Power Up audiobook cover - How Smart Women Win in the New Economy

Power Up

How Smart Women Win in the New Economy

Magdalena Yesil

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Categories:
EconomicsMoney & Investments

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Power Up
The New Economy+
Core Career Principles+
Career Path Strategy+
Recognition & Compensation+
Navigating Sexism+
Professional Network+
Career & Family Balance+
Handling Job Loss+
Promoting Diversity+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
Why does the author argue that the 'New Economy' is a particularly great place for women to work?
  • A. It strictly adheres to historical corporate hierarchies that provide clear paths to promotion.
  • B. It guarantees equal pay and mandatory maternity leave across all senior management roles.
  • C. It is breaking many of the traditional rules of employment, allowing for more flexibility and empowerment.
  • D. It requires less technical expertise than traditional industries, making it easier to enter.
Question 2 of 10
What core lesson did Magdalena Yesil learn after mistakenly rejecting a job offer from Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak?
  • A. To always negotiate for a higher starting salary regardless of the company's size.
  • B. To do proper research before making career decisions rather than blindly following advice.
  • C. To only accept offers from established, Fortune 500 companies with proven track records.
  • D. To trust her intuition when a company's branding or name seems unprofessional.
Question 3 of 10
How does the book define the concept of 'intrapreneurship'?
  • A. Exploring and funding new, innovative initiatives from within the confines of an existing, stable corporation.
  • B. Starting a competing side-business while still employed by another company.
  • C. Transitioning from a corporate executive role to a freelance consulting career.
  • D. Investing personal savings into a colleague's startup venture.
Question 4 of 10
According to the author, what is a highly effective, proactive way to prove your value when negotiating a raise?
  • A. Subtly hint at receiving job offers from competing companies to create a sense of urgency.
  • B. Wait patiently for your annual review so your boss can recognize your stellar work organically.
  • C. Collect written testimonials and feedback from colleagues via email to document your performance and value.
  • D. File a formal complaint with HR regarding the lack of standardized performance metrics.
Question 5 of 10
How does the author suggest women handle the risk of being labeled a 'bitch' when standing up for themselves in the workplace?
  • A. They should soften their approach and use passive language to maintain team harmony.
  • B. They should accept that it is better to be seen as a 'bitch' than to be a martyr who accepts disrespect.
  • C. They should immediately report the labeling to human resources to establish a paper trail.
  • D. They should let male allies speak on their behalf to avoid the double standard altogether.
Question 6 of 10
Why is it specifically recommended for women to include men in their professional networks?
  • A. Men are generally more willing to provide emotional support during career transitions.
  • B. Statistics show that men are more likely to seek out female mentors than vice versa.
  • C. Companies require diverse mentorship pairs to meet internal diversity and inclusion quotas.
  • D. Men currently hold more senior positions and possess the leverage and money needed to open career doors.
Question 7 of 10
What is presented as an effective remedy for overcoming 'mommy guilt'?
  • A. Quitting your job temporarily until your children reach school age.
  • B. Feeling empowered and successful in your career, which makes you a positive role model at home.
  • C. Refusing to answer emails or take calls during any non-working hours.
  • D. Shifting to a less demanding, part-time role within your current company.
Question 8 of 10
What does Julie Wainwright’s experience after the collapse of Pets.com demonstrate about career breaks?
  • A. Taking a long break to recharge can restore your confidence and inspire your next successful venture.
  • B. Taking a break longer than a year will permanently damage your professional reputation in the tech industry.
  • C. You should immediately launch a new startup after a failure to prove your resilience to investors.
  • D. Career breaks should only be used to pursue formal higher education, not hobbies like painting.
Question 9 of 10
How did Etsy successfully increase its number of female engineers when they couldn't find candidates with the exact required experience?
  • A. They lowered their overall hiring standards to meet their diversity quota.
  • B. They poached female talent from competitors by offering significantly higher salaries.
  • C. They established a three-month training course to develop less qualified but diverse candidates.
  • D. They outsourced their engineering tasks to international female-led agencies.
Question 10 of 10
According to research by Stanford University’s Clayman Institute, what happens when businesses use explicit evaluation criteria instead of vague ones?
  • A. Women are penalized more frequently for aggressive communication.
  • B. The pay gap between men and women routinely narrows.
  • C. Employee turnover increases significantly due to rigid standards.
  • D. Men and women receive identical performance scores regardless of actual output.

Power Up — Full Chapter Overview

Power Up Summary & Overview

Power Up (2017) aims to empower women in the workplace with practical advice and heartfelt anecdotes from a Silicon Valley pioneer. Although primarily focused on the tech industry, it’s a guidebook that can be applied to breaking glass ceilings in all industries. From taking ownership of career choices to navigating sexist office politics, Magdalena Yesil offers a call to action for women who want appropriate credit for their hard work and a salary to match.

Who Should Listen to Power Up?

  • Women in business
  • Anyone working in the tech industry
  • Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists

About the Author: Magdalena Yesil

Magdalena Yesil is an established force in Silicon Valley, with a diverse professional history that includes cofounding Broadway Angels, a group of female angel investors, and the tech companies UUnet, CyberCash and MarketPay. Currently, she’s a founding investor and board member of cloud-based computing giant called Salesforce. She was recently named Red Herring magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

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