Stuck in a business rut? Trying to figure out how to coach your team through a rough patch? This batch of Summer School has answers. We’ve got eight more books on learning, coaching and development, straight from the people in our community who put these ideas into practice. (If you missed the first batch, check it out here!)
From Expertise to Impact: A Practical Guide to Informing And Influencing Science and Technology Policy by Deborah D. Stine
Drawing on her own experience working at Congress and the White House, Deborah D. Stine offers scientists, engineers and health professionals a concrete roadmap for turning technical expertise into policy influence. Her ten-step process walks readers from how to identify a societal problem, evaluating policy options using the 4E framework (effectiveness, efficiency, equity and ease of political acceptability) and, finally, communicating results in a way policymakers can actually act on.
52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting: How to Stay Focused, Grow Your Network and Get More Done in Less Time by Debra Eckerling
Debra Eckerling, creator of the DEB METHOD® for goal-setting, gathers insights from executives, entrepreneurs, authors and chefs to build a goal-setting guide that skips the one-size-fits-all approach. Readers get proven strategies for improving focus and productivity, real examples of goals from people who’ve pursued them and practical tips for expanding a network and balancing self-care with ambition.
Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Path To Empowered Optimism and Autonomy by Adam W. Barney
Drawing on more than twenty years as a leader and Energy Coach, Adam W. Barney makes the case that optimism and autonomy, used together, build the kind of resilience that gets people through real challenges. He blends personal stories with coaching insights and actionable steps for building a more positive mindset and greater self-reliance, distilling the concepts down into steps readers can actually put to use.
The Empowered Woman: The Ultimate Roadmap to Business Success by Marta Spirk
In this book, Marta Spirk lays out a five-step path to empowerment built around noticing, listening and forgiving, practices that lead to real self-acceptance and, in turn, success in both life and business. The book frames empowerment less as a mindset shift and more as a process of becoming a more authentic version of yourself, one that carries over directly into how a reader shows up in their career.
Things To Tell Your Daughter (Or Anyone You Care About!): A Guide To Becoming The Best Version of Yourself by Dimple Bhatti
Dimple Bhatti’s own journey of self-discovery started in her mid-forties, after years of prioritizing everyone else’s needs left her drained and unfulfilled. She writes candidly about the pushback she faced from people used to her self-sacrificing ways as she set boundaries and reclaimed her time, and how that path eventually led her to become a therapeutic coach herself. Part memoir, part practical guide, the book offers actionable steps for anyone who feels stuck or overextended and ready to put themselves back on their own list.
Think Outside the Box: Tap into Your Creative Genius Zone and Solve Problems Fast by Katha Jones
In Think Outside the Box, Katha Jones offers a set of mind-control techniques designed to help readers access what she calls their “creative genius zone”: a state of confident, intuitive thinking she connects to some of history’s most creative minds. The book is aimed at leaders looking to think more boldly and make a bigger impact, with an emphasis on using creativity to move faster on big goals rather than getting stuck overanalyzing them.
Ready, Launch, Brand: The Lean Marketing Guide for Startups by Orly Zeewy
Brand architect Orly Zeewy uses the analogy of building a plane mid-flight to capture the chaos of early-stage branding—building the product, booking customers and marketing the company all at once. Drawing on her work with dozens of founders, she offers a process for closing the marketing gaps that slow down sales, building the right team and cultivating brand evangelists and a sustainable company culture.
Thinking About Speaking: The Adastra Approach to Mastering the American English Accent by Christi Barb
Written for non-native English speakers looking to sharpen their spoken clarity, as well as ESL teachers looking to improve how they teach it, Christi Barb breaks down what actually defines an accent and why traditional pronunciation-focused methods often fall short. Her Adastra Approach treats accent reduction as more of a cognitive process than a physical one, offering techniques that go beyond drilling individual sounds. It’s a specialized but practical resource for anyone serious about refining their spoken English, whether they’re a learner or a teacher.
Visit the Innovation Women Bookstore to find even more professional development books from our speakers and experts.
