The Tea: Becoming is the memoir of former United States First Lady Michelle Obama and it leaves no stone unturned. The book’s 24 chapters (plus a preface and epilogue) are divided into three sections: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More. There is so much to enjoy about this book, much to think about, and much to savor. It is a gentle reminder that it’s in the doing that you become.

The Tea: While it’s her story, there is a plethora of advice for anyone seeking more, who may doubt themselves from time to time. Welteroth uses her own experiences to highlight the points she makes about trusting yourself, knowing your worth, and making big decisions in life. If you’re a career woman who has wrestling with the strength it requires to be excellent and ambitious this is a must-read.

The Tea: In The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks, the New York Times bestselling author, demonstrates how to eliminate the barriers to success by overcoming false fears and beliefs. He effectively will provides useful,  tips for breaking down the walls to a better life in and taking leaps along the way.

The Tea: In The Memo, Minda Harts offers a much-needed career guide tailored specifically for women of color. The Memo” also offers helpful words for those who are the lone women of color at their workplaces. It teaches strength in the face of racism, on hair issues, self-confidence, compensation and for anyone who needs to school coworkers while keeping her job. It’s a new-age unapologetic depiction of what’s it’s like to be a woman of color in the workplace. This is a great read for anyone looking to validate their experiences.

The Tea: This book is one of my favs, Austin Channing Brown is a powerful voice on racial justice and is one of my favorite storytellers. For readers who want to be more engaged with America’s legacy on race and an understanding of how white, middle-class, Evangelicalism has participated in an era of rising racial hostility in yourself and the world. This book is an invitation to confront apathy, recognize God’s ongoing work in the world, and discover how blackness–if we let it–can save us all.

The Tea: We are either racist or antiracist, there is nothing in between, argues this powerful memoir and political guide by Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi’s concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America–but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. This is a great book as you seek to become an internal racial equity leader or external humanist

The Tea: Oh do I stan me some Carla Harris. Expect to Win is a gem in a sea full of career books and really is a battle cry for young professionals on the expectation of greatness. Carla Harris, one of the most successful and respected women in business, shares advice, tips, and strategies for surviving in any workplace environment. If you are looking for insights on how to navigate the politics of promotion. This is your book!

The Tea: If you know you are ready to kick the 9 to 5 to the side and looking for a playbook to transition. This is your book! A fantastic read for all my “corpreneurs” looking to pivot and make your side hustle their main hustle.

The Tea: Stealing the Corner Office explores the unconventional tactics people less competent than you use to get ahead and stay ahead. It is your proven playbook to thrive and win in an imperfect corporate world. While this book may not account for the nuances that face diverse professionals it does point out 10 unpopular principles that fundamentally universal.

The Tea: Dennis Kimbro, observing how the weight of the continuing housing and credit crises disproportionately impacts the African-American community, takes a sharp look at a carefully cultivated group of individuals who’ve scaled the heights of success and how others can emulate them. Based on a seven-year study of 1,000 of the wealthiest African Americans, The Wealth Choice offers a trove of sound and surprising advice about climbing the economic ladder, even when the odds seem stacked against you. Most importantly he drives home how developing a wealth-generating mindset and habits is the key to joint the one percent.

The Tea: Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, and perpetual truth-telling. In her second book, she discusses that we all have to become professional troublemakers: people who are committed to not letting fear talk them out of the things they need to do or say to live free. This is a great book for the professional looking to be your most authentic self in all spaces.

The Tea: Habit Changers, literally helps you rewire your mental habits for the better.  Executive coach M.J. Ryan shares the secret weapon that has helped her highest performing clients improve their focus, better manage under pressure, enhance their emotional intelligence, and become more effective leaders. Change your habit and it changes the game!

The Tea:If you are a “professional gypsy” who can’t seem to find satisfaction in your career or stay planted. This book will help you channel your hobbies, passions, and personal interest to fuel your career the right way.

