You earned your spot. Now stop shrinking to make other people comfortable.
Welcome to the job you didn't know you were interviewing for.
You're the CEO. The Executive Director. The Chapter Executive.
The woman at the top of a nonprofit or trade association in a male-dominated industry.
And somehow... you're still getting mistaken for the receptionist.
Hard Hats & High Heels is the practical (and laugh-out-loud honest) guide for women leading in industries that weren't exactly built with them in mind. If you've ever been talked over in a board meeting, left out of the after-hours networking ritual, labeled "too nice" or "too direct," or found yourself crying in your car before pulling it together and walking back in like a boss, this book is for you.
This isn't a "how to be one of the boys" manual. It's a guide to leading with authority, humor, boundaries, and zero apologies.
Inside, you'll learn how to:
-
Protect your boundaries without burning bridges
-
Speak with authority (and survive the fallout)
-
Pick your battles without picking a fight
-
Navigate board dynamics in male-dominated rooms
-
Build a real network of women who actually support each other
-
Ask for the raise you deserve
-
Walk away from traditions that no longer serve you
Plus, you'll find bonus sections, practical strategies, and a few light-hearted BINGO games that will feel uncomfortably familiar.
Written by a 30-year veteran of the association world, including leadership roles in construction and law enforcement organizations, Cheryl Sprague knows what it's like to be underestimated, passed over, talked down to... and still win the room.
This book isn't about complaining. It's about surviving, thriving, and refusing to shrink.
You don't have to toughen up. You don't have to become someone else. You just need a strategy, a few allies, and a great pair of shoes.
