Key Takeaways

• Only 23 of the ASX100 CFOs are women, showing a lack of progress in gender equality at the executive level.
  
• A supportive work environment and mentorship are critical for female leadership growth.
  
• Career advancement often requires lateral moves, confidence, and strategic self-advocacy.
  
• Organizations must commit to sustained, visible action to close the leadership gender gap.
  

Conclusion

Leadership for women is not just about climbing the ladder, it’s about reshaping it entirely. These empowering books remind us that confidence, authenticity, and strategy can redefine how leadership looks and feels for women across industries. Whether you're building a brand, leading a team, or navigating complex corporate dynamics, the right knowledge can be your greatest ally.

As women continue to break barriers, having access to thoughtful, actionable leadership content becomes more essential than ever. To deepen this journey and cultivate transformative leadership, explore Edstellar’s Corporate Training Courses on Women and Leadership, designed to equip future leaders with the skills, confidence, and mindset to lead boldly.