Our Journey as Bestselling Authors
“A book is the most expensive business card you’ll ever hand out.”
When Cassie Leonard chose to leave her senior management position at a Fortune 100 engineering firm, she knew she wanted to start her own coaching firm. What she didn’t expect was that her passion project — writing a book about her personal journey in STEM — would play such a pivotal role in building her brand.
Fortunately, Wendy Cocke, who had a year head start on her own journey, found Cassie and graciously mentored her throughout the book launch. Today, both Wendy and Cassie are bestselling authors, each with books that serve as powerful calling cards for their expertise and passions.
In this blog, Wendy and Cassie share a bit of their experience in writing nonfiction books and invite you to join them this Fall to connect in person and at a virtual workshop to learn more about how you can creatively build your own unique marketing resource.
The Stories Behind Our Books
Wendy Cocke’s Journey
In the years leading up to the pandemic, Wendy started dreaming about her “first retirement,” but it wasn’t until the world stopped in 2020 that Wendy found her passion for writing. During her time at home, she set a goal to create one original piece of content on LinkedIn each month, which quickly became twice a month and then weekly (and now even more frequently). By the end of 2021, Wendy not only had an active LinkedIn profile, but about 40,000 words that eventually became the foundation of her first book, Making Flex Work: Defining Success on Your Own Terms. Her book kick-started her speaking and training business to help people do the right work from the right place at the right time.
Today, as the founder and owner of Engineering Leadership Solutions, Wendy works with people and organizations who want to think about work differently. She has written a second best-selling book, Reimagine Your Work: Managing Your Career Like It’s Your Business and has an active consulting business providing project/project management, continuous improvement, and management systems support. She believes that every woman over 40 should have an LLC to fall back on when the time is right for them.
Discover more about Making Flex Work and Reimaging Your Work by Wendy A. Cocke at engineeringleadershipsolutions.com.
Cassie Leonard’s Journey
At WE21, Cassie took the stage with four inspiring colleagues to discuss how the pandemic was shaping their journeys as both leaders and mothers. She wasn’t expecting a large turnout, but the room was packed. The questions from SWE members revealed a significant gap — people were looking for examples of women successfully navigating technical careers and motherhood.
That experience sparked STEM Moms: Design, Build, and Test to Create the Work-Life of Your Dreams. What started as a passion project turned into something bigger. A year later, when she left corporate to start her executive coaching business for women and moms in tech, the book became her calling card, helping establish her credibility and passion for supporting women in STEM.
Explore more about STEM Moms by Cassie Leonard at ELMMcoaching.com/stem-moms and elmm.press.
You Are Invited!
Although a book is just an expensive business card, it might just be the most valuable offering you’ll ever share with your customer base. Whether it is the foundation of your business planning or a strategic investment in your future, Wendy and Cassie hope you will use their stories as inspiration to take the first step — just start writing.
If you want to learn about the writing and publishing process (including how to decide between self, hybrid, and traditional publishing), join us for this special learning workshop hosted by the SWE Entrepreneurs AG.
Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rso-byki-svi
Or dial: (US) +1 567-707-0177 PIN: 711 089 847#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/rso-byki-svi?pin=1776242718616
Add to Calendar
Join the authors and many others in person at the Entrepreneurs AG Open House on Friday, Oct. 25, from 3:15 – 4:45 p.m. CT at WE24 in Chicago (MPCCW – 474 A / B). Add this event to your WE24 agenda or calendar!
Ways to Get Involved
- Join the Entrepreneurs AG Facebook group and LinkedIn group.
- Opt-in to the Entrepreneurs AG email list. This can be found in your membership portal under Communication Preferences.
- Sign up to volunteer with Entrepreneurs AG.
- Join the SWE Mentor Network and choose Entrepreneurs Affinity Group.
Check out our AG Resources! This folder hosts the AG’s Business Directory, past entrepreneur/member highlights, notes/references from programming activities, and other information that may be helpful to support members’ entrepreneurial journeys.
If you would like more information about Entrepreneurs AG, please email Tricia Drake at entrepreneursag@swe.org.
FY25 Entrepreneurs AG Leadership Team
