I also like the way she acknowledges her ex-husband, life partner and home staff who provided her with the space and time to focus on her work whilst at work. I am eager to read Rebuild, to know what a post-Covid, post-divorce and now podcasting Mary has planned for the world of retail. She isn’t always in the office these days, but her new book is about work, and she wanted me to see the light, airy, strictly non-hierarchical space she describes in its pages. Now if there weren’t many women working, I might be able to understand why the culture of how we work hasn’t really changed over the past few decades.

Work Like a Woman by Mary Portas | Waterstones

I like that Mary tries not to exclude men from this, and couches terms in such a way that you know she isn't saying they apply only to, and to all, women exclusively. For me this isn't a book to sit down and read in one session - I tried and my brain just went to pieces. I would have liked to know more about what she meant by leading by intuition and more interesting and original examples of what ‘feminine’ leadership looks like in theory and in practice. Yet for every hard-working, no-nonsense retail saviour are multiple fast fashion online outlets churning out cheap clothes at a Rumplestiltskin rate.So what I’m wondering is this: what will they make of me when I appear on the podium in floral trousers and a cobalt blue jacket?

Work Like a Woman - Penguin Books UK

But I don't think the advice tracks across to women working in small organisations, waitresses, nurses, doctors, public sector roles, etc etc. It seems to be a common world view, and I find it frustrating, as though other life pursuits or challenges don’t matter as much.At work, a senior male colleague told me that the reason I might be held back with regards to progression and climbing the ranks at a young age is because I’m “too nice”.