Title: 6 Executive-Recommended Leadership Books That Could Transform Your Career
If you're the kind of person who believes the right book can change your perspective—and maybe even your life—you're not alone. When Business Insider recently asked top executives across industries to name the books that shaped their leadership style, the responses were both insightful and inspiring.
From tech powerhouses like Amazon Web Services (AWS) to iconic brands such as Revlon and financial giants like Mastercard, these leaders revealed the titles that helped define how they lead, grow, and navigate today’s complex business world. Whether you’re managing a team, starting a business, or simply aiming to be a better leader in your everyday life, these real-world reading recommendations offer more than inspiration—they provide actionable wisdom.
Here’s a curated breakdown of six recommended reads by high-profile executives and why you should consider picking them up today.
📚 The Most Impactful Leadership Books—Direct From the C-Suite
1. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
👩💼 Recommended by: Sarah Cooper, Director of AI Native at Amazon Web Services
If you’ve ever wondered why great companies can fail despite doing everything right, The Innovator’s Dilemma is required reading. Sarah Cooper from AWS says she’s "rereading" this classic because of its powerful framework for navigating disruption.
In today’s rapidly changing AI-driven work environment, she emphasizes the book’s relevance now more than ever. Cooper also mentioned Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, stressing the importance of empathy in a transforming workforce. As AI reshapes our roles, she believes leading with emotional awareness isn't just helpful—it's critical.
💡 Key Takeaway: Balancing innovation with empathy is the future of leadership.
2. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
👩💼 Recommended by: Jennifer Van Buskirk, Head of Business Operations at AT&T
AT&T’s Jennifer Van Buskirk calls herself “a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” and it shows in her leadership book choices. Extreme Ownership, authored by former Navy SEALs, is a manual on accountability, discipline, and decisiveness in high-stress environments—qualities she looks for in any potential team member.
She pairs this hard-hitting guide with Get Sht Done*, a punchy, quote-filled book on executional excellence that matches her intense, action-oriented mindset.
💡 Key Takeaway: True leaders don’t blame—their instinct is to own, act, and overcome.
3. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
👩💼 Recommended by: Raj Seshadri, Chief Commercial Payments Officer at Mastercard
Forget outdated leadership models built on dominance and authority. Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead offers a modern and human-centered approach. Mastercard’s Raj Seshadri explains that the book is about “leading with courage and vulnerability” and that trust is the ultimate leadership currency.
By encouraging leaders to create spaces where team members feel safe to take risks, Brown redefines what it means to be fearless.
💡 Key Takeaway: Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s the foundation of fearless leadership.
4. Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
👩💼 Recommended by: Michelle Peluso, CEO of Revlon
While many execs stick to traditional business literature, Michelle Peluso prefers biographies—especially those that reveal the humanity behind genius. Da Vinci’s relentless curiosity, combined with his artistic brilliance and scientific inquisitiveness, represents the kind of multidimensional thinking Peluso finds inspiring.
Her other favorite biographies include:
- Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Personal History by Katharine Graham
- Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
💡 Key Takeaway: The best leaders are also lifelong learners and excellent observers of human nature.
5. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
👩💼 Recommended by: Christina Shim, Chief Sustainability Officer at IBM
Introverts, rejoice. This one’s for you. IBM’s Christina Shim didn’t just read Quiet—she gave copies to her entire team. Shim sees tremendous value in understanding how introverts thrive in workspaces often designed for the loudest voices.
She also referenced The Geek Way by Andrew McAfee, a book that’s reshaping company culture at IBM with its four pillars: science, ownership, speed, and openness.
💡 Key Takeaway: Half your team may be introverts. Empower them, and you’ll unlock hidden superpowers.
6. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
👩💼 Recommended by: Noura Sakkijha, CEO of Mejuri
Building a business looks glamorous on Instagram, but real entrepreneurship is messy, chaotic, and often gut-wrenching. That’s why Mejuri’s Noura Sakkijha was deeply impacted by Ben Horowitz’s brutally honest book.
She appreciated Horowitz’s candidness about failure, grit, and the brutal reality of making impossible choices while keeping a company afloat. If you're a startup founder, consider this your unofficial survival guide.
💡 Key Takeaway: Leadership is not a straight line—and resilience is your most important asset.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Leadership Is a Reading Journey
One thing is clear from these insights: today’s most effective leaders are constantly learning, growing, and evolving—and books are one of their key tools. Whether you’re aiming to inspire a team, bounce back from setbacks, or just make smarter decisions, these six reads are powerful companions on your journey.
Start with one that speaks to your current challenges. As Jennifer Van Buskirk might say — don’t just read it. Live it.
📘 Which leadership book has changed your perspective? Share it in the comments below!
Recommended Reading List Recap:
- The Innovator’s Dilemma – Clayton M. Christensen
- Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
- Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
- Leonardo da Vinci – Walter Isaacson
- Quiet – Susan Cain
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
Ready to level up your leadership? Let these books guide the way.
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