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Never Too Late
No Woman Left Behind is part personal memoir, global health crusade, and all heart, following your journey from an ad executive to an advocate for women suffering from obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that is almost entirely preventable. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The day a woman gives birth is the day she is most likely to die or be seriously injured, particularly in the poorest parts of our world. It’s easy to forget that in a place as prosperous as the US where most women have safe childbirth experiences in hospitals. I believe that no woman should suffer a life of incontinent misery and isolation simply for trying to bring a child into the world. While fistula ruins the lives of too many women, it doesn’t have to. Most women can be cured with a single surgery. Our biggest obstacle to getting more of the one million women with the injury treated is lack of awareness of their plight. My goal in writing No Woman Left Behind was to create awareness and encourage more people to step up to help women they will likely never meet get their lives back.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted people to know that they have the power to help too often forgotten women get a new shot at a healthy and productive life. We all live in challenging times; the world is filled with many intractable problems, but fistula isn’t one of them. We know what works to help women.
Another idea that I wanted to share is that it is never too late to create a new professional path for yourself. In my 20s I was working on “Madison Avenue,” using wily strategies to get people to buy stuff they may neither want nor need. The work was draining and ultimately unfulfilling. I left that behind, to find work that spoke to my heart. I hope that others may see themself in my journey.
Can you share with readers more about the Fistula Foundation’s Love-a-Sister program?
Our Love-a-Sister program provides the opportunity for donors to sponsor a surgery for a woman, that on average costs just $633. They can give one donation of that amount or give monthly to eventually fund a surgery. Most of fistula patients are indigent so our donors big-hearted generosity provides surgery for women who would often otherwise go without.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Our tagline is “Help Give a Woman a New Life.” I hope people will be motivated to help, and perhaps at the same time, gain increased gratitude for the many blessings those of us living in a developed country like the United States often take for granted, like safe hospital-based childbirth.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | No Woman Left Behind | Amazon
The day a woman gives birth is also the day she is most likely to die or suffer severe injury—a sobering reality that comes into sharp focus when Kate Grant visits the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia’s capital. There, she sees row after row of beds occupied by young women afflicted with obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that leaves them incontinent and too often shunned by their communities, modern- day lepers. She soon learns that surgery is the only way to end their suffering.
In No Woman Left Behind, Grant recounts her decision to abandon a promising advertising career, and the ups and downs of building Silicon Valley– based Fistula Foundation from a modest start-up into the global leader in fistula treatment. Through vivid firsthand accounts of surgeons toiling in remote corners of Africa and Asia, we see inside the fight to restore hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable women.
A compassionate army of donors spanning nearly 70 countries makes such life-changing care possible. Grant demonstrates the profound power of individual action to change lives at scale, since Fistula Foundation takes no government money. No Woman Left Behind is a compelling personal journey and a how-to guide for anyone looking to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
100% of the net proceeds from No Woman Left Behind will go to Fistula Foundation’s Love-a-Sister program to fund free surgeries for women with childbirth injuries.
No Woman Left Behind: A Journey of Hope to Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth
Kate Grant’s No Woman Left Behind is part personal memoir, part global health crusade, and all heart. It follows Grant’s journey from an ad executive climbing the corporate ladder to a relentless advocate for women suffering from obstetric fistula—a devastating childbirth injury that ruins lives and is almost entirely preventable. With striking honesty and compassion, Grant details how she helped transform the Fistula Foundation into a global force, funding over 100,000 surgeries across Africa and Asia. Along the way, we meet the incredible women she fought for, the trailblazing doctors she partnered with, and the deeply human messiness of finding purpose.
What struck me most was how personal this book felt. Grant doesn’t sugarcoat her path. She begins in the glossy world of 1980s advertising, full of cocktail parties and leather tile floors, but inside, she’s unraveling. The chapter “Let’s Go Crazy” hit me especially hard—her life literally cracked open by the 1989 San Francisco earthquake and a crumbling relationship. She’s raw, vulnerable, and funny in that self-aware way that makes you feel like you’re hearing this over coffee, not reading a polished memoir. The moment she walked into the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa and met Dr. Catherine Hamlin, my heart broke and healed at the same time. That scene with Hanna, a teenage girl who lost her baby and was abandoned by her husband due to fistula, will never leave me.
I also loved how the book balances tough realities with hope. Grant takes a problem most of us have never heard of—one affecting millions of women—and brings it front and center. But she doesn’t stop there. She shows how change can happen. In “Smile Train of Vaginas,” she cheekily but cleverly compares her mission to the well-known cleft surgery nonprofit, and it works—because it should be that recognizable. Her passion is contagious. At one point, she says, “They will break your heart,” speaking of the women with fistula. And yes, they do. But Kate Grant will also make you want to do something about it.
If you’ve ever wondered whether one person can make a difference, this book answers that with a resounding yes. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost and hoped their pain might lead somewhere better. For nonprofit leaders, aspiring change-makers, or people craving more meaning in their work—this is your read.