The Tea: This is a great career book for the non-traditional career girl looking for great lessons and storytelling. Drawing invaluable lessons from her experience as a top fashion publicist, Aliza Licht shares advice, inspiration, and a healthy dose of real talk on how she got to the top.

The Tea: Not all mistakes are created equal; in this book, it was refreshing to hear stories about bouncing back from low points. My main takeaway from this book was that nobody has it all figured it out. Even people at the very top have had failures. If you are feeling discouraged about career failures, this book is a pick me up for sure.

The Tea: I actually stumbled across this book years ago and downloaded it. I loved it so much, I purchased a hard copy for my collection. The book covers three powerful African-American female executives sharing ways to communicate thoughtfully, trust yourself, and exude self-esteem in the corporate sector. If you are on the journey of believing you deserve to be at the table, this is the book for you.

The Tea: The entire premise for the book is that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence of having “grit”. Duckworth says, “natural talent” is helpful, of course, but effort matters more. It’s not rocket science, just a reminder to practice how you play!

The Tea: Presence is all about how to bring your boldest self to your biggest challenges. If you are a professional who suffers from imposters syndrome this a good book for strategies on how to show up and be confident.

The Tea: This is literally one of my favorite books that I gift often to professionals of color. It shares the success stories of 32 African American Executives and it is both alarming and comforting to know the common themes of micro-equities and upward ability difficulties are uniquely shared but also overcome. This book will help you level up and affirm you are not alone.

The Tea: I read this book to help me better coach introverted leaders. Quiet is a tribute to all the introverted career professionals who are struggling to find their way in navigating relationships and connecting. If this is you, it’s a must-read!

The Tea: Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its mere title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, has a clear, relevant, necessary voice to the issues of leadership and equality for women and men and an understanding for parents working in and out of the home. If you are a woman trying to balance it all or a man trying to be an ally for women, grab this book.

The Tea: Dr. Avis Jones DeWeever’s book was game-changing for me. All the things that Sheryl Sandburg left out of Lean In (mainly because it’s a bit tone death to WOC) this book picks up and slam dunks. This book brings together compelling research, hard data, and generously shared personal advice to unlock the secrets to exceptional success for today’s Black woman. I personally know Dr. Avis, and she is the real deal. You should buy this book!

The Tea: Ego is the Enemy is perhaps the most straightforward book on the subject of “ego” and provides a truly humbling lesson on how to live a sober, stoic life that is outwardly focused rather than inward. You will not read this book without questioning moments in time where your ego has failed you. This book is a must-have in your collection!

The Tea: Awwwh I just love Auntie O! What I Know for Sure, has an amazing goodness about it. The book is broken up into little vignettes of her accumulated wisdom throughout the years with themes like, “joy” and “resilience” as the title lead in. If you are someone obsessed with how people who are both amazing business leaders and humans think and grow, READ THIS BOOK!

The Tea: This book was gifted to me almost a decade ago and it instantly made me a super fan of Suze Orman. She has such a digestible way of presenting financial business advice for professionals that is easy for even the most immature. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke is a go-to guide for the basic strategy for your financial goals.

The Tea: If you are a career professional who just doesn’t feel like you’re fit for a traditional career trajectory this book is for you. Sophia Amoroso’s story on how she went from rags to riches by following her instincts and passion and starting her iconic brand is not only beneficial, I laughed out loud a few times while reading.

The Tea: This book is an oldie but a goodie. It’s an excellent read for women who battle with the fine line between being feminine and strong. Louis Frankel offers invaluable coaching tips you can easily incorporate into your social and business skills to identify you as someone with the power and know-how to occupy the corner office.

The Tea: This book is a must-have. If everyone just knew they are the key to their success and no other variable will make a difference other than how you see yourself. If you are trying to get rid of your self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, buy this book (actually, buy two and give the other away)!

The Tea: Picked this up after hearing from a dear friend that I had to read it. It’s a great read full of antidotal quotes of his advice for managing relationships in this difficult digital age. It’s so relevant for the corporate space as you learn to manage upward and lateral.