The Skills

February 18, 2019
BBC anchor Husain issues a well-meaning but familiar guide to success for early- and mid-career women. After 20 years in broadcasting, Husain still sometimes feels that her courage came “later in life than it might have”; here she sets out to tell the truth about self-doubt; in particular, about managing it and forging ahead despite it. A perennial question, she shows, is figuring out how to feel at home in a new role even when one feels out of one’s depth. Moreover, she adds, remaining imbalances in the treatment of male and female professionals add an extra layer of complication for women trying to ascend the corporate ladder. Husain gives some time to the current state of workplace culture and to the undermining messages young girls are given about ambition, before moving on to the skills women need to succeed, such as starting out, speaking up for oneself, managing one’s digital life, and building resilience. This is all decent, solid advice, but very little is new, which will make this kindly worded primer a hard sell for business book buyers. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Company.

Starred review from April 1, 2019

Husain writes an inspirational and practical book, recalling her first position as a BBC presenter, and her doubts about succeeding in the role. During the initial few years of a now-successful broadcasting career, Husain experienced imposter syndrome and continually worried about what could go wrong. Her idea for writing this book came out of that time and what she's learned along the way: "speech, choice of words, body language, distilling information and deploying facts." Presenting statistics and analysis of gender disparity and sexual harassment in the workplace as well as continued sexism in various lines of employment, she provides case studies of the struggles of notable women, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton, and Malala Yousafzai. This wide-ranging text also delves into navigating the first years on the career ladder, speaking up and developing authority, social media opportunities and pitfalls, dealing with apprehension and anxiety, managing different elements of one's life and criticism. Included are references for further reading. VERDICT This highly recommended guide is essential for women in the workforce and those starting their careers.--Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Queens, NY

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Mishal Husain, a UK broadcast presenter, brings a crisp British accent to this volume of work-related advice for women. She describes her nomadic upbringing in multiple countries and the isolation of attending boarding school, recounting all of these experiences with a neat professionalism that creates a brisk, businesslike persona. As a result, listeners will trust the statistics she shares on the lack of women in upper management throughout the United Kingdom. Her overall point is that many women don't believe in themselves, and she counters that problem with recommendations for specific skill building aimed at helping women get ahead. Husain comes across as a no-nonsense, direct, knowledgeable person with considerable wisdom to offer. This is a quick listen for women who are looking for advice about work. M.R. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine