Transworld will publish Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's Women in Leadership

Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld, will publish Women and Leadership by former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard and former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Editorial director Andrea Henry acquired UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding ANZ and Canada) from Knopf Vintage at Penguin Random House Australia. The title will be published in e-book and audio in July 2020, and in paperback in September 2020. 

Women and Leadership explores gender bias in leadership through contributions from some of the world’s most powerful women, including Hillary Clinton, Jacinda Ardern, Joyce Banda, Christine Lagarde, Michelle Bachelet, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Erna Solberg and Theresa May.

In the book, the female leaders speak freely and honestly about having their ideas stolen by male colleagues, about what it’s like to be called fat or a slut in the media, and about the things they wish they had done differently.

Gillard and Okonjo-Iweala use their research to test hypothesis about why women seldom rise to the very top, particularly in the political sphere. Ultimately aiming to give insight into how gender and sexism affect perceptions of women as leaders, the trajectories of their leaderships, and the circumstances in which they come to an end. 

Gillard commented: "I want to live in a world where women play an equal role in decision making at every level and their leadership capacity is fairly evaluated, rather than being subject to sexism, stereotyping or misogyny. Getting there will require strategies for change that combine the best of research with real world insights. That’s exactly what our book does, and I am particularly proud that we have been able to distil all we have learned into advice about what everyone can do in their own lives to make a difference."

Henry added: "Gillard and Okonjo-Iweala’s interviews with these remarkable women, their commentary and analysis, shed important light on women’s unequal access to power. What is it that makes things different for women? The book highlights why we need more women leaders—a need that much Covid coverage supports— and offers practical thoughts on how we can help to make that happen. These ideas feel timely and important, and we’re delighted to be working with Julia and Ngozi."