Dr. Courtney Orzel is the Associate Director for Professional Development for the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and has held positions as a superintendent, middle school principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Dr. Orzel has been honored with national recognition from AASA as a finalist for the Women in Leadership Award and leads the IASA SuperWomen initiative in Illinois. She was named IASA’s South Cook Superintendent of Distinction in 2020 and currently leads workshops, keynotes, and administrators; academies reaching thousands of educators across the country and is the co-host of the top 10% rated education podcast, Unsupervised Leadership.Kate Koch is the principal of River Valley School and has held positions as a principal, assistant principal, and teacher. She regularly presents to aspiring principals in the field and has been highlighted as an Educator to Watch through North Central Education Department. Kate is the co-host of the top 10% rated education podcast, Unsupervised Leadership.

The challenge and the promise of leading unapologetically from an authentic, open-hearted and connected place really resonated with me in my personal leadership journey. This book is real talk for real women from real women. The stories and ideas contained are accessible, down to earth, and straight forward. Presented in a no BS way that is light-hearted and serious; intimate and encompassing, as a woman leader you are bound to find your personal experience represented here.

• ForewordPrefaceChapter 1: What Is Unsupervised Leadership?Chapter 2: If You Think You’re Ready, You AreChapter 3: Be Your Own Hero: No One Will Advocate Harder for You, Than YouChapter 4: Everything You Need to Know You Learned in Kindergarten…or, at a Bar…or, from Brené BrownChapter 5: Define Your Version of Success and Own ItChapter 6: Failure Means You’re Trying, Not That You Are DoneChapter 7: Be Blunt and Direct, But Humble and Kind…Thanks, Tim McGrawChapter 8: Stop Asking People to Be Your Mentor, and Just Find Your OprahChapter 9: Ok, So Maybe You Can’t Golf, But You Can Ride in the Cart and Drink a BeerChapter 10: Get Your Sparkle OnChapter 11: Now What and Next Steps to Being Who You Are Meant to Be