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Unapologetically Ambitious

Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms

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Unapologetically Ambitious

Written by: Shellye Archambeau, Ben Horowitz - introduction
Narrated by: Shellye Archambeau, Dan Triandiflou
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About this listen

 Full of empowering wisdom from one of Silicon Valley's first female African American CEOs, this inspiring leadership book offers a blueprint for how to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Shellye Archambeau recounts how she overcame the challenges she faced as a young black woman, wife, and mother, managing her personal and professional responsibilities while climbing the ranks at IBM and subsequently in her roles as CEO. Through the busts and booms of Silicon Valley in the early 2000s, this bold and inspiring book details the risks she took and the strategies she engaged to steer her family, her career, and her company MetricStream toward success.

Through her journey, Shellye discovered that ambition alone is not enough to achieve success. Here, she shares the practical strategies, tools, and approaches readers can employ right now, including concrete steps to most effectively:
  • Dismantle impostor syndrome
  • Capitalize on the power of planning
  • Take risks
  • Developing financial literacy
  • Build your network
  • Establish your reputation
  • Take charge of your career
  • Integrate work, marriage, parenthood, and self-care
Each chapter lays out key takeaways and actions to increase the odds of achieving your personal and professional goals. With relatable personal stories that ground her advice in the real world and a foreword by leading venture capitalist and New York Times bestselling author Ben Horowitz, Unapologetically Ambitious invites readers to move beyond the solely supportive roles others expect them to fill, to learn how to carefully tread the thin line between assertive and aggressive, and to give themselves permission to strive for the top. Make no apologies for the height of your ambitions. Shellye Archambeau will show you how. Leadership Management & Leadership Motivation & Self-Improvement Personal Success Women in Business

Critic Reviews

"In a world that too often tells women, especially Black women, to stay small, keep quiet, and know their limits, this book says otherwise. It's a celebration of women knowing their power."—Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org
"Shellye has achieved amazing success through a clear strategy of setting goals, making plans, and intelligent risk-taking. In this book, she's now sharing these strategies with us: why to set an ambitious plan and how to achieve it. Highly recommended."—Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Start-Up of You
"Shellye's life story, and the lessons it carries, are powerful examples of focus and ambition that can shape your life for the better. If your goal is just to be famous, maybe this is not the story for you, but if your goal is to be a truly great leader of men and women, you have found your guide."—Ben Horowitz, New York Times bestselling author of The Hard Thing about Hard Things
"Unapologetically Ambitious is a treasure trove of strategic wisdom and practical tips, brought to life through amazing storytelling that will leave the reader inspired, empowered and appreciative. The book deals with the realities of setbacks, trade-offs and societal norms in an authentic way, while illustrating that strength and success often lie in mindset and the team you choose in life. The closing chapter serves as a master guide to navigating life, providing a penultimate takeaway for any reader early in their journey to put the wisdom and experience of the Archambeau's lessons learned into immediate action!"—Brad D.Smith, Executive Chairman of Intuit and Nordstrom
"Through a compelling story about her own journey, Shellye offers powerful tips for how to live life courageously and go after what you want. From investing in your financial health to integrating work, marriage, parenthood and self-care--each chapter lays out actionable strategies to help you achieve your goals. A must read for anyone looking for ways to grow and live their best life."— ThasundaBrown Duckett, CEO, ChaseConsumer Banking
"A successful career in any industry is always underpinned by a few important elements: focus, risk-awareness and drive. Shellye's book Unapologetically Ambitious underscores the importance these elements can play in your career and showcases brilliant strategies and approaches through her own career pursuits. "
—John Thompson, chairman of Microsoft
All stars
Most relevant
The book is basically the life story of author Shellye Archambeau. However, it is very inspiring to know how she set her goals, plan, build strategy and accomplish to reach her goal to become the CEO of a company. It is very well narrated with clear, concise manner. The situation for everyone is different, however, her struggle, her fighting spirit gives me motivation to move forward. I recommend the book.

Nice book

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Loved listening to the author Shellye herself and could feel the emotions beautifully. She has been a role model and someone I have looked upto. Shows what it takes to get there, focus on goals, have the clarity of what you want, what you dont, take risks and convert them into opportunities. It's about choices we make and not treating them as sacrifices and feeling guilty about it. And, it never too late to have a plan. I was fortunate enough to know her, work with her and knowing so much more about her now through this book and learn a few tips. My respect for you has gone up a few notches. Life is never easy and we have to make the best out of it. Thanks again.

True to the title Unapologetically Ambitious.

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Must read /listen to this book.. Everyone alike. Her methodical approach to life seems to idealistic but with some of her personal guidances to me (yes been lucky to have received insights and values while working at MetricStream) I can vouch for their effectiveness and application in life. Thank you Shellye for sharing your experiences in this form for larger good..! Regards Nilesh.

Shellye as always

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I listened to the Audible edition and I must say it is a jewel every aspiring leader / entreprenur must have. The plus point of your book is the way you have narrated your experience, it is very conversational and not a story telling type, I could easily connect to the narrative and picturize. I enjoyed listening to it and I have answers to some of the difficult questions

A great book to read

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