Also by this author: Where Is God in All the Suffering?
Published by Brazos Press on August 13, 2024
Genres: Non-Fiction, Leadership
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Amy Orr-Ewing has learned a lot of lessons the hard way.
As an internationally known speaker, theologian, and apologist, she has navigated it battling abuses of power, finding and using her own voice, building a lasting ministry, leading with confidence, thriving in friendship, relying on God in hard times, and more.
Now, she's sharing the wisdom she has gained over 25 years with other women so they, too, can grow in Christian leadership. In Lead Like the Real You , Orr-Ewing pens a deeply personal and engaging collection of letters that explore the unique challenges women face.
Rooted in honesty, practicality, and biblical guidance, these letters speak to women who lead in the workplace, classroom, church, and home, as well as those who support them. This book empowers the next generation of Christian women who hope to change the world to live and lead well, knowing they are not alone.
Structured like a series of letters—based on actual correspondence between Amy Orr-Ewing and a mentee—Lead Like the Real You is a collection of personal, thoughtful, and conversational essays on leadership particularly as it pertains to women. Orr-Ewing arranges into ten parts, each comprised of three to seven letters. All letters are short, just about 3-4 pages each, making this a book easily read in a devotional style. Take one letter a day, read it, reflect on it, and truly dive into it.
The primary question I had going into Lead Like the Real You is what made this book specifically geared toward women in leadership. First, it is written by a woman in leadership. That alone holds value, because when you look at the shelves of leadership books (I have a doctorate in ministerial leadership), representation from women leaders is woefully lacking. Moreover, what books we do have, particularly within the context of the church, seem either focused on women leading women or a defense of women in leadership roles. While Amy Orr-Ewing addresses both of these areas, the general sweep of her writing is more practical and intended for an audience wider than the church.
Second, the book is written to women. Lead Like the Real You originated out of a series of letters written to Jo, a mentee of Orr-Ewing, about leadership. At its heart this is a woman-to-woman conversation and Orr-Ewing approaches leadership from the perspective of a woman, focusing on the challenges of leadership that are unique to women. One whole section of the book is entitled “Facing Chauvinism in Christian Spaces.” Other letters cover the balancing act between leadership and being a mother, understanding work and calling, learning to own their embodied voices, and so on. In other words, this isn’t just a book about leading, it is a book about leading as a woman.
This does not mean that Lead Like the Real You does not hold value for men. Men can learn from perspectives that are not their own. I think, especially for men in leadership, reading this book might open their eyes to how the experiences of women in leadership might be different than theirs. A salient example that Orr-Ewing points out is that women are often expected to dress or act a certain way while men are given much more leniency. While a man might be called “assertive” in leadership, a woman acting the same way might be “bossy.” Orr-Ewing calls out these inequalities with grace and clarity, calling society to do better while preparing women in leadership for the resilience needed to lead as a woman.
Orr-Ewing also takes time to address institutional abuse and injustice. Before the demise of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, she was a senior VP who had to navigate the credible sexual abuse claims surrounding Ravi and the toxic way in which some within the organization attempted to deal with those claims. This section, to me, is the one that’s birthed most out of Orr-Ewing’s specific experiences and remains unfortunately relevant for others that find themselves having to navigate similar waters.
Overall, Lead Like the Real You is challenging, practical, and exhortative. The short-form nature of the letters makes it easily accessible and readable. The formation into themes ensures that topics are covered in substantive fashions. The end result is a deeply personal book that is intended for women in leadership, but from which all people—regardless of gender or leadership role—can learn from.