If You Want Something Done

by Nikki R. Haley

First published 2022

Nikki Haley examines women who overcame barriers to achieve extraordinary leadership roles. Drawing from Margaret Thatcher's famous observation about women getting things accomplished, Haley profiles figures ranging from internationally known leaders like Thatcher and Golda Meir to lesser recognized advocates such as Cindy Warmbier and Virginia Walden Ford. The author weaves her personal journey throughout, recounting her path from a brown girl in Bamberg, South Carolina to becoming America's first minority female governor and later U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Haley faced constant criticism for being too brown, too female, too young, and too principled, but she transformed these perceived disadvantages into motivation. Her approach combines historical examples with contemporary stories, showing how women across different eras and fields have pushed past opposition to create change. The book offers readers both inspiration and practical examples of female leadership in action.

Genres: biography, history, gender-studies, american, politics, leadership, non-fiction, 21st-century

Vibes: emotional, inspirational, thought-provoking

Tropes: inspirational-story, overcoming-adversity

Setting: Bamberg, South Carolina, United Nations

Period: 21st-century

256 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press

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