Shared from IndieReader, original article here. Following find an interview with author Rita Kakati-Shah.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My book is called The Goddess of Go-Getting: Your Guide to Confidence, Leadership, and Workplace Success and it was published in February 2022.
What’s the book’s first line?
The first line of the book is, “I was born and bred in the UK, the eldest child of Indian parents who emigrated to London from Assam in the 1970s.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
The Goddess of Go-Getting is empowering, uplifting, and a reflection of my lived experiences. It celebrates diversity through my life’s journey, and is about empowering women, minorities, and the youth of tomorrow. It also offers a global lens for leaders to rethink their approaches to advancement, inclusion, and decency. With personal anecdotes, humanity and a touch of humor, the book tells my story, which I hope will inspire others to challenge themselves to embrace change, think differently and take ownership for their impact on society. From feeling like an outsider and not belonging, to ascending a male-dominated career ladder, to now helming an international platform that empowers women and minorities to succeed, this book is packed full of my personal stories not shared before.
The Goddess of Go-Getting is a book for us all. It’s a business book yet written in the relatable style of a memoir. It highlights the importance of confidence, communication, and ownership, and calls for policy and societal changes to support the backbone of the economy.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
This book has been a long time coming. I’ve been in the diversity, inclusion and gender equality space for more than twenty years now, and have lived, breathed and sampled many different cultural experiences from my global travels both personal and work related. A lot of what I read and hear is centered around a particular culture or country’s way of life, and usually follows a single narrative. But I couldn’t find anything that crossed boundaries, and looked to understand and acknowledge different viewpoints, without passing judgement. I wrote this book to unite those viewpoints. I wrote this book to empower women and minorities around the world, as well as to guide senior leaders and policy makers. And I wrote this book to make a difference in the world around us.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
This book is not just a business book, nor simply a memoir, but a guide that brings confidence, communication, and ownership to the forefront, with plenty of actionable steps that anyone can implement. Equally relevant for college students, as it is for women, minorities or leadership, this book calls for policy and societal changes, and is a great read for all.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
I’ve co-authored scientific research papers as well as business books in the past, with a focus on women, diversity and inclusion, but this is the first solo book I have written. It was an in-depth process of self-discovery and lessons learned in order to compile this empowerment journey.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I helm Uma, an international strategic consulting, training and coaching platform that works with individuals, corporations, academic institutions and policy forums around the world to empower confidence, inspire success, and build leadership and resilience in women and minorities.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
As I run my business full time, as well as manage various voluntary projects across different time zones, and while raising my family, I tend to write when an idea or thought comes to me during my day’s activities. It’s literally notes on my iPhone or on a piece of paper that I later collate and formulate to have some structure. I know some other authors prefer to write either in the morning or last thing at night, but for me if I try too hard to write, then the words just don’t flow. It’s real life inspiration and a non-pressurized approach that has driven my writing throughout.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Always use your voice when you write. Although it’s great to gain inspiration from other authors that you admire, for your work to truly come alive, it needs to be your thoughts and words that will eventually shine through.