7 Top Executives Share Books That Shaped Their Leadership

As the new year unfolds, many professionals are seeking inspiration to elevate their leadership capabilities. A curated selection from seven top executives reveals the literary works that have fundamentally shaped their management philosophies and decision-making processes.

From tech giants to retail innovators, these leaders have turned to books that address both the analytical and emotional dimensions of modern leadership. Their choices reflect a growing recognition that effective management requires more than just technical expertise—it demands emotional intelligence, courage, and resilience.

The following insights offer a roadmap for anyone looking to transform their leadership style in 2026, featuring recommendations that span disruptive innovation, team dynamics, and personal well-being.

Sarah Cooper, Director of AI Native at Amazon Web Services, returns to foundational texts that address technological disruption.

Cooper is currently rereading Clayton Christensen's The Innovator's Dilemma, a seminal work that provides guiding principles for capitalizing on disruptive innovation. The book's lessons resonate deeply in today's rapidly evolving workforce, where AI is reshaping traditional business models.

I truly believe that the way we work could change dramatically.

She also champions Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, which examines why IQ alone doesn't guarantee success. Cooper emphasizes that leading with empathy has become especially critical as artificial intelligence transforms employment landscapes.

Meanwhile, Christina Shim, IBM's Chief Sustainability Officer, points to The Geek Way by Andrew McAfee as a company-wide inspiration. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna is actively building a culture around the book's four core pillars: science, ownership, speed, and openness.

Shim also values Susan Cain's Quiet for its exploration of introversion in an extroverted world. Recognizing that introverts often comprise half of any team, she purchased copies for her entire staff to foster better collaboration.

For executives who thrive on intensity, military-inspired leadership books offer powerful frameworks for accountability and execution.

Jennifer Van Buskirk, AT&T's Head of Business Operations, describes herself as "a bit of an adrenaline junkie" and actively seeks risk-takers during interviews. Her book choices reflect this high-energy approach.

She recommends Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, which teaches people to take full ownership and see initiatives through to completion. The book's military discipline translates effectively to corporate environments.

• Take complete ownership of outcomes
• See projects through to completion
• Apply military discipline to business challenges

Van Buskirk also values Get Sh*t Done by Lauris Liberts, a collection of motivational quotes that she received from a former startup's CIO. The book's direct, no-nonsense approach aligns perfectly with her leadership style.

Modern leadership increasingly values emotional authenticity over traditional command-and-control models.

Raj Seshadri, Mastercard's Chief Commercial Payments Officer, highlights Brené Brown's Dare to Lead as a transformative influence. The book argues that great leaders are defined by their ability to build trust and lead with empathy, not merely by their titles.

It provides practical tools for creating brave cultures where people feel safe to take risks and innovate.

The focus on courage and vulnerability represents a significant shift from conventional leadership paradigms, emphasizing psychological safety as a prerequisite for innovation.

Michelle Peluso, CEO of Revlon, takes a different approach by gravitating toward biographies rather than traditional business books. She believes biographies offer a more human-centered perspective on leadership challenges.

Her favorites include Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Personal History by Katharine Graham, Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson, and Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

Building a business rarely follows a linear path, and several executives turned to books that address the messy realities of entrepreneurship.

Noura Sakkijha, CEO of jewelry brand Mejuri, found lasting value in Ben Horowitz's The Hard Thing About Hard Things. The book helped her understand that business building is inherently non-linear, countering the sanitized success stories often presented in media.

Horowitz, who co-founded Andreessen Horowitz, offers practical advice drawn from his own challenging experiences. His unvarnished account of building a business provides a stark contrast to narratives that make the process appear effortless.

It was really helpful to read his story, how they built the business, the challenges they went through, and the persistence.

On a different front, Jay Graber, Bluesky CEO, addresses the critical issue of burnout. She identifies burnout as a "very real risk" for professionals who work extensively without adequate recovery time.

Graber recommends Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagasoki and Amelia Nagasoki. The book discusses physical recalibration, completing the stress cycle, and reconnecting with what gives you energy.

• Physically recalibrate after intense work periods
• Complete the stress cycle to prevent buildup
• Reconnect with activities that energize you

She emphasizes that wearing multiple hats often means doing tasks that don't bring energy, making it crucial to find time for work that reconnects you to your passion. Graber personally manages stress through running, dancing, and even sword fighting.

If you're sitting at a desk all day, you kind of stay frozen in place, and the stress builds up. So being able to get that out in some expressive, active, or creative form is really helpful.

The diverse reading lists from these seven executives reveal that effective leadership requires a multifaceted approach. Whether addressing technological disruption, building team trust, or managing personal well-being, each book offers specific tools for different leadership challenges.

What unites these recommendations is their focus on human-centered leadership. From military precision to vulnerability, from biographical inspiration to burnout prevention, these leaders demonstrate that the best management practices blend analytical rigor with emotional awareness.

For professionals setting leadership resolutions in 2026, this collection provides a comprehensive reading list that addresses both the practical and psychological dimensions of guiding teams through an increasingly complex business landscape.