Brazen – Julia Haart

Not every leadership lesson comes from a CEO. Some come from people who simply refuse to accept that their story has already been written. That’s why Brazen by Julia Haart earned a place in my Leadership Library. I picked this book up expecting to read the story of a successful businesswoman. What I found instead was a remarkable story about courage, reinvention and the determination to build a completely different life, despite the risks involved.

Julia Haart begins by sharing her childhood and life within an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, where many aspects of everyday life were governed by strict religious rules and expectations. The book follows her extraordinary decision to leave that world as an adult and begin again, eventually building a successful career in fashion before becoming the CEO of Elite World Group.

Whether or not you’re interested in fashion is almost irrelevant. What makes Brazen such a compelling read is the human story behind it. It’s about questioning the life you’ve always known, finding the confidence to make difficult decisions and discovering that reinvention is possible, even when it feels overwhelming. Julia writes honestly about fear, self-doubt, motherhood, ambition and the emotional cost of choosing a different path.

There were so many moments throughout the book that made me stop and reflect. It isn’t a guide telling you what to do. Instead, it challenges you to ask yourself whether you’re living the life you truly want or simply the life that’s expected of you.

For leaders in health and social care, that message is surprisingly relevant. Leadership often requires courage long before it requires confidence. Whether it’s introducing change, having a difficult conversation, standing by a decision or taking the next step in your own career, there are moments when the safest option is also the easiest. Brazen reminds us that growth often begins when we’re prepared to step outside our comfort zone.

The book also speaks to wellbeing. Many people working in care spend their days supporting others while putting their own dreams, ambitions and needs on hold. Brazen is a reminder that looking after yourself isn’t selfish, and that it’s never too late to learn something new, change direction or build a different future if that’s what you truly want.

One of the things I admired most about Julia Haart was her resilience. Reinventing your life isn’t a single brave decision, it’s a series of difficult choices made day after day. That quiet determination runs through every chapter of the book.

This isn’t a traditional leadership book, and that’s exactly why I think it deserves a place here. Sometimes the greatest act of leadership isn’t leading an organisation. Sometimes it’s having the courage to lead yourself.

Editor’s Rating: ★★★★★

Who should read it? Anyone facing change, questioning what’s next or looking for the confidence to take a different path.

Why it’s in the Leadership Library: Because the bravest leaders are often the ones willing to rewrite their own story before they ever inspire anyone else’s.