You Can Be: Anu Chitrapu Talks About Writing a Book to Inspire Little Girls to Achieve Their Career Dreams
In a special edition of Tuesday Trends, we are excited to announce the launch of today’s woman dreamer, Anu Chitrapu’s exciting new book! The book, titled “You Can Be: A Book for Little Girls” , features stories of inspiring women leaders, aimed to inspire little girls of all ages. President of TIE Boston and an Executive at Bank of America, Anu believes that every little girl needs to see accomplished women just like them, so they have the confidence to be whoever they want to be! Anu shares her inspiration for the book, and the exciting plan to distribute books across India to young girls in underserved communities! Enjoy her story!
1) You are launching a book to empower young girls and inspire them to pursue their dreams at a young age. That’s awesome - What was the inspiration for the book?
In February 2020, I visited a remote migrant settlement in Gujarat, India through the Learning and Migration Program (LAMP) from American India Foundation (AIF). I saw little girls crowded into classrooms with hope shining in their eyes. One girl, Ezra, was all smiles and excited to meet us. When I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she kept smiling but did not answer, maybe because she did not know what the options were.
It was then I realized that all little girls need to see examples of accomplished women who look just like them and who have achieved success in professions that were considered unsuitable, or even impossible, for women and they need to see them from a very young age. Growing up with the confidence that you can be whatever you choose to be increases the chances of that happening.
That's why I created this book. I wanted all little girls around the world to know this: the glass ceiling has been shattered and the sky is no longer the limit!
2) What will the book be about? Tell us more about the content of the book?
The book features 8 professions - astronauts, doctors, STEM, artists/musicians, lawyers, athletes, country leaders and business women - each profession has kid-friendly illustrations of women who have excelled in the field. I was very deliberate in picking women from different countries and different ethnicities. Our creative advisor, Mala, suggested a thick board book for little fingers to turn pages easily and our illustrator Sona brought the vision to life with colorful images that would keep girls engaged and interested. An appendix provides more information on each of the women featured.
3) You mentioned this book is intended to inspire young girls. What age group are you targeting?
I think we need to start very young! Anywhere from 3 to 8 years is my target. However, a parent/sibling or teacher could read to even a 2 year old and point out the images. My goal is to instill confidence in the girls before other external norms or circumstances make them feel some professions are not for them.
4) What is your big dream for the book? What do you hope to accomplish through this book?
I am certainly reaching for the stars here but I am hoping my book will help in raising a generation of girls who will grow up with the belief that any profession is possible for them irrespective of how they look or where they live. This year for Raksha Bandhan, I hope brothers will give their little sisters a book like this which will inspire them and tell them they can be whatever they want to be!
5) This book would be incredibly inspiring for girls in underserved communities. How are you planning on getting the books to the girls who need them the most?
I am reaching out to NGOs in India that focus on education for girls. For instance, I was thrilled to receive a request for 600 books from an NGO in Mumbai. I want the book to reach every girl who can benefit from it and have committed to giving it free of cost to anyone who cannot afford it. All profits from the sale of the book will be used to provide books to underprivileged girls.
Thank you Anu for sharing your exciting book with us!
The book is available online for delivery anywhere in India at: https://odyssey.in/collections/books/products/you-can-be-a-book-for-little-girls.
Copies will soon be available in the US.
Bio: Anu Chitrapu is an executive at Bank of America with over 20 years of work experience in Corporate America. At the Bank, as the Executive Sponsor of the Asian Leadership Network, Boston she has moderated or participated in several panels on achieving career success. She is also a speaker at events and delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Miami Dade NAF conference to 1500 high school students. Anu is passionate about women empowerment and gender equality and is on the board of a few different organizations that focus on these areas. Anu is the current President of TiE-Boston. Anu holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
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