Through the Glass Ceiling: Reflections on Feminism from the C-Suite Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Sasha Stolz Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

I am a feminist. I believe in equality for both women and men in areas like pay and opportunities. There are plenty of books that discuss this subject in a variety of forms, but one of the most common is in business. This makes sense since more women have been hired in many positions, including the top leadership ones, in the male-dominating corporate world. It’s also one of the best places to show how women shattered the glass ceiling. One of the latest books that dives into this aspect is Through the Glass Ceiling: Reflections on Feminism from the C-Suite by Sheelagh Whittaker – the female CEO of a Toronto Stock Exchange listed company. It’s a funny and introspective story about one woman’s journey in the Canadian corporate world with an engaging narrator and wonderful insight on gender equality.

Through the Glass Ceiling: Reflections on Feminism from the C-Suite blends memoir, feminist history, and career guidance all into one told by a former female CEO. Sheelagh Whittaker reflects on her experiences that shaped her approach to leadership from her role models to the lessons she learned in business school. As she ascends the corporate ladder, she encounters absurdities, victories, and drawbacks that define a woman’s journey in male-dominated spaces. Along the way, Whittaker discusses how feminism seeped into her consciousness, influencing the decisions she made at work and home. Through the Glass Ceiling is not just a memoir; it’s a call to action for aspiring women leaders looking to break their own glass ceilings, even when the path is anything but clear.

Prior to reading Through the Glass Ceiling, I had no idea who Sheelagh Whittaker was. I’m an American who’s not too familiar with the business world. Regardless, I found her story to be riveting, and she tells it in less than 200 pages. I admired her tenacity as she endured the business world while balancing her personal life even if she was oblivious to certain practices. Some things had to give and take like moving across the country to take a leadership position or ending a relationship. Whittaker tells some fascinating stories about the kinds of workplace abuse she encountered. For example, after she gave a presentation to members of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the network executive literally kicked her in the ankles (p. 55). I couldn’t believe it. But, did that guy meet Bill Clinton years later? Whittaker did, which I thought was amazing.

In addition, I adore her humor. One of the funniest things she recalls saying in the past is “We will have true equality when we have as many incompetent women in positions of power as we have incompetent men.”

That line made me laugh really hard because I thought of certain organizations that have ironically achieved that. And, I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought that it was funny. Whittaker mentions, “Over the years, some of my best friendships have evolved from people who came looking for the woman (me) who was recorded in Colombo’s Canadian Quotations for having first said that” (p. 61).

Along with the humor, my favorite part of Through the Glass Ceiling is the reflections on feminism and gender equality not only from Whittaker, but also from her sister, daughter, son, caretaker, and granddaughter. Each of them are from separate generations, which makes their views different as well as similar in some ways. For instance, I like how the granddaughter ruminates that even though no one told her she couldn’t do certain things because she was a woman, she held internal misogyny due to how she felt people would perceive her and her femininity as weak. Fortunately, she was grateful that what her grandmother helped paved the way in the initial feminist waves, so she can love and motivate herself to do what she wants to do (p. 145-148). It shows how feminism evolved from an external battle with getting a foot into the door to an internal one with embracing one’s true self.

Through the Glass Ceiling: Reflections on Feminism from the C-Suite by Sheelagh Whittaker is a fun and heartfelt memoir about one woman’s experiences in the business world and her views on gender equality. There are so many things to adore. I love the humor, the frankness, and how Whittaker and the people in her life talk about their views on feminism and how she made a difference. It’s also a quick read at less than 200 pages. Additionally, that line about achieving equality when both incompetent women and men are in higher-up positions is absolutely spot on. I would recommend this to readers who love reading about the business world and stories of women breaking the glass ceiling. Through the Glass Ceiling: Reflections on Feminism from the C-Suite will be tomorrow, April 22, so make sure you get it at your local bookstore or library.

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