“Enough already with the quiet quitting: Amanda Litman understands that the world is better when we get involved, lead with principle, and don’t give up. When We’re In Charge is the new essential handbook for taking power and actually using it to do good.”
- Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, Crooked Media Reads
A first-of-its-kind practical manual for millennials and Gen Zers taking on positions of power, from Amanda Litman, cofounder of Run for Something.
ISBN
9781638931928
Page count
272
Edition
Hardcover
Sale date
May 13, 2025
About the Book
“A refreshingly candid, delightfully irreverent guide to leadership for the next generation. Amanda Litman busts some major myths about how to succeed at the helm. Get ready to rethink some of your basic assumptions about authenticity, productivity, and professionalism.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking
Most leadership books treat millennials and Gen Z like nuisances to manage around, focusing on how leaders from older generations can fit young people into their existing corporate cultures.
Not this one. When We’re In Charge is a no-bullshit guide for the next generation of leaders on how to show up differently, break the cycle of bad boomer leadership, and navigate the changing demands of those in power and the evolving expectations people have of their workplace.
Based on author Amanda Litman’s experience as a founder and executive (and mom of two who’s trying desperately to have a life outside of work), and informed by conversations with more than 100 next-gen leaders across politics, business, media, tech, education, and more — and including people like Versha Sharma, editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue; Maxwell Frost, first Gen Z member of Congress; and Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap Inc — this book is a vital resource for new leaders trying to figure out how to get stuff done without making your team or yourself miserable.
When We’re in Charge offers solutions for sticky challenges like how to be yourself without giving your full self to your role; how to think about social media when your team sees what you post; and how to set up guardrails for work-life balance.Litman also offers arguments on why a four-day work week is the future; why transparency is a powerful tool that can do real damage if not wielded with intention; and why it matters for you, the boss, to both provide and take family leave. A necessary read for all who occupy or aspire to leadership roles, When We’re in Charge is a vision for a future where leaders at work, in communities, and across the country are compassionate, genuine, and effective.
Reviews
“This is essential reading for any Gen Z or millennial who holds a leadership position or one day hopes to. The next generation of leadership is primed to look and act like nothing that’s come before and Amanda Litman has given them the roadmap to do exactly that.”
“When We’re in Charge will help you be the boss you wished you had. This book is chock full of information and guidance―anyone under 40 will come away with invaluable insights into the changing workplace and how they can successfully lead their teams with compassion (and still get sh*t done.)”
“The workplace is evolving more rapidly than ever. When We’re In Charge has all the insights and advice for leaders to navigate these choppy waters.”
“When We’re In Charge continues Amanda Litman’s legacy of mapping out systems for Millennials & Gen Z, who believe in basic human rights for all Americans, to take ownership of our institutionsand make this country one we’re proud to be living in, as a generation. She is a leader I turn to in times of democratic despair, and this book makes the practice of leadership clear, direct, and accessible.”
“With When We’re in Charge, Amanda Litman does the impossible: she provides clear-eyed, actionable advice on how to do meaningful leadership work in fields we’re passionate about . . . and actually keep doing it. She understands that for Gen-Z and millennial workers, caring has never been the problem. Figuring out how to keep caring―and lead others as they navigate their own careers―is just as important as the work itself. This book is unlike anything else in the ‘business book’ space―a must-read for anyone who doesn’t just want to make the world better, but wants to figure out how ‘making the world better’ can be one’s life’s work, not just something we do before burning out in our thirties.”
Amanda Litman
Amanda Litman is the cofounder and president of Run for Something, which recruits and supports young, diverse leaders running for local office―since 2017, they’ve launched the careers of thousands of millennials and Gen Z candidates and in the process, changed what leadership looks like in America. She’s also the author of Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself, (Atria) a how-to manual for people running for office.
Before launching Run for Something, Amanda worked on multiple presidential and statewide political campaigns. She graduated from Northwestern University and lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two daughters, and their sometimes rowdy dog.
amandalitman.com
