Book Club 10: Powerful

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

This Month’s Book: Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord

About this book: 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 this book, 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.

📚 Find it at Books Books Books and enjoy 10% off when you mention it's for Feminist Book Club.

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

📍 Where: Books Books Books, Address: Rue du Valentin 1, 1004 Lausanne

⏰ When: 18:30–20:30 (plan for 2 hours + optional post-book-club hangout)

What to Expect

• A 90-minute guided conversation led by Laura, Janine, and a rotating 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,
• explore identity, justice, joy, rage, desire, friendship, and community,
• or sit with other thoughtful humans for an hour and a half in English.

## RSVP Etiquette

Space is limited. 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