Strong Like Water

How I Found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in Life

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Pub Date Apr 13 2021 | Archive Date May 19 2021

Description

Laila Tarraf was the Chief People Officer for Peet’s Coffee and Tea, the iconic Berkeley coffee roaster that launched the craft coffee movement in America, but she had a secret: she was failing in the most important relationships in her life. Yes, she was a strong and effective business leader, the successful daughter of immigrants, and the mother of a toddler; but she was also disconnected from her own feelings and had little patience for the feelings of others.

All that changed when life handed her a trifecta of losses: her husband died of an accidental drug overdose, and her parents' deaths followed in quick succession. Laila had spent her life leading from the head, convinced that any display of vulnerability would make her soft. What she didn’t expect was that soft would turn out to be strong. As she reconnected to her heart, one painful step at a time, something remarkable happened: she became a better leader, a better mother, and a better person. Her heart turned out to be the true source of her power, at home and at work.

This is a book about healing, about waking up, about learning who you are—who you really, truly are at the core—and reclaiming and embracing all the pieces of yourself you long ago abandoned in the name of survival. Women longing for balance will discover a path to infusing our leadership and relationships with love, compassion, and authenticity.

Laila Tarraf was the Chief People Officer for Peet’s Coffee and Tea, the iconic Berkeley coffee roaster that launched the craft coffee movement in America, but she had a secret: she was failing in...


Advance Praise

“In this riveting story, both heartbreaking and uplifting, Laila Tarraf shows that adversity didn’t break her, it awakened her and transformed her into a wise, compassionate leader who manages with strength and tenderness, not having to deny the latter to achieve the former.” —Carter Cast, Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship at Kellogg School of Business, former CEO of Walmart.com and author of The Right (and Wrong) Stuff
 
"A deeply insightful book about business and leadership disguised as a devastating memoir about loss and love. —Jennie Nash, author, founder and CEO of Author Accelerator
 
“The power of Laila's memoir comes through in her illumination of the trap of hiding in plain sight. When our day-to-day professional lives blind us to who we really are, no one else can see us either. The gift in these pages is that when you see yourself, others will too.” —Dan Roam, author of The Back of the Napkin and Draw to Win
 
“It’s time for women to know that their true power is in their ability to embrace their femininity. Faced with brutal circumstances, Laila Tarraf shows us how she learned to do just that. I’m a great fan of this book, its author, and its message.” —Laura Munson, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Haven Writing Retreats

Strong Like Water highlights a simple truth. We already are spiritual; it’s human we’re learning how to be.” —Jacquelyn Small, Author, The Sacred Purpose of Being Human

"Laila brings forth a compelling memoir which breaks your heart into a million bits and has you cheering at the top of your lungs with her story of love, loss and renewal in today's world. An amazing first-time debut for an author who brings her personal awakenings to the world of business and leadership. Every page is a precious gift." —Shenaz Daver, Executive Advisor, Google Ventures (GV)

"This book is a gift. To me, to women, and to the world. I felt myself shift, open, and transform as I turned the pages. I nodded, smiled, and wept, and would need to stop and let myself cry a bit more before continuing on. I thought about how many tears of joy and sorrow the author must have shed in writing and reflecting on her past so deeply. Joining her for this intimate journey has helped me to heal - I am a more whole person for having read her book." —Sunshine Yin, Head of People & Operations, Advanced Digital & Product Team at Bain & Company

“In this riveting story, both heartbreaking and uplifting, Laila Tarraf shows that adversity didn’t break her, it awakened her and transformed her into a wise, compassionate leader who manages with...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781647420239
PRICE $12.99 (USD)

Average rating from 30 members


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