No Woman Left Behind

NOW A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

INSPIRATION FOR HOW TO CREATE A LIFE OF PURPOSE, NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND IS THE UNLIKELY STORY OF HOW ONE WOMAN LEAVES MADISON AVENUE AND TACKLES THE GLOBAL MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS HEAD ON—PREFACED BY A POWERFUL FOREWORD BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ABRAHAM VERGHESE.

2025 International Book Award Winner in Autobiography/Memoir

“In this rousing debut, Grant demonstrates how the faith and actions of a small group of people can save the world.”—BookLife Reviews, Editor’s Pick

“A call to action for compassionate advocates, and a stunning tale of how deeds triumph over platitudes.”—Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

The day a woman gives birth is also the day she is most likely to die or suffer severe injury—a sobering reality that comes into sharp focus when Kate Grant visits the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia’s capital. There, she sees row after row of beds occupied by young women afflicted with obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that leaves them incontinent and too often shunned by their communities, modern-day lepers. She soon learns that surgery is the only way to end their suffering.

In No Woman Left Behind, Grant recounts her decision to abandon a promising advertising career, and the ups and downs of building Silicon Valley–based Fistula Foundation from a modest start-up into the global leader in fistula treatment. Through vivid firsthand accounts of surgeons toiling in remote corners of Africa and Asia, we see inside the fight to restore hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable women.

A compassionate army of donors spanning nearly 70 countries makes such life-changing care possible. Grant demonstrates the profound power of individual action to change lives at scale, since Fistula Foundation takes no government money. No Woman Left Behind is a compelling personal journey and a how-to guide for anyone looking to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

100% of the author’s net proceeds from No Woman Left Behind will go to Fistula Foundation’s Love a Sister program to fund free surgeries for women with childbirth injuries.

These discussion questions were provided in partnership with the author.

Book club questions for No Woman Left Behind by Kate Grant

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

The book opened as Kate described her trip around the world in her twenties. How did it impact her? Have you had an experience that changed the course of your life? If so, what was it?

Kate’s parents were “first gen”—the first in their families to graduate from college. How did her parents’ experience and their values shape her initial career aspirations? How did your upbringing impact your career choices?

David Foster Wallace is quoted: “There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” What was Kate worshipping while working on Madison Avenue? How did she change over time? Have you had a similar experience where your goals and values shifted?

Kate realized that she had let a relationship impede her ability to find a more fulfilling career path. Have you had a similar experience?

Kate said she experienced “imposter syndrome” while working in political jobs in Washington, DC. Have you ever had a similar experience? If so, how did you manage it?

Women with fistula are often clinically depressed before they are treated. Their psychological healing starts with sharing their experience with other patients and with health workers. Why do you think that’s important? Have you had an experience that is similar?

Kate came to see diversity of thoughts, perspectives and backgrounds in a team as a force for better decision making. Has that been your experience?

Soon after the Foundation adopted its global mission, they chose to focus on one measurable outcome: surgeries, to become “the Smile Train of Vaginas.” How did that choice impact the Foundation’s growth and effectiveness? Was that narrow strategy a smart move?

Kate pushed hard for “invitation only” selection of their hospital partners. Why was this so important to her? Do you think it was the right decision? Why or why not?

Kate recounted several incidents of sexism. What does that reveal about the challenges of being a female leader? Have you faced similar situations? If so, how did you handle them?

Writer Ariel Levy is quoted: “This thinking you can have every single thing you want in life is not the thinking of a feminist. It’s the thinking of a toddler.” Why do you think she chose that quote? How does it apply to Kate’s life choices? Is it relevant to yours?

Fistula Foundation has grown at a rate that is multiples faster than most US charities. What do you attribute that to? What did the Foundation do differently than other charities that enabled it to become so successful?

How did Kate’s relationship with her mother evolve over time? How does that compare with your experience with your parents?

Kate described empathy as the “rocket fuel” that drives the Foundation forward. What does she mean by that? How has empathy helped the Foundation thrive? What role does empathy play in your life and with your charitable giving?

Kate underscored the vast difference between the deaths and injuries due to childbirth and pregnancy in the poorest developing countries and in the US. Why do you think this differential is so vast? What would be necessary for this situation to change?

Trust is a core value with Fistula Foundation and informs how they work with the hospitals and doctors they fund. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott also indicated that she trusted Fistula Foundation and other organizations she’s chosen to support. How does trust benefit both Fistula Foundation and the hospitals doing surgeries?

One of the themes of the book is Kate’s increasing awareness of blessings, privileges, and other advantages that she had too often taken for granted. Does that resonate with you? Are there elements of your life that you take as a given, when you know others struggle to obtain them?

No Woman Left Behind Book Club Questions PDF

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