Take Back Your Power by Deborah Liu Summary
Overview of Take Back Your Power
In "Take Back Your Power," Facebook VP-turned-Ancestry CEO Deborah Liu offers 10 game-changing rules for workplace success. Endorsed by tech leaders as "essential wisdom," this guide doesn't just lament gender bias - it provides actionable strategies that have empowered 30,000+ Women In Product members.
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Key takeaways
When Your Seat at the Table Comes with an Invisible Asterisk
Picture walking into a high-stakes tech conference as the keynote speaker, yet watching people consistently edge you out of conversations to speak with your male colleague instead. Then, after your presentation, those same people suddenly find you worth approaching. At a dinner with other female tech leaders facing identical treatment, they made a pact: "make it awkward" by calling out this behavior rather than accepting it silently. This wasn't a workshop exercise-this was the daily reality for a Facebook executive who would eventually become CEO of Ancestry. The statistics tell a sobering story: women earn 10-20% less than men in identical jobs and are 25% less likely to receive requested raises despite asking just as frequently. These disparities begin in childhood, where girls are called "bossy" while boys are praised as "leaders." Even children's literature reinforces these stereotypes, with "girl" books focusing on princesses and friendship while "boy" books feature adventure and problem-solving. When one author wrote a children's book, her son advised against using a female character's name in the title because "it will be less appealing to boys." This conditioning creates a classic double bind where women must either seek power and face harsh judgment or serve quietly to earn praise.
The Power You're Unknowingly Surrendering
Charting Unconventional Paths to Success
The Freedom of Not Being the Expert
Forgiveness as Radical Self-Liberation
Building Your Circle of Champions
Reclaiming Your Voice, Writing Your Legacy
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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