Borneo Working Women Book Club: Monthly Picks

April Pick: Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office

As a working woman and especially as a working mom, I’ve come to realize something very important…

Growth doesn’t just come from experience. Sometimes, it comes from awareness.

That’s why I decided to start this series, Borneo Working Women Book Club: Monthly Picks. A small space where I share books that truly add value to our lives, careers, and personal growth.

And for April, this book really spoke to me.

Why I Chose This Book

Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P. Frankel is not just another career book. It talks about the small habits we don’t realize are holding us back especially as women.

Things that feel normal to us…
But actually limit how others see our confidence, leadership, and capability.

While reading, I kept thinking, “Eh… this one macam me lah.”

The Truth We Don’t Always Talk About

Many of us grew up being taught be polite, be nice, don't be too loud, don't be too ambitious and more...

And while these values are not wrong... they can quietly affect how we show up at work.

This book highlights habits like:

• Saying “sorry” too often
• Not speaking up in meetings
• Waiting to be noticed instead of asking for opportunities
• Avoiding difficult conversations

Not because we are weak. But because we are used to being “nice.”

As a Working Mom… This Hit Different

Balancing work, family, emotions, it’s already a lot. Sometimes, we choose to stay quiet just to avoid conflict. Sometimes, we downplay ourselves because we don’t want to seem “too much.”

But here’s what I’m learning,

- You can be kind and still be confident
- You can be humble and still own your success
- You can be a good mom and still grow your career

We don’t have to choose one.

What I’m Taking From This Book

This book made me reflect deeply on myself. Not in a negative way… but in a growing way.

Here are some changes I’m slowly practicing:

• Speaking more confidently (even when I feel nervous)
• Stop over-apologizing
• Be clear about my ideas and contributions
• Set better boundaries at work

It’s not about becoming someone else. It’s about becoming a better, more aware version of myself.

Why I Recommend This to You

If you are:

• A working woman trying to grow in your career
• A working mom juggling multiple roles
• Someone who feels unseen or undervalued

This book is for you.

Not because you’re not doing enough…
But because you deserve to be seen for what you’re already capable of.

We don’t need to stop being nice. But we do need to stop letting “being nice” hold us back.

You deserve opportunities, recognition and growth. And sometimes, all it takes… is awareness.

Let’s Read Together

This is just the beginning of my journey with Borneo Working Women Book Club: Monthly Picks 

If you’ve read this book, I would love to hear your thoughts.
And if you haven’t maybe this is your sign to start. You can get this book in this link.

See you in next month’s pick.