Christie Hunter Arscott - Begin Boldly: How Women Can Reimagine Risk, Embrace Uncertainty, and Launch a Brilliant Career

Begin Boldly

Copyright 2022 by Christie Hunter Arscott
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First Edition
Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-0107-1
PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-0108-8
IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-0109-5
Digital audio ISBN 978-1-5230-0110-1
2022-1
Cover and text designer: Debbie Berne
Author photographs: Meredith Andrews

For Janet and Scott
To the ones who nurtured the bold spirit within me. It is my gift to continue to ignite that flame in others.

It is an honor to welcome Christie Hunter Arscott to the top ranks of leadership authors with her significant book, a must read for early career women. Over the years of knowing Christie, she has inspired me with her fresh perspectives about women and leadership. I count Christie among my cherished colleagues and friends.

Christie is the perfect person to write this book, Begin Boldly. This labor of love comes from her headher personal experiences and lessons learned in her own early-stage careerand from her heart, her desire to support the next generation of young women. She brings a wealth of wisdom and knowledge as a leadership expert, coach, and public speaker. True to her advice, she has consistently embraced her own uncertainty, taking bold moves that have informed her career, including writing this book!

There are two pieces of debilitating thinking that hold women back: The first is waiting to be noticed or appreciated. The other is not taking a risk to apply for a new job or opportunity, believing that they do not have enough experience or skill sets. Christie turns this thinking on its head. She challenges young women to do the opposite and treat their career like an investment portfolio with early deposits of bold moves, courageous actions, and informed risk. I could not agree more!

Taking risks took me to the White House as President Clintons senior adviser on womens issues, executive director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvards Kennedy School of Government, chief operating officer of President Obamas 200708 presidential campaign, and a book deal with Atria books at Simon & Schuster.

Each was a stretch assignment and out of my comfort zone. I surrounded myself with talented, experienced staff that had my back and I asked for help. One of the key concepts of Christies book that completely resonateswhen we take a bold move or courageous action, trust in our ability to figure it out!

In her undeniably significant book, Christie gives the most important advice for early-stage women leaders: build a friendship with risk and uncertainty. It is the key differentiator between an average career and a brilliant career.

Even bettershe shows you how.

This gem of a book is a valuable resource for every woman, at every stage, who has big dreams and aspirations. I cant wait for you to meet Christie through the pages of this book!

Betsy Myers is author of Take The Lead and a former senior adviser on womens issues to President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton.

Woman up! These words appeared on my computer screen as my Microsoft Office messenger pinged. To my surprise, they were sent from a senior-level partner at my organization who was on the same team call as I was. With my best interests at heart, this partner was calling me out for sitting quietly during the session with other consultants and not advocating for myself or the work I had done, not asking questions, and not using my voice. Instead of saying Man up, she was rephrasing it in the hope that I would Woman up and be bolder and braver in these discussions. To her dismay, I sat silently while others dominated the conversation and failed to attribute my contributions and ideas to me.

Not long before this call, at the age of twenty-five, I entered the world of consulting in corporate America, jumping into the Manhattan landscape of demanding clients, deadlines, and pressures. When I transitioned from university to a professional career, there was no shortage of resources designed to help me make that leap. How to craft my rsum. How to nail an interview. How to make myself stand out in a competitive job market. However, once I was in the workforce, I discovered that there was a notable lack of similar support to help me achieve success in that all-important first role and the early career years that followed. It felt as if I had suddenly been thrown into uncharted waters and was now floating in an ocean of uncertainty without a life jacket, barely keeping my head above the surface. With a pervasive fear of failure and fear of the unknown, I clung to what I could control, or thought I could control, and too often played it safe rather than playing it smart. While feeling inexperienced and grappling with self-doubt, I favored the comfort of the known over the uncertainty of risk.

If you have ever felt this way, you are not alone. One of the biggest challenges that women face in their careers is navigating the transitions during their first ten years, including the shift from university to first career role. When youre in a new environment and confronting unknowns, its tempting to retreat to a place that seems safe and seek out certainty in order to feel a sense of control. However, this is the same as clinging to the shore instead of learning how to swim.

Fast-forward to where I am today: Ive built a career based on taking risks and riding the waves, through the ebbs and flows of a dynamic profession focused on empowering and equipping women to build bold and brilliant careers and lives. Ive had successes and highs, speaking in front of thousands, winning international awards, being published, running a six-figure business, and most important, making a meaningful and lasting impact on the individuals and organizations I work with. Ive also endured some notable lows, including rejections, contracts that didnt materialize, proposals turned down, opportunities lost, and risks gone wrong. What has fueled my growth has been the view that each risk that I dont take may be the opposing force against building a career and life I love. The question for me isnt just What happens if I risk? Its also What happens if I dont? I desired to learn how to swim, dive deep, and explore the endless possibilities of my career rather than cling to the safety of the shore. And I am glad I started to do this earlier rather than later, giving me more time to maximize my career journey.