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Career strategist and entrepreneur Lauren Wesley Wilson is expanding the reach of her powerful career guide with the release of a new paperback edition. Her best-selling book, What Do You Need? How Women of Color Can Take Ownership of Their Careers to Accelerate Their Path to Success, is now available in a more accessible format, allowing more readers to benefit from its practical career advice.
The book, which first gained recognition in hardcover, has already helped many women navigate workplace challenges and take control of their professional journeys. Now, with the paperback release, Wilson hopes to reach an even wider audience of women—especially women of color—who are seeking guidance, confidence, and strategies to move forward in their careers.
Wilson shared that the milestone means a great deal to her as an author and mentor.
“It’s an honor that a paperback version gets to be released,” she said. “That means you sold a significant number of hard copies and the publisher believes the book can reach an even wider audience because a paperback is more affordable.”
Best-Selling Career Guide Offers Practical Advice for Women of Color
The career guide focuses on helping women understand the unwritten rules of professional advancement. Drawing from her own experiences in corporate America, Wilson offers clear strategies on how to build confidence, strengthen professional relationships, and advocate for opportunities in the workplace.
Through the book, Wilson explains that career success is not just about qualifications or experience. Instead, understanding workplace culture, networking intentionally, and communicating value are often just as important. By sharing these insights, she hopes readers will feel empowered to take ownership of their careers rather than waiting for opportunities to appear.
Wilson describes the book as a long-term resource rather than a quick motivational read.
“This book is meant to last you 15 or 20 years because so much of what’s in it is common basic principles towards advancing,” she explained.
Because of its practical focus, the book covers topics such as building a personal brand, navigating layoffs, managing burnout, and forming meaningful professional connections.
Paperback Release Arrives During Challenging Times for Black Women in the Workforce
The paperback release comes at a time when many Black women continue to face economic challenges in the workforce. Notably, Wilson first began writing the book in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when unemployment among Black women reached historic levels.
Data from the National Women’s Law Center showed that unemployment among Black women peaked at 16.6 percent in May 2020 and stayed in the double digits for several months. Although conditions improved afterward, the employment gap has continued to fluctuate.
Recent reports have also shown a rise in unemployment rates for Black women. According to reporting from The 19th, the unemployment rate increased from 5.4 percent at the beginning of 2025 to 7.3 percent by the end of the year, marking the highest level in four years.
Economist William Michael Cunningham, founder of Creative Investment Research, said the shift highlights ongoing systemic challenges.
“The unusual nature of this increase in Black women’s unemployment is a testament to and a direct result of the anti-DEI and anti-Black focus of current policies,” he said.
Against this backdrop, Wilson believes her book can provide practical tools and encouragement for women navigating uncertain career paths.
Personal Career Struggles Inspired the Book’s Message
Wilson’s advice is rooted in personal experience. Long before becoming the founder and CEO of ColorComm, a professional network for women of color in communications, she faced her own professional setbacks.
During a recession, Wilson was laid off from her job while living in the DMV area. At the time, she felt embarrassed about the situation and chose not to tell her family. Instead, she maintained the appearance of going to work each day while quietly searching for new opportunities.
Every morning, she commuted more than an hour from Maryland to Washington, D.C., where she spent eight hours applying for jobs at the local library. After two months of persistence, she secured a new position—but the experience changed the way she viewed career strategy.
Wilson later shared an important lesson she learned during that time.
“When people get let go, they oftentimes want to do a big LinkedIn announcement and tell everyone,” she said. “You want to be strategic about the people you tell because you don’t want to decrease your value in the marketplace.”
That experience ultimately shaped the message of her book and her commitment to helping other women navigate career challenges with confidence and strategy.
Lauren Wesley Wilson Continues Empowering Women Through Leadership and Events
Beyond her work as an author, Wilson continues to mentor and support women through speaking engagements and professional development initiatives. Her influence extends through her leadership at ColorComm and her involvement in major industry events.
She is also scheduled to speak at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, hosted by Black Enterprise in Las Vegas. During the session, she plans to discuss the importance of building strategic relationships and maintaining strong professional networks.
The talk, titled Strategic Relationships: The Unspoken Key to Success, will focus on how professionals can intentionally build connections that support long-term career growth.
Ultimately, Wilson hopes the paperback edition of her book will continue helping women gain access to the information and confidence they need to succeed.
“This book is a guiding light for those who feel like they’re not in control of their destiny,” Wilson said. “I want to provide tools, resources, advice, and tips to help you get to the other side.”
