Count Me In – A trailblazer’s triumph in a world not built for her received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Susan Allen.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Count Me In – A trailblazer’s triumph in a world not built for her. Published: September, 2022
What’s the book’s first line?
“Today is my living hell, my new reality.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Count Me In is the memoir of the trailblazer, Susan Allen – a global leader and once one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She shares her deeply personal and professional leadership journey (including all her wrong turns) answering the question she’s heard the most from young women:
“How did you do it, Sue?”
Join Susan on her journey all the way to the boardrooms of powerful corporations and learn how she overcame the barriers faced by many young women trying to pursue careers. She delves into the challenges of dealing with imposter syndrome and perfectionism, and reveals how with grit and sheer determination, she rewrote the rules to scale the corporate ladder in a male dominated profession, while raising two children.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
For years, I unabashedly shared my atypical career journey, my challenges, my misconceptions and my wrong turns with university students, budding CPA’s, PwC interns and colleagues. Millennial women (and men) continue to be inspired by my unpredictable accomplishments and triumphs. So, why not take a leap of faith and share my story more broadly with the world?
My purpose in writing my memoir is to inspire, educate, and entertain young professional women to achieve their dreams while remaining true to themselves. I offer my lessons learned, personal self-reflections and questions to help them navigate the labyrinth of a non-linear career path, parenthood and work-life balance by avoiding my mistakes and dispelling my misconceptions.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
If you feel stuck in the talent pipeline at your company, suffer from imposter syndrome or perfectionism, or wish to achieve better work-life balance Count Me In is for you.
You are not alone in misunderstanding gender differences in the workplace and growth limiting beliefs women typically hold. Susan’s journey to the top, gives professional women the opportunity to learn strategies to:
Ask for a promotion and accept the you have earned it,
Avoid risk averse behaviours that limit your growth and potential,
Acknowledge and kick mom guilt to the curb, and
Overcome life’s inevitable setbacks.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
As a retired audit partner and global leader with PwC, I currently serve on four corporate boards as an Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair for the board. I should add, I also golf a couple of times a week, which most days feels like work, if you saw my game.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
My book took two years to write, plus an additional year of editing, re-writing, incorporating Beta reader feedback, and publishing. I blocked three mornings a week, three to four hours daily, to write, create, edit, re-edit, and worry that I was attempting the unthinkable as a first-time author, trying to bring a book baby into the world.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Don’t let your negative voice stop you from writing a book – it is not a stupid idea. If you want to produce a quality product, don’t go it alone.
Your book will be a better version of you, when you invest your time (and money) to support your effort. It takes a village of trusted advisors to quiet your negative voice, prop you up when you need it most and carry you across the finish line. My team included a great editor, a book coach, a cover designer, a web designer (for your author website), thoughtful Beta readers, accountability partners and a supportive family.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I am always open to what they offer in terms of marketing or other opportunities to get my book into more hands.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Helping others overcome adversity motivates me. Thus, all proceeds of my book are going to support pediatric cardiology needs in Toronto and a scholarship for women in STEM programs at my alma mater University.
I was supported throughout my career by forward-thinking men (interestingly, with stay-at-home spouses), who believed in me often more than I believed in myself. This book, that I refer to as my vulnerable, stretch assignment, is my opportunity to pay it forward and to thank those men. My purpose will be achieved if I enable other young women to see themselves as others see them (strong, capable, intelligent professionals) and to truly believe it! I am stoked to encourage ‘out of your comfort zone’ risk taking to help women advance their careers in ways my bosses helped me advance my career.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
There are so many, but if I had to choose one, it would be Malcolm Gladwell. He writes powerful, inspiring, well-researched, thought-provoking books. You know he is awesome when his phrases and ideas (ie; ‘10,000 hours’ and the ‘tipping point’) are the ‘Kleenex’ of business lexicons today.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
When Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” came out in 2013, I was leading PwC Canada’s ‘Women in Leadership/Retention of Women’ initiative and was well aware of the research she shares in her pivotal, best-selling book for women in business. At the time, I said to my colleagues, “Damn, why didn’t we write this?” Nine years later, I answered that question, with my memoir aiming to help women in business, in my own unique way.