Bring your humanity to work to become a better leader. Life is messy. You know it and your employees know it. But the unspoken rules of professionalism dictate that we don’t talk about it. However, what if trying to keep your real, messy life compartmentalized from your work life isn’t doing you any favors? What if, instead, the opposite is true? In We’re Gonna Need Cake , speaker and coach Valerie Garcia draws on her research, along with lessons she’s learned over decades working with brands around the globe, to demonstrate how bringing your whole self to work strengthens your leadership and propels your career forward. Guided by The Authenticity Map, Garcia provides you with a blueprint to navigate the messiness of life and learn how to bring real emotions into the workplace in a productive way. With exercises in each chapter to help bring the concepts into personalized focus, you will finish with a better understanding of everything from failure and fear to compassion and confidence and how it all contributes to finding joy at work. Written with honesty and humor, this guide is for the modern-day leader who wants the tools to create healthier workplaces, happier customers, and better teams. "Our world at work needs leaders who embrace vulnerability in themselves and encourage it in others. This book is an inspiring read that will challenge you to be courageous, show up authentically, and create a space where everyone feels empowered." Kristen Hadeed, bestselling author of Permission to Screw Up "We live in a world where everyone wants to show how perfect their life is... It is refreshing to read an honest, down-to-earth, and humorous look at how life and work intersect in messy ways. Being 'messy' is the first step in being true to yourself." Margaret Kelly, former CEO of RE/MAX, LLC "This book is the perfect road map for anyone who wants to level up and change the way they lead—and change the world in the process." Harris III, founder of Istoria Collective and author of The Wonder Switch "Authentic leadership doesn't just need to be developed and acknowledged. It needs to be celebrated. One taste of Valerie Garcia's book and you'll be saving room for dessert." Ron Tite, author of Everyone's an Artist and Think. Do. Say. "Leadership lessons we can apply to work, relationships, caregiving, parenting, coaching, entrepreneurship, and activism—all the places we show up for ourselves and others." Zach Schabot, director of industry affairs at the Zillow Group Valerie Garcia is a speaker and coach on a mission to move organizations from fear to forward. With methods that challenge the traditional, she uses her straightforward style and sense of humor to encourage her clients to lead with joy and think outside the box when it comes to connecting with their customers. In her twenty-plus years of experience, she has worked on six continents with entrepreneurs and companies such as RE/MAX, Berkshire Hathaway, HubSpot, and Duke University. Garcia will help you celebrate change, take bold risks, and embrace the power of your messy authenticity. She lives in Grand Rapids, MI.