Success isn't always linear. Sometimes, it’s a vertical scramble while wearing shoes that weren't designed for the terrain. That is basically the core sentiment behind the climbing in heels book—better known by its full title, Climbing in Heels: How to Be a Successful Woman in Business Without Losing Your Mind. Written by Ceri Wheeldon, this isn't just a manual for corporate survival; it’s a reality check for anyone who has ever felt like they were playing a game where the rules were written in a language they didn't speak.
Most career advice is dry. It’s written by people who have never had to balance a toddler on one hip while negotiating a merger on a burner phone. Wheeldon’s perspective is different because it’s rooted in the actual, messy experience of being a woman in the mid-to-late stages of a career. It focuses heavily on the "Midlife Renaissance," a term she uses to describe the shift that happens when you realize you have more years behind you than in front of you, yet you still have a mountain of ambition left to scale.
The Reality of the Climbing in Heels Book
Honestly, the title might throw some people off. It sounds a bit "girl boss" or 2014-era empowerment fluff. It isn't. The metaphor of "climbing in heels" refers to the extra drag—the invisible weight—women carry in professional environments. Think about it. You're expected to be assertive but not "aggressive." You need to be a leader, but also "likable." It’s exhausting. The book tackles these paradoxes head-on.
Wheeldon, who also founded the site Midlifechic (though she is often associated with the Fab after Fifty brand), spent years in headhunting and recruitment. She saw the patterns. She watched talented women stall out not because they lacked skills, but because they lacked the specific brand of confidence required to navigate male-dominated hierarchies. This book was her way of dumping that recruiter-brain knowledge into a format that regular people could actually use.
It's about visibility. If you’re working your tail off but nobody notices, are you even working? In the corporate world, the answer is usually "no."
Why Visibility Trumps Hard Work
Most of us were raised on the lie that if you do a good job, you'll get noticed. That’s garbage.
In the climbing in heels book, there’s a heavy emphasis on the "PIE" model, which many career coaches reference, but Wheeldon contextualizes for the modern woman. Performance, Image, Exposure.
- Performance is only about 10% of why people get promoted.
- Image—how people perceive your "executive presence"—is about 30%.
- Exposure is the big one. 60%.
If the people making the decisions don’t know who you are, your 12-hour workdays are basically charity work for the company.
I’ve seen this happen a thousand times. A woman stays late to finish a project while her male colleague goes for drinks with the VP. Who gets the plum assignment next month? The guy who went for drinks. It feels unfair because it is. But Wheeldon argues that instead of just complaining about the "old boys' club," you have to build your own "new girls' club" or at least learn to navigate the existing one without losing your soul.
Managing the Midlife Career Pivot
One of the most nuanced parts of the book deals with ageism. It’s the elephant in the room. In your 20s, you’re "inexperienced." In your 50s, you’re "expensive" or "out of touch." There is a very narrow window where society thinks a woman is "just right" for leadership.
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Wheeldon challenges this by highlighting that midlife is actually when women are most dangerous—in a good way. You have the experience. You’ve likely dealt with enough crises to be unshakeable. The book encourages readers to lean into this authority rather than trying to hide their age or downplay their years of service.
It’s about the pivot. Maybe you don’t want to climb the same ladder anymore. Maybe the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall. The climbing in heels book provides a framework for auditing your skills. You have to look at your "transferable assets." Can you manage people? Can you fix broken processes? Can you sell an idea? Those things don't expire.
Practical Strategies for the Corporate Jungle
What does "climbing" actually look like on a Tuesday morning? It looks like setting boundaries that stick.
Wheeldon talks about the "Yes" trap. Women are often conditioned to be the office "nurturers." They’re the ones who organize the birthday cakes, take the notes in meetings, and handle the "office housework." Every minute you spend on office housework is a minute you aren't spending on the high-value tasks that lead to a raise.
- Stop volunteering for the notes. If someone asks, say, "I’d love to, but I really need to focus on the strategy portion of this discussion today."
- Own your wins. When someone says "Great job," don't say "It was a team effort" if you did 90% of the work. Say "Thank you, I’m really proud of how the ROI turned out."
- Network before you need to. Most people only network when they’re looking for a job. That’s too late. You need to build the well before you're thirsty.
Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
The most honest part of the book is the acknowledgment that not everyone wants to be the CEO. And that’s fine. The "heels" in the title represent the persona we put on, but the "climbing" is the personal growth. For some, success is a flexible schedule that allows for travel or family time. For others, it’s finally getting that seat at the boardroom table.
There’s a section that touches on the psychological toll of "imposter syndrome." We all know the term. But Wheeldon suggests that it’s not just a lack of confidence—it’s a rational response to an environment that wasn't built for you. When you’re the only woman in the room, feeling like an outsider isn't a pathology; it's an observation. The trick is not letting that observation stop you from speaking.
Actionable Steps for Your Career Ascent
If you’re feeling stuck, don't just buy another planner. Start doing the heavy lifting that actually moves the needle.
First, conduct a visibility audit. Look at your calendar for the last two weeks. How many of those meetings were with people two levels above you? If the answer is zero, you have a visibility problem. Fix it by asking for a "curiosity coffee" with a senior leader to learn about their department's challenges.
Second, rewrite your professional bio. Stop using passive language like "assisted in" or "helped with." Use "led," "developed," "negotiated," and "delivered." Own the verbs.
Third, find your sponsors. A mentor talks to you; a sponsor talks about you when you aren't in the room. Identify one person in your organization who has the power to pull you up and start demonstrating your value to them directly.
Finally, stop waiting for permission. The mountain doesn't care if you're ready. The heels might make it harder, but the view from the top is exactly the same.
Take a hard look at your current trajectory. If the path you're on doesn't lead to a version of yourself that you actually like, change the path. You aren't a tree. You can move. Start by identifying one "high-exposure" project you can join this month. Then, make sure everyone knows exactly what you contributed to its success. Success isn't just about the climb; it's about making sure you don't disappear into the clouds once you get there.