And regardless of how much you can personally put the advice into practical every-day life it's still a fascinating, empowering read.

Work Like a Woman: A Manifesto for Change Book - Oliver Bonas

I can only hope that every company moves to this way of thinking in the future and we create a more equal working culture. She has had a fascinating life and career where she had to work incredibly hard to get where she is now. There seemed to be a lot of padding and repetition of the same points about gender inequality in the workplace, and very few actual ideas or examples of what she proposed. I *loved* this book, and would have sped through it if I’d started reading earlier during my first loan period. They also saw an alpha male management culture that rewarded those who were loud or aggressive in pursuing their career, leaving others behind.

Instead of valiantly marching on, slowly disappearing under the weight of office deadlines, school projects, homework and organising everyone's social diaries, women should stop asking for help as if it's a favour.

Work Like a Woman by Mary Portas | Waterstones

Mary’s continued advocacy of our High Streets led to her receiving a commission from the British Government to lead an independent review. Some of her anecdotes were interesting and helpful, other times it felt a bit like an autobiography which is not what I signed up for (maybe I’m being a bit harsh).

Worth quoting: “But the irony is that the whole thing is deeply emotional: wanting to smash the competition and be top dog isn’t exactly unfeeling, is it? I like that Mary tries not to exclude men from this, and couches terms in such a way that you know she isn't saying they apply only to, and to all, women exclusively.

Work Like a Woman by Mary Portas | Goodreads

I've always admired Mary Portas, as she has made such an influential name for herself within the retail industry and has had a fascinating life at home and at work. Sharing examples from countries who have shared parental leave, offer crèches at the office and who encourage truly flexible working for all employees, this is a great manifesto for change and inspiring read on how we can hopefully see, the way we work transform. Once again, I feel as though I’ve just read a book that could have been great with the right editor. However, I have reflected on how to pitch this review, my own career started at the same time as Portas and the anecdotes of alpha culture are all too familiar.It makes for both easy reading and it shows how Mary knows what she is talking about and has experienced the advice she is giving. At work, a senior male colleague told me that the reason I might be held back with regards to progression and climbing the ranks at a young age is because I’m “too nice”.