The Rejection That Changed My Life

“The Rejection That Changed My Life” brings together stories from over 25 powerful women—writers, academics, entrepreneurs, and leaders—who describe a major professional rejection, how it felt in the moment, and how they eventually turned it into a catalyst for change.

Blending these first‑person accounts with her own experiences and research, Jessica Bacal offers concrete insights on reframing failure, building ‘rejection tolerance,’ and using setbacks as data to pivot, grow, and ‘burn it up’ at work.

Warm, practical, and validating, the book normalizes rejection as a universal part of ambitious careers and serves as a handbook for anyone facing disappointment, career uncertainty, or the need for a new beginning in the workplace.