The Secret of the Old Boys Network

This is how you, as a woman, break the glass ceiling.

Summary of this bestseller

Universities and colleges have more women than men in the lecture halls, women graduate faster than men, and they also achieve higher grades. Yet, women still struggle to reach top positions in business and government. A striking detail: more than half of the top women in the Netherlands come from abroad.

What pitfalls exist on the road to the top? What can Dutch women learn from women with different cultural backgrounds? How can women strengthen each other? And how do you secure a solid place in the ‘old boys network’ while also ensuring you feel at home there?

Carmen Breeveld was named International Black Businesswoman of the Netherlands in 2003. She grew her own business into a multi-million euro company. She holds numerous board positions and plays a leading role in female entrepreneurship. In this book, she openly shares her experiences, provides practical tips, and offers plenty of inspiration. A must-read for every (woman of color) with ambition.

Contributors include: Rita Accord, People & Culture (HR) Business Partner Group Finance & Business Navigation IKEA Group; Barbara Baarsma, Chair of the Board Rabobank Amsterdam; Grace Boldewijn, Director BoCari Group; Nesrine Bouhab, Head Foreign Direct Investments Life Sciences & Health Sector Amsterdam Inbusiness; Marieke van den Brink, Professor of Gender & Diversity Radboud University Nijmegen; Elisa Carter, former Board Member Erasmus MC; Cathelijne Elassaiss-Schaap, Lawyer and Owner of Elassaiss Law Firm; Samira Farouk, Supervisor AFM; Loek Hermans, former politician and multiple commissioner; Astrid van Heumen, Owner of Corporate Casting and Chair of the National Executive Board VVAO; Caroline van Leuven, Owner and Consultant Indivisible; Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen, Chairman Executive Board Aon Holdings and Chair of Topvrouwen.nl; Sherida Tdlohreg, Director TransActory; and Janneke Wittekoek, Cardiologist and Founder of HeartLife Clinics.

Publication: December 2020.

Audio Book

NO TIME TO READ? NO PROBLEM. YOU CAN LISTEN TOO.

Audio Book

NO TIME TO READ? NO PROBLEM. YOU CAN LISTEN TOO.

The Secret of the Old Boys’ Network: How to Break the Glass Ceiling as a Woman. (mp3)

Quotes from Reviews

“Of course, many women could benefit from it, and I would also recommend them to read the book, but I believe even more that it is a book for men. What particularly appeals to me about the book is that Carmen does not encourage a victim mentality… I hope her book makes a meaningful contribution to a challenge faced not only by women but also by men.”

Daan Fousert | author of Ecological Intelligence and other works Pioniers Magazine

You will learn how to shatter the glass ceiling into pieces!

“Carmen Breeveld encourages, challenges, and entices to take action… And the in-depth conversations with experts (including the perspective of one man) make the book a colorful and diverse collection that clearly conveys one simple message without much fuss: Ladies, take care of each other. That is the central theme of *The Secret of the Old Boys Network*, where you will learn how to shatter the glass ceiling into pieces.”

Jasmijn Mioch | Advisor Learning & Development, Leiden University

Carmen Breeveld Podcast

Presentation of the first copy