Naked in the Boardroom: A CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career

Thank you Tom Peters

Wow.... I am a Tom Peters fan (among his millions), so this review is especially thrilling:

Read This Book!

The hardback was published in 2005; the softback this year. I unflinchingly anoint it a "Top 5" biz book for the last couple of years. Namely: Naked in the Boardroom, by entrepreneur and wildly successful BigCo exec Robin Wolaner. It is by far (assuming I know the turf, which I think I pretty much do) the best book on strategy and tactics for women aiming to make it big in business—big biz or entrepreneurial biz. Moreover, I think any male—myself included, at age 63—can learn an enormous amount from this book.

Consider this fast start (pps xi and xii): "While today you enter the workforce believing that you can have any position to which you aspire, you are still told to put on a business face, to make decisions based on analysis instead of personal beliefs and gut instincts, and, especially, to leave your emotions behind when you enter the office. Let's face it: The message is that to succeed, you should be more like men.

"That's wrong. ...

"The lessons I learned in business all point to one broad truth: Success follows when you use what you've got. You will succeed because of, not in spite of, your personal traits. The trick is to make your aptitude and flair work for you in a style that is uniquely yours."

Chapter 1, and what's not to love about it, is titled: "Hey Carly, It's Different Being a Woman." The start: "When Carly Fiorina was named CEO of Hewlett-Packard, her insistence that being female was not part of her success story struck every woman I know as either delusional or a lie."

Ms Wolaner organizes the easy-to-read & anecdote-filled book around a series of "Naked Truths" that appear throughout the book. The First: "NAKED TRUTH # 1: Sometimes it's better to be a female in business, sometimes it's worse, but it's rarely the same."

Then: "NAKED TRUTH # 2: Business is personal."

"NAKED TRUTH # 5: Viva la difference. When being a female is an advantage, use it."

"NAKED TRUTH # 9: Showing honest emotion usually helps you in the workplace."

"NAKED TRUTH # 12: Before worrying overly about your job's lack of challenge—and certainly before complaining about it—concentrate on delivering."

On it goes, through "NAKED TRUTH # 80: The time to arrange credit is when you don't need to borrow."

Callow youth, top dog, besieged entrepreneur, F or M, this book is a keeper!

Tom Peters posted this today.
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Houston Chronicle Review

I honestly didn't expect any reviews of the paperback edition, but here's a nice one:

The naked truths

Despite the provocative title and cover, this is not a tell-all book about sex in the boardroom.

Instead, magazine executive Robin Wolaner (Parenting, Vibe) has penned a how-to book of sorts instructing career women on how they can shake up their career.

Wolaner draws liberally from her own life, primarily her adventures in launching Parenting, in her brash guide to career-blazing.

She boils it all down to 80 "Naked Truths."

Featured in little boxes strategically placed throughout the book, the Truths are the basis for a freewheeling discussion.

For instance, Naked Truth No. 1 says, ''Sometimes it's better to be female in business, sometimes it's worse, but it's rarely the same."

You could almost read only the Naked Truths and come away with a new understanding of how to approach your career.

But Wolaner also provides solid meat around these bones, with breezy chapters such as ''Hey Carly, It's Different Being a Woman," (Carly being Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard) and "Niceties, Manners and Rituals."

If you're a woman looking for inspiration in your career, this may be the spark you are looking for.

And men, this book might be helpful to you as well. After all, aren't we all trying to climb the career ladder?

Steve Powers reviews business books for the Chronicle.

Fortune was already my favorite business magazine...

...even before this review, which appears in the April 4 edition:

"Women of corporate America: Have you ever fended off a romantic advance from your boss? Fumed that your male counterparts earn more than you do? Been inches away from committing fraud to make your company's performance look better? Robin Wolaner has--and she's here to tell you all about it. Her Naked in the Boardroom: A CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career (Fireside) is a how-to book for career women, with a difference: It's full of dishy and street-smart examples from her own life as a magazine executive....

A quick, diverting read, the book zigs and zags through everything from business ethics to office attire to raising money for a new venture. But ultimately the book is about how women should deal with the men who dominate the world of business. For example: "You can learn the most from anti-mentors whose bad behavior you vow never to emulate." And "Never sleep with anyone to get a job; that doesn't work. On the other hand, if you've slept with someone for the right reasons and later he can help your career, that's great." This may not be wisdom for the ages. But for a young woman just beginning to ascend the career ladder, it's bound to help."

-- Elizabeth Fenner

Dumb and Dumber

Question of gender in the air at Boeing
Ouster of CEO, while female executive stays, ignites fairness debate

By Susan Chandler
Chicago Tribune staff reporter

Published March 13, 2005

…..Boeing's sex scandal was timed perfectly for former Time Warner executive Robin Wolaner, who has written a book of business advice titled, "Naked in the Boardroom," set to hit bookstore shelves this month.

