
These Books Are Giving All The Goods On Career Fulfillment, Success, And The Glow Up

Y'all know we love a good book list over here at xoNecole (as if you don't already have dozens on your bookshelves that you have yet to finish. We're with you, sis.)
Well, the next time you're lounging by the pool, waiting on that last dryer cycle to finish, or simply needing something enlightening to listen to during a session on the cycling machine, you'll be glad you added these inspiring books to your cart. They're all by ambitious and smart Black women giving all the goods on career advancement, life fulfillment, and professional glow-ups.
You're welcome.
'Choosing to Prosper' by Bola Sokunbi
Written by the mind behind Clever Girl Finance, an empowering online platform and community centered on financial literacy, this book gets into Sokunbi's Nigerian background and upbringing, finding financial freedom, and guidance into the self-awareness and confidence to take on your lifestyle goals.
'Manifesto: On Never Giving Up' by Bernardine Evaristo
This author and scholar's bold memoir will definitely spark introspection and self-exploration, especially for all the ambitious baes out there who aren't afraid to push the envelope and fight the status quo.
'I Am Debra Lee' by Debra Lee
Serving as BET's CEO for more than a decade definitely gives Lee the cred to share just what it means to be a Black woman leading one of the most iconic, bankable TV networks of all time. It's no small feat to break glass ceilings and stomp with the big dogs in corporate America, so there's a lot to be learned from the life of a true boss.
You've Been Chosen: Thriving Through the Unexpected
Written by the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks---the first Black woman to hold such a role in the NBA---this book features elements of perseverance, hard work, faith, and positivity that are sure to get you pumped up to achieve your own greatness.
'Agent You: Show Up, Do the Work, and Succeed on Your Own Terms' by Nicole Lynn
This one is especially for those who are struggling with purpose and fulfillment and offers easy-to-read tips and advice on how to become clear on just what you want out of your work, life, and legacy. An added plus: Lynn's record-breaking boss moves in the NFL and her pivot into becoming an agent and sports operator.
'The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons From A Professional Troublemaker' by Luvvi Ajayi Jones
If you're into a candid insightful read about being unapologetically you, this is perfect, and Jones is one who knows more than a thing or two about that since paying her dues and becoming a successful podcast host, digital strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker. Sis just knows how to bring out the best in folk through honesty, humor, and smarts.
'I'm Not Yelling: A Black Women's Guide to Navigating the Workplace' by Elizabeth Leiba
This is a love letter to any Black woman who has felt misunderstood, misrepresented, and stifled in the workplace and includes insights on ways to be your full authentic self and achieve success without wearing a mask or code-switching.
'We Should All Be Millionaires' by Rachel Rodgers
If the title alone doesn't move you, the fact that the author is a 7-figure business owner, attorney, and mother should. She's all about empowering people to make more money and think bigger about the possibilities in life, and this book does not disappoint in that area.
'Make Money Move: A Guide to Financial Wellness' by Lauren Simmons
Her story of becoming the youngest woman to serve as a full-time trader on the New York Stock Exchange went viral, and this book is one that gets to the core of investing in sustainable wealth, which in turn can exponentially change your life for the better.
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Laterras R. Whitfield On What He Wants In A 'Future Wifey' & Redefining Masculinity
In this week's episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker chopped it up with Laterras R. Whitfield, host of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, for a raw and revealing conversation about personal growth, faith, and the search for love in a way that resonates.
Laterras Whitfield Believes Men Should Pursue, Not Persuade
“Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest”
Whitfield is a big advocate of a man’s role in going confidently for the woman he wants. “Men should pursue, not persuade, and women should present, not pursue,” he said. He’s open to meeting women on social media but isn’t a fan of bold approaches. “Don’t shoot your shot at me. … Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest.”
His ideal woman?
“She has to be a woman of God… I judge a woman by how her friends see her… and most importantly, how she treats my kids.”
Infidelity, Redemption, and the Power of Self-Control
“Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer”
Once unfaithful in his previous marriage, Whitfield has since transformed his perspective on masculinity. “Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer. That’s what true masculinity is to me now.” He has also committed to abstinence, choosing self-control as a defining trait of manhood.
Whitfield’s journey is one of redemption, purpose, and faith—something that speaks to women who value emotional intelligence, accountability, and the power of transformation.
Rewriting the Narrative Around Black Masculinity
What masculinity, legacy, and healing mean to Whitfield today
“My dad taught me what not to be [as a man] and my mom taught me what she needed [in a man],” Whitfield said. While his father wasn’t abusive, he wasn’t emotionally or affectionately present. “Since I didn’t see it, I never got it either… I would look at my dad and say, ‘I want to be a better father.’ ”
Adoption had always been on his spirit, influenced by TV shows like Different Strokes and Punky Brewster. This mindset led him to take in his nephew as his son after a powerful dream confirmed what he already felt in his heart.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Laterras R. Whitfield On What He Wants In A 'Future Wifey' & Redefining Masculinity
In this week's episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker chopped it up with Laterras R. Whitfield, host of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, for a raw and revealing conversation about personal growth, faith, and the search for love in a way that resonates.
Laterras Whitfield Believes Men Should Pursue, Not Persuade
“Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest”
Whitfield is a big advocate of a man’s role in going confidently for the woman he wants. “Men should pursue, not persuade, and women should present, not pursue,” he said. He’s open to meeting women on social media but isn’t a fan of bold approaches. “Don’t shoot your shot at me. … Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest.”
His ideal woman?
“She has to be a woman of God… I judge a woman by how her friends see her… and most importantly, how she treats my kids.”
Infidelity, Redemption, and the Power of Self-Control
“Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer”
Once unfaithful in his previous marriage, Whitfield has since transformed his perspective on masculinity. “Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer. That’s what true masculinity is to me now.” He has also committed to abstinence, choosing self-control as a defining trait of manhood.
Whitfield’s journey is one of redemption, purpose, and faith—something that speaks to women who value emotional intelligence, accountability, and the power of transformation.
Rewriting the Narrative Around Black Masculinity
What masculinity, legacy, and healing mean to Whitfield today
“My dad taught me what not to be [as a man] and my mom taught me what she needed [in a man],” Whitfield said. While his father wasn’t abusive, he wasn’t emotionally or affectionately present. “Since I didn’t see it, I never got it either… I would look at my dad and say, ‘I want to be a better father.’ ”
Adoption had always been on his spirit, influenced by TV shows like Different Strokes and Punky Brewster. This mindset led him to take in his nephew as his son after a powerful dream confirmed what he already felt in his heart.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube