Book excerpt: This book answers all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask top-ranking women directors: How did they make it to the top? What do they think of their success? How does it affect their lives? It brings individual stories of accomplishment together with expert research into the emergence of women entrepreneurs, aspects of leadership, and the politics of breaking into the boardroom. Here, nineteen top-achieving businesswomen tell the stories of their career success. A groundbreaking study of women in management, entrepreneurship and the politics of leadership, it includes interviews with Barbara Cassani of Go Fly airlines, Camelot's Dianne Thompson, Pearson's Dame Majorie Scardino and Anita Roddick of The Body Shop. All winners of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award, their diverse lives have been brought together here for the first time. A fascinating insight into the minds and lives of some of the world's top businesswomen, this is a must-read for those seeking inspiration and advice.