That mission both serves as a through line for the memoir’s narrative and explains why Mpofu, the vice president of an Australian mining company and a leader in mining sustainability movements, writes it (as well as its occasional poems, like “Gratitude” and “The Glass Cushion”) with such urgency. “Power and strength behaviours demonstrated by the patriarchy and masculinity are not required traits for leadership in the 21st century,” she declares. Instead, she calls for leadership stamped by inclusivity, truthfulness, and a dedication to the creation of shared value; for women in business and STEM professions to serve as role models for each other; and for women to “own” their success.
Practical exercises at the end of chapters offer readers direction in reflecting on the lessons Mpofu has learned and applying them to their own lives and careers. Still, Unleashing My Superpowers ultimately proves more memoir than leadership manual, as Mpofu, a frank and engaging storyteller, recounts her rise, challenges she’s faced, and even digs into her ancestry and family history.
Takeaway: An inviting account of a business woman’s rise to success and embrace of her power.
Great for fans of: Rache Hollis’s Girl, Stop Apologizing, Carolina Criado Perez’s Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
