Top 10 Best Books for Female Entrepreneurs in the UK 2021 (Sheryl Sandberg and More)

If you're looking for a book to spur you on, fuel your motivation and help you feel empowered, you need to start by ticking a few boxes. From focus points to formats, we'll guide you through every step of the way!

There are so many ways to become a female entrepreneur. Will you climb the corporate ladder of your current 9-to-5, or do you dream of breaking boundaries with your innovative startup idea? Make sure the book you choose focuses on a topic that resonates with you.

Being a woman in a corporate environment can expose you to issues of discrimination, such as the gender pay gap and prejudice between colleagues. However, many women have broken through the gates of the 'boy's club' and have gone on to succeed in more powerful ways than they could ever have imagined. 

Thanks to a long line of women who defied the 'expected norms' and stood up for their human rights, we are now working towards a state of equality in the workplace. Unfortunately, not everyone is yet on board, with often older male directors challenging women whose determination may intimidate them. 

If you're familiar with uncomfortable situations at work where you feel that your progress is being slowed down by an unethical corporate mindset, you should read a book that will lay out the facts and advise you on how to power-move your way to the top. 

Many people across the UK have channelled their free time into building a new business. Managing it all by yourself at the start was probably fairly simple, a few social media posts here and there with an occasional blog or two. But now, you might find that you're working seven jobs at once!

How could you possibly navigate through building an entire business by yourself? It's simple - you shouldn't. While it's possible to try, you'd be more successful (and mentally stable) if you outsourced. But, alongside owning a startup comes the obstacle of trusting others. 

A book that explains the pitfalls of pioneering your own company will help you to gain a better understanding of your main objectives and construct a business plan to succeed. Learn to trust that other people will know more about certain topics than you do, and let them help you understand that you can't manage a team by spinning all the plates yourself.

Freelancers are living in the future of employment. They manage their own time, can work from any location and don't need to ask for permission to have a long lunch break. Freelancers are their own boss, living a life that any entrepreneur would dream of. 

Of course, it can be difficult to learn how to self-discipline and balance your work with your personal life. You might be a freelance graphic designer who wants to build an impressive client base. If so, you'll need to have exceptional time management, amongst other skills. 

Working as a freelancer opens up so many doors to entrepreneurship, and you can find books that guide you through the basics of freelancing and how to build a successful business from it. If you're not a freelancer yet, you can find a book that breaks you away from the standard 9-to-5 office job to live your life with more freedom.

Every successful woman has her own story of how she made it to the top, or is on the way up. You want to be inspired by the right person, so ask yourself which style of writing you respond to the best. This will help your brain to absorb the information you need to climb the entrepreneurial ladder. 

You might want to start by looking to women who have not only worked hard, but thrived in their position. A biography or autobiography is where they note down their most effective advice with personal accounts to prove it. 

The book could either be written by the entrepreneur herself, or by someone else who highlights their success from an outsider's opinion. Whether they built a leading fashion brand, or fought for gender equality in their work environment, you'll get to see every juicy detail of the subject's journey. 

Having a role model to look up to will also help you to pull your dream board together, giving you a person to focus on and mentor you over, under, and around every obstacle along the way!

If you'd prefer to read an informative book that doesn't follow the story of someone's life, you can find many options that provide a collection of important pieces of inspiration and motivation. Some are written by popular business leaders, others are written by women who want to make an impact and broaden people's minds. 

Informative books can cover a number of different topics, such as controversial issues, daily struggles, and female empowerment. You might find that such an intellectual book would be the perfect addition to your coffee table, or you might prefer to gift it to your most ambitious friend. 

Either way, a motivating informational book is a great way to form your own opinion, as opposed to following the life story of an individual. For advice on entrepreneurship and ethical inspiration, a book like this is an excellent idea!

If you like to curl up with a book on a Sunday afternoon, get yourself a paperback or a hardback edition. Paperbacks are flexible, lightweight and often the more affordable option between the two. That said, a sophisticated hardback book will be higher-quality, and make good gifts if you're happy to spend a few more pounds. 

Audiobooks can be listened to on your way to the shop, whilst walking the dogs, or in the comfort of your own home - all you need is a good speaker or a pair of headphones. If you prefer to read, but you don't want to carry a physical book around with you, you could always download the ebook version for your gadget of choice. 

Now it's time to get your teeth stuck into this list of books for female entrepreneurs. We've ranked our top 10 favourites in the UK, so you're sure to find one that stands out!

Sometimes you can find inspiration in the most unlikely of places. That's why we've selected a few more motivational reads to get you going. Whether you're searching for the key to communication, more stories of empowerment from female voices, or to spark joy in your own home, check out the links below!

After choosing one of these books, you'll be ready to launch your startup, go to work on Monday with confidence and professionalism, and own your career like a boss! We hope that you found our buying guide useful, and that you've found a book that answers all of your entrepreneurial questions and quandaries.

Author: Annie Speight