When We're
in Charge
The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership
Available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook (narrated by Amanda). Paperback coming September 2026.
What if things didn't suck?
Most leadership books treat millennials and Gen Z like problems to manage. This one was written for them.
When We're in Charge is a direct, practical guide for the next generation of leaders — the ones who are finally in charge and determined not to replicate the management they spent years resenting. How do you lead with authority without becoming the boss you hated? How do you set real boundaries without losing credibility? How do you build a team culture that doesn't require people to sacrifice their whole lives?
Based on Amanda's experience building and leading Run for Something — and on conversations with more than 100 next-gen leaders across politics, business, media, tech, and education — this book answers the questions that actually come up. It makes the case for the four-day work week, argues that transparency is powerful and dangerous in equal measure, and explains why the boss taking parental leave matters as much as offering it.
Named a best business book by the Financial Times. Endorsed by Adam Grant, Anne Helen Petersen, Ilana Glazer, Jon Favreau, and Tori Dunlap. Available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook — narrated by Amanda.
What people are saying.
"A refreshingly candid, delightfully irreverent guide to leadership for the next generation. Amanda Litman busts some major myths about how to succeed at the helm. Get ready to rethink some of your basic assumptions about authenticity, productivity, and professionalism."
— Adam Grant, #1 NYT bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again
"Enough already with the quiet quitting. When We're In Charge is the new essential handbook for taking power and actually using it to do good."
— Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett & Tommy Vietor, Crooked Media
"An ambitious and refreshingly practical examination of modern management… Litman doesn't just ask leaders to be revolutionary, she shows it is possible with an actionable road map for 21st-century governance."
"Amanda Litman continues her legacy of mapping out systems for Millennials & Gen Z who believe in basic human rights to take ownership of our institutions and make this country one we're proud to be living in."
— Ilana Glazer
"Will help you be the boss you wished you had. Chock full of invaluable insights into the changing workplace and how to lead with compassion — and still get sh*t done."
— Tori Dunlap, NYT bestselling author of Financial Feminist and founder of Her First $100K
"Unlike anything else in the 'business book' space — a must-read for anyone who doesn't just want to make the world better, but wants to figure out how to keep caring."
— Anne Helen Petersen, author of Can't Even and co-author of Out of Office
"The workplace is evolving more rapidly than ever. When We're In Charge has all the insights and advice for leaders to navigate these choppy waters."
— Sami Sage, NYT bestselling author of Democracy in Retrograde
"Essential reading for any Gen Z or millennial who holds a leadership position or one day hopes to. Amanda Litman has given them the roadmap to do exactly that."
— Jason Kander, NYT bestselling author of Invisible Storm, first millennial elected to statewide office