The Izzy Way Book Review
I first read Rise with a particular group in mind—people early in their leadership journey who were clearly capable, working hard, and trying to figure out how to move forward without burning out or getting stuck. At the time, we even had our larger team read it together as part of a book club, because the questions it raises felt relevant to almost everyone, no matter where they were in their career.
What Rise does really well is explain something easy to miss when you’re up and coming: the behaviours that help you stand out early on don’t always help you advance later. Azzarello is direct about this, and honestly, that’s what makes the book so helpful. She names the habits that many high performers rely on—being hands-on, saying yes to everything, solving problems quickly—and explains why those same habits can quietly limit growth as roles expand.
When we read this as a team, people started recognizing themselves in the examples. Some realized they were staying too close to the work. Others noticed how often they defaulted to being helpful rather than strategic. The book gave everyone a shared language for things we were already experiencing but hadn’t quite articulated yet.
What stood out to me then—and still does now—is how practical and grounded Azzarello’s advice is – it isn’t just theory but based on real executive experience and fundamental organizational dynamics. She talks openly about visibility, leverage, and decision-making, and why leaders need to understand not just what you do, but how you think, if they’re going to trust you with a bigger scope.
Revisiting Rise now, I see even more clearly why it resonated with our team. It doesn’t push ambition for ambition’s sake. It encourages reflection. It helps people ask better questions about where they’re spending their energy and whether their current approach still fits where they want to go.
If you’re early in your career—or supporting people who are—Rise is a powerful conversation starter or a tool for introspection. It helps shift the focus from “How do I prove myself?” to “How do I grow into the kind of leader others can rely on?”
5 Reflections We Took Away from Reading Rise as a Team
1. Growth requires letting go of old habits – What made you successful early on won’t necessarily carry you forward. Recognizing when it’s time to adjust is a skill in itself.
2. Being busy isn’t the same as being effective – Azzarello asks you to rethink where you spend your time and whether that work truly adds value.
3. Leadership requires perspective, not just execution – As your role grows, stepping back becomes more important than stepping in.
4. Visibility is about clarity, not self-promotion – Helping leaders understand your thinking builds trust and opens doors.
5. Career growth is a shared responsibility – The book created space for better conversations between leaders and team members about development, expectations, and next steps.
Rise is one of those books that works exceptionally well as part of a career-focused book club. It gives people a common language for growth and helps up-and-coming leaders see their careers with more clarity and intention. Years later, it’s still a book I recommend when people ask how to move forward without losing themselves in the process.
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