Shakti Leadership:

Embracing Feminine and Masculine Power in Business

By Nilima Bhat and Raj Sisodia

“As transformative as it is simple, mapping out a new definition of leadership that elevates qualities and abilities traditionally considered feminine—with benefits for women and men alike.”

—Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief, Huffington Post Media Group

Leadership conjures up the idea of the no nonsense types, with a win-at-all cost mentality and disregard for anything and everyone that is not the bottom line. That kind of leadership is no longer a viable model, if it ever was, and in this world where being socially conscious, connected and balanced authors Nilima Bhat and Raj Sisodia offer a new leadership standard.

In Shakti Leadership: Embracing Feminine and Masculine Power in Business ($19.95, 216 pages, 5.5" x 8.5", ISBN 978-1-62656-465-7), releasing May 2016 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers, authors Nilima Bhat and Raj Sisodia point out the pitfalls that many leaders have fallen into. That too many leaders, men and women alike, have bought into a notion of leadership that exclusively emphasizes traditionally “masculine” qualities: hierarchical, militaristic, win-at-all-costs. The result has been corruption, environmental degradation, social breakdown, stress, depression, and a host of other social problems.

But there is another way, one that restores balance to this lopsided way of leading. Reaching into ancient spiritual and mythical teachings, Nilima Bhat and Raj Sisodia revive a feminine archetype of leadership: generative, cooperative, creative, and empathetic. While these qualities are often thought of as “feminine”, we all have them. It’s just that, for people in leadership positions, they tend to be undervalued and underdeveloped. In the Indian yogic tradition, the goddess Shakti, the source that powers the cycle of life, personifies these qualities.

Using exercises and inspirational examples, Bhat and Sisodia take us on a heroic journey to discover and access this source of infinite energy and begin to lead with our whole selves. Leaders who understand and practice Shakti leadership will act from a consciousness of life-giving caring, creativity, and sustainability to achieve self-mastery internally and be of selfless service to the world, When leaders of both sexes learn to embrace this mindset, we can restore sanity, elevate humanity, and heal the planet by evolving joyously and consciously together.

Nilima Bhat is the founder-director of Sampurnah: The Wholeness Practice and coauthor of My Cancer Is Me: The Journey from Illness to Wholeness. She writes a monthly column called “Shakti Speaks” on women’s concerns and gender relations in DNA, a national daily in India.

Raj Sisodia is the FW Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business and Whole Foods Market Research Scholar in Conscious Capitalism at Babson College. He is also cofounder and cochairman of Conscious Capitalism, Inc. The author of seven books, Sisodia is best known as the coauthor (with Whole Foods founder John Mackey) of Conscious Capitalism, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

More Praise for Shakti Leadership:

“This book will help liberate the heroic entrepreneurial drive innate to men and women of every culture.”
—John Mackey, cofounder and Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market

“Shakti Leadership guides you through a series of powerful insights and processes for connecting yourself to the inner power at play in interpersonal situations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who intuits the need for real depth in the process of organizational and personal transformation.”
—Sally Kempton, author of Awakening Shakti and Meditation for the Love of It

“As Indians, we grow up soaked in our mythological wisdom. As Indian family-owned business leaders operating in a global economy, we are constantly looking to grow wings, without losing connection with our roots. Built on many years of learning and synthesizing, Nilima and Raj offer us a model for leadership that is as universal as it is dharmic, as timely as it is timeless. I strongly recommend this book to all men and women who aspire to leadership or are seeking to elevate their practice of this most essential human calling.”
—Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico Limited

“Shakti Leadership reveals the next stage of evolution and leadership in a clear, grounded and thorough way. Nilima and Raj do a beautiful job of articulating a spectrum of complex subjects into relatable forms. They covered what are, in my opinion, the most important wisdom-related topics that can impact leaders who want to create a world that works for all. What I loved most is that Nilima and Raj speak to difficult and important matters, such as patriarchy, without being too careful or subtle about their insights and without coming from a stance of blame or victimhood. This is the most clear and succinct description of feminine and masculine qualities that I have seen written in a book. Thank you Nilima and Raj for sharing your deep, personal and professional work with the world in the way this is needed today.”
—Michelle Stransky, Founder of WisdomWomen

“Nilima and Raj have co-created a book that is much needed. When we awaken to our true nature, synergize the masculine and feminine within ourselves, and discover the essence of our “Shakti,” we become both infinitely compassionate and courageous to take responsibility for the way we live now. Leaders in business, government, education and the social sectors will find the path in this book to come together and make our organizations more conscious, leading to a peaceful, sustainable and happier world!”
—Anil Sachdev, Founder and CEO, School of Inspired Leadership

Publication date: May 2016, $19.95, 216 pages, 5.5" x 8.5", ISBN 978-1-62656-465-7