Let’s say you want to master your industry knowledge and eventually join your company’s C-suite, or venture into entrepreneurship and fulfill your life purpose through other means of impactful work. Innovation is different for everyone, but at its core, it embodies your commitment to meaningful change, making the effort all the more worth it.
Regardless of where your ambitions take you, navigating your career with additional guidance is always beneficial. Here, we dive into three books on innovation to elevate your journey and boost your professional growth.
1. What Do You Need?
By Lauren Wesley Wilson
How often do we really ask ourselves what we need?
Not enough. A study suggests that 73% of women believe their self-advocacy can cause negative perception in the workplace, perhaps explaining why so many of us, especially women of color, hesitate to speak up and discuss our desired goals.
Having undergone similar struggles, Lauren Wesley Wilson provides a comprehensive guide for readers who want to improve their confidence and thrive in their careers. Drawing from her personal experiences as the CEO of ColorComm Corporation, Wilson explores various strategies to help you reach the top of the ladder and empower others.
Whatever your corporate ladder looks like, her advice offers the boost you need to advance into leadership and beyond.
2. Now, Near, Next
By Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer and Kimberly K. Rath
Right off the bat, Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer and Kimberly K. Rath question how women have been socialized to settle for their career—and why they aim to disrupt the status quo.
Now, Near, Next introduces a resounding truth: women can innovate, sometimes even rebirth their careers regardless of their work experience. True to its title, the book encourages you to focus on your present ambitions, your game plan for the foreseeable future, and your dreams for your next life season.
By dividing self-reflection into these distinct categories, you can create a roadmap to success without feeling overwhelmed and become comfortable with practicing inner empowerment, even when a gender-biased society suggests complacency over action.
3. Career Forward
By Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi
Career Forward is for those who need additional insight on career mapping in an ever-changing business economy. There are various reasons why women may feel compelled to revisit their journey and make significant changes.
Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi go beyond just preparing for a job, but nurturing an entire lifetime of growth. It can look like sharpening existing skills or tackling new learning experiences—the point is, success doesn’t always come naturally. We need to make the effort to close the distance, and Career Forward promises to be a handy resource for every step of your journey.
Innovate your career with CCWomen.
Books on innovation are undoubtedly helpful tools for developing a career roadmap. But if you want to take your transformation to the next level, tapping into a passionate community of trailblazers may be your next step.
As an inclusive membership platform for women and allies, CCWomen strives to be your go-to source of professional support. Whether you’re mid-career and ready for a change or starting to breathe life into your professional ventures, we’re here to propel you with networking opportunities, webinars, tool kits, and more.
Don’t wait—become a paid member today.
Christina @ wocintechchat.com on 
