Leap: Why It’s Time to Let Go to Get Ahead in Your Career

More than three million women left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even more are considering leaving or downshifting. Corporate women feel misled. Told they could “have it all,” women instead feel dissatisfied and exasperated. Women want to shift their careers for unique reasons: fatigue from corporate environments built for men or the burden of caretaking labor at home, for example. Yet when women do pivot, they face unique challenges, such as confidence gaps, impostor syndrome, and bias in hiring and promotions. These factors leave many women stuck—feeling unfulfilled but fearful about making the leap to reinvent their careers.

If this describes you, then Leap will give you the guidance and confidence you need to pivot toward fulfillment and authenticity. Intrigued by other women who have made major career shifts, career strategist Jessica Galica began interviewing them and recognized that her story—building a career by doing everything “right” but waking up lost—is not unique. She wrote Leap to help other women learn why, when, and how to reinvent their careers. Drawing from the stories of other women who took the leap, as well as her own story, she examines:

  • The feelings that lead women to want to pivot to something different

  • The ways women can embrace new possibilities (including their risks)

  • The fulfillment that can come from making the leap

A compelling blend of narrative, research, and pep talk, this book will empower you to reclaim control of your career trajectory and define success on your own terms.

What others have to say

  • “LEAP addresses a fundamental question so many women face today: how do I architect my career to find fulfillment and avoid emotional burnout? A must read for working women and parents, whether you need inspiration to take the leap or simply comfort to know that you are not alone.”

    Eve Rodsky, NYT Bestselling Author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space

  • “After 15 long years working in four Fortune 100 companies, I came to the conclusion that the workplace isn’t working for women of all kinds, especially women from underrepresented groups, especially women with children. Now more than ever, women need real sustainable pathways to achieving the life they’ve always dreamed of - a life full of hope and possibilities, one they can only achieve when they take bold and audacious steps and with Jess’s step-by-step guide, leap forward. Relevant also for employers who value the contributions of women and strive to retain them.”

    Blessing Adesiyan, CEO + Founder, MH WorkLife

  • “LEAP is a breath of fresh air for women who feel lost or disillusioned as they navigate their careers (and broader lives) in today’s world. The real-life stories are honest and relatable. The guided reflections are pragmatic and actionable. A valuable read for any woman at a crossroads in her career!”

    Lauren McGoodwin, Founder & CEO, Career Contessa, and bestselling author of Power Moves: How Women Can Pivot, Reboot, and Build a Career of Purpose

  • “Thank you to Jess Galica for helping us get out of the starting blocks! As a woman that took a major pivot later in my career, I wish I had LEAP years ago. I love the advice, “you know more than you are telling yourself.” It’s up to us to continue to re-evaluate our career trajectory and ensure that we are doing work that is energy in.”

    Ellen Bailey, Vice President of Business and Culture Transformation, Harvard Business Publishing and Owner of The Bailey Difference

  • “Jess Galica’s voice is a must-hear for career-driven women. Her book, LEAP, empowers us to own and revise our career narratives. Through a compelling mix of stories and data, Jess illustrates that we already possess the tools for major career transformations - all we lack is the impetus. Consider LEAP your necessary nudge to make that leap and confidently bet on yourself.”

    Laurie Ruettimann, Author of Betting On You

  • “If you are staring at your career and wondering, Is this it? Jess has an answer: No! Packed with relatable examples and practical self reflection exercises, Leap isn’t just for women; it’s for anyone seeking greater clarity, confidence, and control over their careers.”

    Gorick Ng, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Unspoken Rules

  • “LEAP is full of encouraging case studies from courageous women navigating career changes large and small. Their stories, mixed with Jess’s helpful insights on challenges unique to women, will help you forge your own path forward—one that resonates with who you are at your most authentic core, not who you should be to please others. It’s time to take the reins and thrive, not just survive. LEAP is a light to guide the way.”

    Jenny Blake, podcaster and author of Free Time, Pivot, and Life After College

  • "We’ve entered a new era where it’s more possible than ever before to reinvent yourself professionally in a way that supports your broader life. For working parents, this opportunity could prove game-changing. LEAP offers us engaging and relatable stories of parents who have reinvented themselves, and pragmatic advice and reflection exercises that lead the reader to action. This is a must-read for anyone reevaluating their career trajectory or seeking a new model of “success”."

    Allison Whalen, Cofounder and CEO at Parentaly

  • “If you are a woman questioning your career path, feeling overwhelmed or dissatisfied with work, or unsure about your next steps, you need this book! Change takes self-reflection and courage, and LEAP will give you the inspiration and guidance to take action on creating your best life. Emotions are a major part of any transformation, and Galica addresses the impact of feelings head on in the book, encouraging readers to both acknowledge and honor what arises. Filled with relatable and empowering career stories, LEAP takes you on a journey that will leave you changed and ready to embark on a path to greater fulfillment.”

    Dawn Graham, Author of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers

  • “When it comes to women and career change, Jess Galica is the expert you need to follow. Her expertise covers the topics that matter most today for women navigating corporate careers. LEAP is packed with inspiring stories from real women about building a successful career, the twists and turns they navigate, and the obstacles they overcome to find success and fulfillment at work. LEAP also arms readers with pragmatic exercises and know-how to make real and lasting change. A must read for any woman rethinking her career.”

    Andrea Simon, Ph.D., CEO Simon Associates Management Consultants and Author of Rethink and On the Brink

  • "Jessica Galica in her book, Leap, adds a new dimension to the career literature/self-help books that are out there by focusing in on women and the unique challenges they face as they navigate careers in these complex and modern times. Through her storytelling, her reflection exercises, and her recommended strategies, she acknowledges that women are so much more than titles, skills, and competencies. This book gives women the permission to lean into their emotions to find what is authentically right in the next step in their career journeys."

    Gayle Grader, Director of Executive Career Development, MIT Sloan School of Management