Book Club 10: Powerful

Co-hosted by Janine & Laura + rotating community co-hosts

Our June book club pick is Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patti McCord.

When it comes to recruiting, motivating, and creating great teams, Patty McCord says most companies have it all wrong. McCord helped create the unique and high-performing culture at Netflix, where she was chief talent officer. In her new book, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, she shares what she learned there and elsewhere in Silicon Valley.

McCord advocates practicing radical honesty in the workplace, saying good-bye to employees who don’t fit the company’s emerging needs, and motivating with challenging work, not promises, perks, and bonus plans. McCord argues that the old standbys of corporate HR―annual performance reviews, retention plans, employee empowerment and engagement programs―often end up being a colossal waste of time and resources. Her road-tested advice, offered with humor and irreverence, provides readers a different path for creating a culture of high performance and profitability.

Powerful will change how you think about work and the way a business should be run.

🤷‍♀️ Didn’t finish the book? Haven’t started? Only here for feminist hot takes, collective unlearning, and good vibes? Perfect. We’re a no-pressure, no-expectations book club. Come exactly as you are.

📍 Where: Books Books Books, Lausanne

⏰ When: Thursday, June 25th at 18:30
(about 1.5 hours + optional post-book-club hangout!)

You can grab the book through our lovely host BooksBooksBooks, or listen to the audiobook if that feels more accessible right now.

Sign up for our newsletter to know which parts we’re focusing on — or simply show up and wing it. Bring your thoughts, your questions, your complicated feelings about mirrors, magazines, and the male gaze. We can’t wait to unpack this one together 💜📚✨

### What to Expect

• A 90-minute guided conversation led by Laura, Janine, and a rotating community co-host
• A warm, welcoming, non-judgmental space
• Thoughtful discussion, honest sharing, and room for complexity
• A mix of regulars and first-timers — everyone truly is welcome
• Time afterward to browse, chat, and connect

### Who This Is For

Anyone who wants to:

• read more feminist books,
• have meaningful conversations,
• meet new people in Lausanne,
• interrogate beauty, power, capitalism, and self-worth,
• or sit with thoughtful humans for an hour and a half (in English).

### RSVP Etiquette

Space is limited and RSVPs will close 1 day before. You must
Please adjust your RSVP if your plans change so someone else can join.

We’re looking forward to reading feminist books with you!

Your co-hosts,
Janine & Laura