From grief to grit, Lisa Baue shares powerful life lessons from her groundbreaking career—part memoir, part leadership lessons, part call-to-action for women leading with heart in the deathcare and funeral profession. Wake Up Calls is now an Amazon Best Seller.
Despite women making up the majority of mortuary science graduates, many still encounter a glass ceiling in funeral service. Leadership and ownership roles remain largely male-dominated, and women report being passed over for promotions or facing subtle—and sometimes overt—gender-based discrimination. The slow pace of change in the profession continues to limit access to top positions.
Most books of advice in the profession are by men–and for men. This book is the first to share wisdom from a female leader who has lived what many women still fight through everyday.
This book embraces the idea that women can lead in their own way, with heart, empathy and kindness.
One-hundred percent of proceeds from Wake Up Calls is being given to industry charities including Funeral Women Lead Foundation, Selected Independent Funeral Homes Educational Trust, ICCFA Educational Trust and Funeral Service Foundation.
To encourage women entering the field to believe in their worth, invest in their growth, and step into leadership and ownership roles with confidence.
To share the lessons I learned—through personal grief, business failures, and decades of leadership—about using your head in business, your heart with people, and your grit in the hard times.
To offer hope and clarity for women who may feel unseen, underpaid, or overwhelmed—and show them they’re not alone, and they’re not wrong for wanting more.
To call on owners and managers to mentor, coach, and prepare the next generation—by prioritizing the hearts, well-being, and development of their people.
What I heard from the women of this profession inspired me to write this book. Here are some of the common themes they shared.
Many women struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is pushing talented women out of the field altogether—especially during childbearing or caregiving years when flexibility is often need.
The emotional intensity of the work, coupled with long hours and low compensation, contributes to widespread burnout among women in the profession.
Many women struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is pushing talented women out of the field altogether—especially during childbearing or caregiving years when flexibility is often need.
The emotional intensity of the work, coupled with long hours and low compensation, contributes to widespread burnout among women in the profession.
Women want greater access to skill-building in areas such as business ownership, marketing, networking, and cemetery operations. There’s also growing interest in public speaking roles, education-focused leadership, and structured mentorship programs—specially designed for women.
Persistent gender bias, racial inequity, and exclusionary dynamics—particularly in family-owned or legacy firms—leave many women feeling isolated or undervalued.
