Book Review

The SOS - A Survival Guide for Women at Work is a new book currently being co-authored by four inspirational women, Chantal Korteweg, Marijn Wiersma, Tessel van Willigen, and Lidewij Wiersma. This important book discusses topics such as impostor syndrome, female leadership, role models, networking, negotiating, conflict, guilt and parenting. Each of the four authors writes from their own personal experiences, combined with research on each of the topics, and interviews with global leaders. The book provides an SOS framework with solutions and suggestions for Self, Others and the System. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched for the book and can currently be found on Publishizer - the authors are asking women around the globe to show their support by pre-ordering the book to get it published on https://publishizer.com/sos-a-survival-guide-for-women-at-work/

In SOS - A Survival Guide for Women at Work, co-authors Chantal Korteweg, Marijn Wiersma, Tessel van Willigen, and Lidewij Wiersma identify the hurdles and barriers for women to advance their careers. They also find ways to address them, acknowledging that many of us have no problem identifying our pitfalls but knowing how to change our ways is infinitely harder. They frame solutions using their unique SOS framework:

Self: what can you do yourself

Others: how can others help you and how can you help others

System: how the system and the (unwritten) rules should change.

Chantal, Marijn, Tessel and Lidewij hope that if their book helps women to address even one small part of one obstacle or help them to improve, they will have achieved what they set out to do. Hopefully all the tiny incremental changes will eventually contribute to a shift in our work culture to reflect a more diverse, balanced, happier and more productive workforce.

Author Quotes

We are as diverse as our professions; introvert, extrovert, sweet, edgy, empathic, driven, chaotic, precise, creative, all present in different quantities in each of us. Each with different experiences in our working lives, ranging from soaring success to ‘flat-on-your-face’ failure, and everything in between.
Although our list of professions does not include ‘organisational psychologist’, ‘writer’ or ‘editor’ we decided to overcome our own imposter syndrome 6 and write down what we learned from our (undoubtedly flawed and incomplete) experience, our research, our interviews with global role models, our focus groups, and our lively discussions, on common workplace challenges regarding diversity and inequality.
Our perspective is that of women, but many, if not all, of these topics touch men as well and the topic of diversity extends well beyond gender diversity.

About the authors

Chantal Korteweg trained as a lawyer and therefore feels strongly about social justice. She currently works as the Director Inclusive Banking at Dutch bank ABN AMRO and initiated the Fempower Your Growth Partnership. Chantal got appointed as Aspirant Dutch Women's representative to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York in 2023 about financial inclusion for women.

Marijn Wiersma is the founder of Incredible Impact and currently works as Director of Partnership and Innovation at the 2X Collaborative. She is the co-author of the book “Banking for a Better World,” and is an expert on diversity & financial inclusion. As a visionary, multi-linguist, and free thinker, she is creative, curious, and innovative. She’s lived on three continents, worked in over 35 countries, and is a mother of four.

Tessel van Willigen is a management trainee at Hieroo Amsterdam, where she works on different social projects to create positive impact in the region. As a connector, Tessel excels in bringing together different cultures, disciplines, and points of view.

Lidewij Wiersma is a veterinary specialist with a PhD in emerging coronaviruses. She is the CEO of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation and consults for the United Nations and is a gifted and witty writer.

Why LoA loves it…

If there is one thing we know at Lionesses of Africa, and it comes from talking to thousands of women entrepreneurs in our community across the continent and the Diaspora, it’s that women are constantly juggling every aspect of their busy lives. We are running our businesses, innovating and launching new products, raising our children and keeping our personal relationships together, as well as motivating from the front for our employees. At times it can seem like an uphill battle, keeping all those juggling balls in the air, yet we find a way. Reading the early chapter extracts for SOS - A Survival Guide for Women at Work, reinforces that this is a much needed book, reminding us that we are not alone in experiencing such challenges - and importantly finding solutions. So, let’s support Chantal, Marjin, Tessel and Lidewij in their mission to get their book published and let’s share in these great insights and learn to not just survive in business, but to thrive. Show your support by pre-ordering the book to get it published on https://publishizer.com/sos-a-survival-guide-for-women-at-work/