Pages: 256 | ASIN: B0DK5YPQ69
Everyone Has a Story
Open This Book: The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders is a structured exploration of storytelling; sharing with readers how this approach can make them better leaders and show them how to communicate impactful messages to their audiences. What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve always loved stories. I was sent down the rabbit hole of learning about storytelling when I was guided through telling a silly story about a bad tattoo on a massive financial podcast, just because the host thought it was funny. The way he interviewed me about the story made it sound far more valuable and insightful than I ever noticed before.
I launched my company in 2022 to help teach people how to be great podcast guests to grow their brands. I’d focus on crafting their stories in a way that connects with an audience while positioning them as experts.
What I heard from so many of the people I spoke to was that they didn’t have a story, or their story was not worth telling. I remembered thinking that this stupid tattoo story wasn’t worth telling either, and yet learning how to tell it the right way changed my life. So, I wrote the book to help others discover the same impact in their own stories and realize they’re worth telling, too.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The obvious one is that everyone has a story, but the chapters that really stand out to me are the ones on imposter syndrome and expertise.
I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome my entire career and I know basically everyone else has, too. I wanted to share my experiences with imposter syndrome so that others in the same position could see that they’re not alone and maybe start to give themselves a little grace.
The chapter on expertise was also important to me because it was almost like I was writing it as a letter to myself. Going back to imposter syndrome, it was hard to convince myself to write a book because “at 28, how can I possibly think I’m an expert in anything?” Reframing expertise into something far more accessible was something that I needed to do for myself to get past the roadblock. Hopefully, someone reading it will have a similar reaction.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
There will always be another room. Especially when I worked in finance, I spent a lot of time in rooms that made me feel like I had to be something other than myself, literally and figuratively. I would put on the facade of who I thought others wanted me to be as I tried to earn a seat at the table.
It took far too many years for me to realize that any room that makes me feel like I need to be someone else is not the room for me. It isn’t my job to change the opinion of the room that I belong there. I’d rather find a different room.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Open This Book?
My biggest hope is that they’ll realize they do have a story worth telling!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Ever think that silly story you tell to break the ice could actually be a breakthrough for your career?
Welcome to Open This Book: The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders, where we’re ditching the textbook definitions and embracing storytelling as the heart of authentic leadership.
This isn’t your average “how-to” guide. Imagine it as a heart-to-heart with a friend who’s seen their fair share of life’s plot twists and learned how careful word choice and a smooth delivery can turn chaos into clarity and mishaps into powerful messages.
Because the secret to being a thought leader–a content creator, podcaster, speaker, author–is knowing how to transform those “just another day” experiences into an arsenal for connecting in a world that’s scrolling past the same old content.
Open This Book is your backstage pass to understanding why storytelling isn’t just for the Shakespeares and Spielbergs of the world. Designed as part book, part journal (but no part textbook), this book is for anyone who’s ever had a “you can’t make this up” moment (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?). From crafting your narrative to delivering it in a way that feels like a mic drop, we’ll explore the ins and outs of telling stories that connect, challenge, and change the game of leadership.
So, if you’re ready to turn your misadventures into your mission statement, you’ve come to the right place. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the best stories are hiding in plain sight—they just need a little nudge (or a full-on shove) into the spotlight.
This isn’t just about finding your voice; it’s about discovering that your voice, quirks and all, is exactly what the world’s been waiting to hear.
What are you waiting for? Open this book.
Open This Book: The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders
Open This Book, by Sara Lohse, is a structured exploration of storytelling divided into three insightful sections. The first part delves into Lohse’s own narrative style, effectively using her personal experiences as a teaching tool for the reader.
Through her use of emphasis, humor, and suspense, Lohse not only entertains but also educates, subtly imparting storytelling techniques. The second section builds on the foundations laid earlier, providing readers with a practical breakdown of storytelling elements. Lohse exemplifies these through her own narratives, making complex concepts accessible and engaging. This part is particularly beneficial for readers looking to enhance their storytelling skills with clear, actionable guidance. In the final section, Lohse shifts focus towards thought leadership, discussing how leaders can communicate impactful messages and inspire their audiences. This segment addresses the role of a thought leader and explores methods for sharing valuable insights effectively.
One of the standout features of Open This Book is its use of visual aids and concise summaries, which not only augment the learning experience but also make the content more digestible compared to other books in its genre. Each chapter concludes with a journaling space, encouraging readers to reflect on and retain the key lessons learned. Additionally, the book is peppered with valuable insights on various storytelling techniques and the pivotal role of emotion in narrative. Lohse emphasizes the importance of authenticity in storytelling, carefully noting that authenticity does not necessitate over-sharing.
The visual summaries and targeted content are particularly beneficial for professionals in the creative and sales industries, making Open This Book a recommended read for those looking to refine their communicative prowess and storytelling skills.
Pages : 214 | ASIN : B0D11KRP2X
LITERARY TITAN 