When she heard about it, Wolaner thought of her section on dating at work. Her advice, which she admits she didn't follow herself, is succinct: Don't do it.

"My immediate reaction was, `What was she thinking?"' Wolaner said. "I basically think the headline for the story here is `Dumb and Dumber.' She's dumb, and he is dumber."

Even so, Wolaner believes there is justification for treating Peabody differently from Stonecipher.

"I don't think she is as culpable as the CEO. He was the one who set the policies that he then violated," Wolaner said.

Stonecipher also is more to blame because he was brought into the company at a time of crisis to stabilize management after the resignation of two top executives and to reinforce the importance of ethics, she added.

For him to be caught in such a situation after a little more than a year raises serious questions about his commitment, she believes. "Where is his focus? How is he spending his time?"

Chicago Tribune

Latest Reviews

"Naked in the Boardroom is slick, intelligent and highly readable.  It is crisply written and brimming with practical advice based on the author's real life experience." 

-- Larry Cox, Tucson Citizen

"Wolaner began her career as copywriter at "Penthouse", founded "Parenting" magazine, worked at "MotherJones," "Runner's World;" launched "Vibe" and "Martha Stewart Living," and does she have some tales to tell, her own and other women who are making a successful go of it. Wolaner inserts as much emotion as possible--unlike many business books--and the result is an engaging, straight-shooting book about hard-won business success." - Brooke Gilbert, Senior Editor, Amazon.com

"This title has been chosen for our recommended reading series called "Jack Covert Selects". Each month our president reviews some of the best new business books recently released. The following review is from March 2005.

This book has 81 "naked truths", and I originally just wanted to list these truths, because they're so spectacularly, well, true. But I decided against it, because I then wouldn’t have had a chance to tell you about the interesting person who wrote the book with this provocative title..." -- Jack Covert, 800ceoread.com

The skinny
Book tells how women can meet needs of family while succeeding in business

Wolaner's naked truths cover most areas of business and employment. Although the book focuses on the challenges of women in the business world, much of Wolaner's practical wisdom is gender-neutral. Wolaner has a lot of interesting things to say about mentoring.... Despite its title, Naked in the Boardroom is a worthy entry in the growing catalog of books that seek to address the concerns of women in business. and the workplace.

By Cecil Johnson
Special to the Star-Telegram

"I like books that are different. This book certainly is. Most business books trumpet the success of the author, with platitudes about how you can acheive similar successes. Robin's book is about her failures. Basically, Robin writes about her working career, what she has done right, what she has done wrong, and what she has learned from her mistakes. It's a brave and refreshing perspective to look at business that way. ...Overall, I would say this book is a must-read for women who want to pursue a career path in business, and I would give it a strong recommendation for men as well. Robin's mix of experience in many different companies from startups to money losers to large industry stalwarts gives her a good perspective on what's really important to be successful in business. " - Robert May, www.BusinessPundit.com

"Lest you be fooled into thinking this is just another "girl power" business book, take my word for it - it's a heady combination of juicy dish and hardcore strategy.  Robin offers no less than 80 lessons in business, told through her own very personal and compelling story." - Michele Miller, www.wonderbranding.com

First Review

Library Journal has published the first review of Naked in the Boardroom, and it's a good one!

"It's hard not to expect some interesting twists in a career advice book written by a former Penthouse copywriter. Wolaner, publishing guru and founder of Parenting magazine, doesn't offer anything salacious here, but she does deliver 81 naked truths to help women capitalize on their gender while making good in the workplace. She generously shares her own career steps and missteps and provides the lowdown from the boardroom, bedroom, and cubicle. The real-life lessons on career planning (don't lock yourself into a plan), negotiation, mentoring, antimentoring (don't emulate rotten managers), business ethics, recovering from mistakes, and hiring and firing are sometimes harrowing but always educational. Interviews with other high-profile executives reinforce Wolaner's experiences. She tells how her personal life intersected and sometimes interfered with her work, a situation that will ring true for many women juggling multiple roles (Naked Truth #68, "No one is a fully competent working mother")."

Advance Praise

"An excellent book...particularly for women who still have too few of the guideposts that men take for granted...this is great one-stop shopping for women wanting to move ahead in business."

–Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO, InterActive Corp

"Groundbreaking in unveiling Humanness as the key to success in both business and in life. Naked in the Boardroom is inspiring, and brutally honest. I couldn't put it down."

- Patricia Ziegler, Co-founder of Banana Republic and The Republic of Tea

"Robin Wolaner does something ... that few CEOs would ever do -- she shares her honest mistakes, and the lessons she's learned along the tough road of starting and running a company.  Both men and women can start smarter--and finish richer, as a result of reading this book."

