The Youngest One in the Room

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Pub Date Feb 25 2025 | Archive Date Feb 25 2025

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Description

What does Forrest Gump have in common with each of us? A life of unplanned yet meaningful escapades. At least, that is what Dayna Adelman believes. In her literary debut, Dayna takes you on a behind-the-scenes journey through the first decade of her career-as the youngest one in the [board] room. She showers us with personal anecdotes and adventures as she distills her lessons learned along the way-all while living Gump's mantra: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

We first meet Dayna as a twenty-something straight out of college-in the waning days of the global financial crisis, and the book comes to a conclusion when she is a thirty-something-during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dayna regales her readers while meandering through a significantly defining decade-from the entry-level days at a New York City-based communications consultancy through her rise as a corporate affairs professional at a multinational corporation.

Whether you are just entering the workforce, in a place of professional transition, or looking to understand the past to define the future, Dayna's human approach to sharing her lessons inside and outside the boardroom-while revealing both the joy and pain of the self-discovery process along the way-will resonate with you.

Be forewarned: this book does not contain a magic list of what you "should do" to achieve success. Rather, this is one young professional's personal account shared in the hope that readers will feel inspired to continue seeking their own fulfilling adventures.

What does Forrest Gump have in common with each of us? A life of unplanned yet meaningful escapades. At least, that is what Dayna Adelman believes. In her literary debut, Dayna takes you on a...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781964686264
PRICE $18.95 (USD)
PAGES 230

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Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

This book offers a detailed and insightful account of the author's professional journey, starting from her time in consultancy to her transition into the corporate world. Through a series of personal anecdotes, she walks the reader through the challenges and triumphs of sitting in high-stakes meetings, proposing ideas, and leading teams—all while developing her confidence and navigating the complex dynamics of the workplace. The book does a great job of showing how personal growth and professional success can go hand-in-hand, especially for women stepping into leadership roles.

One of the things I appreciated about this book is its honesty. The author doesn’t shy away from discussing the difficulties she faced along the way—whether it was navigating office politics, balancing work with personal life, or learning to assert herself in male-dominated spaces. These raw and real experiences are both encouraging and eye-opening, providing a realistic view of what it's like to build a career from the ground up.

For women in particular, the book serves as both a guide and a source of empowerment. The author’s journey is relatable for anyone who has struggled with self-doubt or faced challenges in the workplace, offering tangible advice on how to overcome those obstacles. It's clear that the author genuinely wants to help others succeed, and her insights into team dynamics, leadership, and confidence-building are incredibly valuable.

While the writing isn't necessarily groundbreaking, the lessons shared are worth noting, especially for those entering or navigating the professional world. It’s a practical and inspiring read, offering wisdom that could help anyone, especially young women, better navigate the complexities of work and leadership. I'm giving it decent 3 ⭐.

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This book is the author's account of her professional journey from consultancy to the corporate world, sitting in meetings, proposing and leading teams and all while growing in her confidence.
It's an encouraging book to read especially for any woman joining the workforce and looking to learn a thing or two about the spaces you may have to navigate.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

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I really enjoyed this read about Dayna Adelman's journey from a college student at UNC to a communications professional for a large, multinational company. A good mix of personal anecdotes, both happy and sad, and advice for those who find themselves the "youngest one in the room" during their professional journeys. A common thread throughout is one many of us women forget - prioritize yourself, whether that's fitness, personal/professional development/social while taking care of everyone else. If you don't, you're left behind while everyone else is getting ahead. Quick, engaging read.

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