Six executives shared the books that shaped their leadership approach.
Amazon; Alyssa Powell/BI
I asked six executives in November to share the books that shaped their leadership approach.
The list features a range of leaders from tech companies, like AWS, to style brands like Revlon.
The books they pick center on decision-making and leading with emotional intelligence.
It's that time of year again, and if you're searching for the perfect book to gift a family member, spouse, or even your boss, you're in luck.
Last month, I asked six executives from Big Tech companies like AWS, to financial firms like Mastercard, and style brands like Revlon and Mejuri, about the books that have influenced their leadership style.
Their responses included management staples, like "Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead," and books focused on soft skills, such as "Emotional Intelligence" or "Quiet."
Read on for the full list:
Sarah Cooper, Amazon Web Services director of AI Native
Sarah Cooper is AWS director of AI Native
BI
AWS executive Sarah Cooper said she's rereading Clayton Christensen's "The Innovator's Dilemma." She said the book is filled with guiding principles for capitalizing on disruptive innovation, which are lessons that resonate in today's workforce.
She's also a fan of Daniel Goleman's "Emotional Intelligence," which explores why IQ alone doesn't guarantee success and why emotional awareness matters. Cooper said that leading with empathy is especially critical as AI reshapes the workforce.
"I truly believe that the way we work could change dramatically," Cooper said.
Jennifer Van Buskirk, AT&T head of business operations
Jennifer Van Buskirk has been at AT&T for over 25 years.
BI
AT&T's head of business operations, Jennifer Van Buskirk, told Business Insider that she's "a bit of an adrenaline junkie," and looks for signs of risk-taking when interviewing candidates. Her book picks reflect that intensity.
The executive said "Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin teaches people to take ownership and see things through.
The second book she named, "Get Sh*t Done," by Lauris Liberts and motivational brand Startup Vitamins, was handed to her by the CIO of her former startup. She said it's filled with great quotes that reflect her style of thinking.
Raj Seshadri said "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown influenced her leadership style.
BI
Mastercard's Raj Seshadri highlighted the book "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown. Seshadri said that the book focuses on courage and vulnerability in leadership and argues that great leaders are defined by their ability to build trust and lead with empathy, rather than their titles.
"It provides practical tools for creating brave cultures where people feel safe to take risks and innovate," Seshadri said.
Michelle Peluso, Revlon CEO
BI
Revlon CEO Michelle Peluso said she gravitates more towardbiographies over traditional business books because "they offer a more human-centered perspective." A few of herfavorites include:
"Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
"Personal History" by Katharine Graham
"Leonardo da Vinci" by Walter Isaacson
"Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Christina Shim, IBM chief sustainability officer
Christina Shim serves as IBM's Chief Sustainability Officer.
BI
IBM's chief sustainability officer said the company has rallied around the book, "The Geek Way" by Andrew McAfee. She said that IBM CEO Arvind Krishna is working to build a culture inspired by the book, which focuses on four core pillars, including science, ownership, speed, and openness.
Shim said another book that has shaped her own leadership style is Susan Cain's "Quiet." The book explores how to navigate being an introvert in an extroverted world — and she thought it was so important that she bought copies for her entire team. She said that introverts often make up half a team, and understanding how to work effectively together is essential.
Noura Sakkijha, Mejuri CEO
BI
The CEO of jewelry brand Mejuri told Business Insider that many books have influenced her leadership style, but one that stuck with her was Ben Horowitz's "The Hard Thing About Hard Things."
Sakkijha said it helped her understand that building a business is rarely a linear process. She said that sometimes reading other founders' stories made the process look easy. In contrast, Horowitz, who cofounded Andreessen Horowitz,offers practical advice for navigating the most challenging aspects of starting a business, based on his own experience.
"It was really helpful to read his story, how they built the business, the challenges they went through, and the persistence," Sakkijha said.
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