- David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire and Smart Women Finish Rich

"Robin Wolaner gives practical advice based on real life experience. You see yourself in each story and can apply her insight at any point in your career."

--Jenny Ming, President, Old Navy

"... at once useful, funny, wise and sexy. That's right, sexy. Because Wolaner knows that sex isn't something we working stiffs leave at the revolving doors to our office towers. We take it with us, and if we're smart, we use it. Getting naked, on the job at least, was never quite this much fun..."

--Stanley Bing, Fortune columnist and author of, Sun Tzu Was a Sissy

"Robin Wolaner has nailed the myths and the realities of life in the executive ranks, in a pithy and entertaining read. There is a lot to learn here to make your career more satisfying and successful."

—Cathleen Black, President, Hearst Magazines

"Robin Wolaner is one of the smartest and most accomplished CEOs that I know. I have benefited for many years from her wisdom.  Now everyone else can, too."

--J. David Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Young Presidents' Organization

"Robin Wolaner's vividly described and hard-won insights will be of particular use to women but most should be of interest to men as well. A riveting read."

–Arlie Hochschild, author of The Second Shift and The Time Bind

"Robin Wolaner offers insightful advice about such critical tasks as hiring and firing, negotiating, change management, and developing a positive culture.  More importantly, she sheds light on the emotional side of business by talking simultaneously about what she was thinking and what she was feeling at various points in her quite remarkable career.  Robin's book is must reading for all entrepreneurs and, frankly, for all men and women who need to figure out how to work together productively in a professional context."

–Professor William A. Sahlman, Harvard Business School

Who Helped

Since acknowledgements are the first thing I read in other people’s books, perhaps it’s understandable that I started writing this section before finishing the rest.

Three people were the most involved in the project before Simon & Schuster arrived. Daniel Greenberg, agent extraordinaire, proved my theory that in choosing between a big name and a rising star, go for someone with ambition and energy. I am happy I did. Ron Kraft and Tom Ehrenfeld, who worked in different phases as editors on this project, were unstinting in their help and morale-boosting.

Doris Cooper, my editor at Fireside/Simon & Schuster, is a tremendous talent who convinced me that her vision for this book was better than my original attempt.  She is funny, smart, and driven—what a surprise that we clicked immediately, and kept clicking through many revisions. I am especially happy that Fireside is headed by a woman—and, in Trish Todd, one whom I admire. Marcia Burch and Trina Rice were always helpful on public relations.

My greatest business success came with more help than one has a right to expect from talented friends. The same was true in writing this book. I am in awe of the generosity of my amazing circle.

Friends who know much more than I do about writing read the manuscript and offered terrific, usually diplomatic, feedback: Richard Snow, Adam Moss, David Sheff, Lori Schryer , Liz Perle.

Sara Nelson did all that and more: educating me on book publishing, opening doors with agents and publishers, and in general (and as usual) being a wonderful friend.  

Friends who lived the story with me gave great reality checks and not-always-gentle feedback: Carol Smith, Jan Brandt, Candy Meyers, Peggy Hamilton, David Markus, Eileen Rivkin, Jeffrey Klein.

Dianne Snedaker, my comrade in re-entry into dating at mid-life, was my most conscientious (and helpful) reader. Adair Lara is an amazing teacher–if you don’t get a chance to take a writing course with her, as I did, do the next best thing and read one of her books. I enjoyed encouragement, ideas and/or feedback from Stewart Alsop, Michael Castleman, Melissa Houtte, Art Kern, Bill Marken, Susan Maruyama, Brianne Miller, Joe Nocera, Bob Nylen, Bruce Raskin, Susan Sachs, Amy Schoening, and Lorraine Shanley.

The men and women of Young Presidents’ Organization taught me so many of the lessons contained in this book–take it from someone who’d never joined anything before: If you qualify for membership, YPO is a sure way to be a better leader. Many members helped and some are quoted in the book: especial thanks to my dear friends David Martin, Tony Brenner, Mary Ann Byrnes, and Nancy O’Neill.

I had it easy as a working mother, thanks to the best parenting decision Steve Castleman and I made: bringing Siobhan McGuinness into our lives. I will always be grateful for the six years I spent working without worrying for a minute about my children’s well-being.

Speaking of mothers, mine was a careful, if wincing, reader of the manuscript.  She bears no responsibility for my romantic adventures, or for the title of this book, which she hated. However, if I can write, the credit goes to Harriet Wolaner Thaul.

Finally, there is a long list of people who taught me that the workplace is a great source of love, laughter or learning–sometimes all three. You know who you are, and I am grateful to know all of you.

Welcome from Robin Wolaner

Ultimately, this will be the site where I post excerpts from the book, list events related to publication and welcome your comments.