Over the last year, I have had the honor and pleasure to work with Leslie Sanchez on her forthcoming book: You’ve Come a Long Way, Maybe: Sarah, Michelle, Hillary, and the Shaping of the New American Woman.  I first met Leslie in my capacity as the Director of New Media for the McLaughlin Group; we immediately connected given the fact that we had the exact same first + middle name (Leslie Ann).  The connections have continued beyond that — her no-nonsense approach to politics, the market, life, media, business, fashion… you name it… all have earned my respect and adoration.  I consider her a friend, mentor and role model for women in politics, business and media.  Which makes this project especially special on many levels.

Diving into what I’ve been up to, and in full disclosure…

- I have helped with the research process via my access to some great social media data thanks to the New Media Strategies team.

- I have helped as an “extra set of eyes” in the editing process.

- I am even quoted about the accelerative nature of social media  in my capacity as the Director of Engagement for New Media Strategies and with my background in social sciences from the University of Chicago.

- I am now helping with the promotion of the book (due out in 9 days on October 13th), tapping similarly minded females interested in opening a dialog around the question: “Have we come a long way?” and in the event that the answer is “no” or “maybe,” what is it that we can, should and could be doing as a collective to improve this… to prepare ourselves for our careers… to prepare our daughters for even better opportunities.

So, what is the book all about?  From the official Palgrave Macmillan release:

“Leslie Sanchez is taking the assumptions and myths about women in politics and turning them on their heads.  YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY, MAYBE (Palgrave Macmillan; October 2009) tackles hard-hitting questions like: Can women handle the stress and confrontation of life in the political limelight?  Why are women judged in terms of factors like fashion and approachability?  How did the media manage to boil down three complex women into the ditz, the bitch, and the darling of Election ’08?  D.C.-based Leslie Sanchez lives in the hotbed of high level politics, and can answer these questions with unparalleled authority, experience, sass, and candor.”

Interested in staying in the loop? Social media will bring you there…