Dear FoundHer · Episode 355 · June 9, 2026 · 35 min

Thought Leadership for Female Founders: How Writing a Book Builds Your Personal Brand

Writing a book is one of the most overlooked thought leadership moves a female founder can make, and most people go into it completely unprepared. On this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Ruthie Ackerman, author of The Mother Code and founder of Ignite Writers Collective, about what it actually takes to write and publish a book. Ruthie spent years as a journalist and deputy editor at Forbes Women before losing her job, starting a business, and landing a Random House book deal. Now she helps women in business find their voice on the page, and she's honest about how hard the process is. The publishing world has a glamour problem. Most people picture the finished book, not the 90-page proposal, the years of revision, or the media outreach that a publisher will not do for you. Ruthie lays out what female founders need to know before they commit, including how to choose the right publishing path, what a real publicity strategy looks like, and why treating your book like a business launch is the only approach that works. For anyone building a personal brand and wondering whether a book belongs in that plan, Ruthie also speaks directly to the PR for small business reality. Getting press, landing speaking opportunities, and reaching the right audiences all require the same intentionality you bring to every other part of your business. A book done right is a long-term thought leadership asset, not a project you finish and walk away from. If your story has been sitting in the back of your mind waiting for the right moment, this episode is worth your time. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Thought Leadership Starts With Your Story 03:51 Ruthie Ackerman's Path From Forbes to Random House 05:59 Getting Laid Off and Launching Ignite Writers Collective 08:21 How Ignite Writers Collective Grew During the Pandemic 10:35 Starting a Book Three Months After Having a Baby 12:08 Five Questions to Ask Before You Write a Book 13:57 Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing vs. Hybrid 15:50 What a 90-Page Book Proposal Actually Looks Like 18:35 Why Authors Have to Be Their Own Marketers 20:07 Three Tips for Making Time to Write 22:08 What Not to Do When Writing a Book 24:10 How to Find a Literary Agent 26:41 All the Hats You Have to Wear as an Author 28:55 How Ignite Studios Supports Authors End-to-End 32:11 Ruthie's Three Actionable Steps for Aspiring Authors Connect with Ruthie Ackerman: Follow Ruthie on Instagram   Subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.