Insubordinate

“Joseph Campbell started a conversation for all of us about how we encounter the heroic journey of personal transformation. Now, Jocelyn Davis expands the conversation with thoughtful theory, engaging stories, and practical how-tos that are particularly relevant for today’s women. Davis inspires us to be our best and bravest self and to give full expression to the female hero in each of us.”—Susan Chamberlin, Director, Joseph Campbell Foundation

“I am so glad Jocelyn Davis has finally written the book on female leadership archetypes. There has been far too little conversation on the ways women lead, even when they do not have formal power. Davis dives deep into her repertoire of real, fictional, and mythological women to help us understand the many different styles that have matched different situations in time. You will recognize yourself here; I, for one, found myself in the water-earth quadrant. To recognize yourself is to own your strengths and ultimately to have the freedom to move beyond them.”—Dr. Shalini Lal, Founder and CEO, Unqbe; coauthor of The Secret Life of Organizations

“In her exciting new book filled with stories classic and contemporary, Jocelyn Davis offers women a way to think expansively about ourselves: our personalities, talents, and opportunities. ‘Lean in’ becomes leaning into our strengths and appreciating others’ strengths. ‘Move up’ becomes moving freely and deciding where we want to go. Too often, we women feel we need to meet expectations and say yes to everything, but the truth is, we can say no and follow our joy. Insubordinate empowers us to do just that.”—Dr. Beverly Kaye, coauthor of Wall Street Journal bestsellers Love ’em or Lose ’em and Up Is Not the Only Way

“Insubordinate is a book I wish I’d had access to when I was coming of age and one that I am thrilled women of all ages will have access to now. Jocelyn Davis turns her razor wit and keen eye to women, women’s work, and women’s stories and in so doing reveals twelve archetypes that point to powerful leadership qualities found in unexpected places. What does the Snow Queen have to show us about what it takes to lead? How does the Witch take initiative? These are just some of the tantalizing questions Davis answers in a book that centers women and what we have been doing forever: leading, each in our own unique way. Highly recommended!”—Briana Saussy, author of Making Magic and Star Child: Joyful Parenting Through Astrology

“I keep coming back to Davis’s books because she finds a way to write in a historically fascinating way while unearthing self-insights that other business writers don’t. This latest offering will start you reading to find out which archetype you are, but it will keep you reading to learn how your place intersects with that of other women, as well as men; how deep the cultural rules go, and why you have adapted the way you have; and most important, how you can become a more well-rounded, richer person on this planet. Enjoy the emotional and illustrative journey.”—Dr. Kelly Kinnebrew, organizational psychologist; Founder, MinervaCoach

“Intriguing! I love the stories, which made me reflect on my own experience. Besides being a very good read, Insubordinate is a practical self-development guidebook for women at different points in their careers. I will recommend it to my network and our students.”—Carol Zheng, Regional Director, Executive Education Business and Partnership Development, Ivey Business School Asia

“A fascinating look into the multiple roles that women play and the facets that make them who they are. Drawing on the premise that a woman’s greatest strength is her range, Davis weaves together stories from mythology, literature, and real life to explore the archetypes that influence the complex, shape-shifting, and multitasking lives of women. Insubordinate is a treasure map for men to understand, respect, and appreciate the women in their lives and a field guide for women to lead effectively by expanding their repertoire and breaking free. A captivating, articulate, and elegant masterclass in constructive insubordination!”—Sumeet Shetty, President, Literati: India’s largest corporate book club

“Insubordinate pulls back the tent flap on the elemental qualities of a woman’s way of leading. Davis brings an anthropological lens to female leadership through archetypes and their alignments with the qualities of fire, water, earth, and air, pointing us to strengths unique to women leaders: range, mutability, and versatility. She redraws the definition of leadership to highlight the feminine capacity for context awareness, leading in 3-D, and fluid expansion of repertoire rather than linear march to the goal.”—Dr. Molly McGinn, anthropologist; Founder and Managing Partner, TreeHouse Learning Community

“Understanding oneself is fundamental to leadership. This clever book takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, enlightening us with fanciful characters and stories that magically help us realize our own leadership capacities and gifts.”—Janine Mason, Founder, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego

“I loved the point that women are shape-shifters. Instead of seeing ourselves as just one archetype, our true strength and influence comes when we realize we have access to all the archetypes and apply them accordingly.”—Carmelita Lubos, Chief People Officer, HealthHero

“There are many ways for the feminine to express power and presence. When we turn toward archetype, we connect with a power that is both within us and larger than us. Davis has codified a wheel of feminine archetypes of leadership to guide us in accessing this power. She takes us into the realm of myth (where all archetypes come from) and brings us back down to earth with real stories of leadership. Under her guidance, we are liberated from the prejudice of female stereotypes and empowered to find and claim our expression of feminine leadership. A natural storyteller, Davis takes the tone of a close girlfriend letting you in on some juicy gossip—that has a deeper purpose.”—Daven Lee, Founder, The Yin Center

“Do you ever feel stuck in a certain pattern of behavior or way of being in the world? Well, who doesn’t? Insubordinate will help you get unstuck. Davis makes a powerful argument: ‘Women’s greatest strength is our range.’ Pack this book in your knapsack and let it guide you on the lifelong path to realize the many dimensions of your potential.”—Paul Hellman, author of You’ve Got 8 Seconds: Communication Secrets for a Distracted World; Founder, Express Potential®

“With over three decades in corporate America, I have encountered every one of these twelve archetypes. It’s refreshing to see a feminine-focused framework for leadership, and I recommend this book for anyone who would like insight into how women can overcome stereotypes, build on their strengths, and expand their influence. A fun and informative read.”—Rosie Mucklo, Head of Underwriting University, Zurich North America

“Davis’s latest book is a captivating, mind-expanding read that provides insight, inspiration, and life examples to transform how you lead and how you think about women in leadership.”—Cynthia Stuckey, SVP Growth, LHH/Ezra

“For too long I have struggled as a woman in business and life because I’ve tried to obey and comply. I’ve made who I am subordinate to the path I was trying to forge; I’ve discarded the parts of me that I thought weren’t important. Finally I figured out I was failing because there was ‘too much left behind of the rest of me.’ I had discounted and discarded my gifts. If I’d had this framework of women’s archetypes then, I’d have found a way ahead far faster and with less suffering for all concerned. Insubordinate held me in thrall from the quiz on the first page to the do’s and don’ts on the last page, helping me to figure out who I am, understand and value each facet, and delight in the congruence and wholeness I feel when I pull the pieces together. Here is the call to action for any and every woman to embrace and use her gifts even if they aren’t in line with the current regime. If you want to know what it feels like to be free of the self-limiting beliefs that hold you back, this is the book for you.”—Vivien Price, Solution Architect, FranklinCovey

“Jocelyn Davis brings a fresh perspective to women at work (and women in general) by suggesting that instead of adopting the cookie-cutter persona of the ‘woman of the moment,’ we engage our unique traits to achieve success. Davis does what she does best: skillfully weaves ancient tales with modern-day situations to demonstrate that the stories she shares are as alive and relevant today as they were at their inception. She contends that although we may have natural tendencies, they do not define us; the beauty of women is in how they choose to be. She presents each archetype not as a life sentence but as a springboard allowing women the freedom to choose from a range of gifts, thereby gaining strength beyond our comprehension. But we must learn to use these gifts appropriately, and Davis shows us how. Insubordinate is for any woman who wants to succeed because of who she is, not despite it.”—Sabina Sulat, author of Agile Unemployment