Goldman Sachs Leaders Share 2025 Learning Resources

Ten senior leaders at Goldman Sachs have shared the books, articles, and podcasts that shaped their thinking in 2025. The recommendations cover a wide range of topics, from artificial intelligence and global economics to personal resilience and leadership development.

CEO David Solomon and Co-CEO Anthony Gutman were among the executives who shared their selections. The list includes a mix of memoirs, policy analysis, and technology insights. The resources reflect how the firm's leadership stays informed on market trends and personal growth strategies.

The recommendations highlight themes of adaptation, innovation, and human potential. Each leader identified specific works that provided valuable insights for their professional roles and personal development throughout the year.

David Solomon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, recommended an article by Marco Argenti, the firm's Chief Information Officer. The article, titled "How to Thrive in the AI Era of Work," was published in Time magazine in October.

Argenti examines the future of work through the lens of human judgment, purpose, and wisdom fueling collaboration with technology in the new hybrid workforce. He advises professionals to think like managers, get creative, stay curious and current, be systems thinkers, and make AI their competitive edge.

Solomon noted that Argenti's insights help determine how the firm should deploy AI technology and how clients should approach embracing it. The article addresses how to thrive in an era where artificial intelligence transforms traditional work structures.

Several leaders focused on books about personal growth and leadership. Anthony Gutman, Co-CEO of Goldman Sachs International and global co-head of investment banking, selected "All That Matters" by Chris Hoy.

The memoir details Sir Chris Hoy's remarkable career winning six Olympic gold medals and translates lessons from cycling into challenges following his recent Stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis. Hoy develops a mindset focused on being present, dedicating time to family, and understanding how to make every moment count.

Jacqueline Arthur, Global Head of Human Capital Management, chose "Hidden Potential" by Adam Grant. The book explores stories of an under-resourced chess team that beat elite private schools and a UFC heavyweight who became champion despite starting training later than peers.

Grant argues that career trajectories are shaped less by raw talent and pedigree and more by character skills such as growth mindset, comfort with discomfort, resiliency, and determination. Arthur emphasized that these traits are often underdeveloped rather than hidden, placing responsibility on leaders to create environments that foster growth.

Nicole Pullen Ross, Region Head of the Northeast Private Wealth Management business, selected "Matriarch" by Tina Knowles. The book offers parallels between Knowles' approach to raising high-achieving children and the demands of leading teams and navigating male-dominated spaces.

Policy and economic analysis featured prominently in the recommendations. Kunal Shah, Co-CEO of Goldman Sachs International and global co-head of FICC, selected "Abundance" by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.

The book, recommended by one of Europe's top policy makers, is written from a center-left perspective but critical of progressive governance failures. It examines projects across the United States, arguing that excessive regulation and process have become obstacles to growth and affordability.

Kevin Sneader, President of Asia Pacific Ex-Japan, chose "Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future" by Dan Wang. The book paints a picture of China as an engineering state relentlessly pursuing megaprojects.

Sneader noted the visible outcomes in Shenzhen's skyline, describing it as a city of the future that contrasts sharply with the barren fields and broken infrastructure that existed when he first moved there 30 years ago.

Mahesh Saireddy, Global Co-head of the Capital Solutions Group within Global Banking & Markets, selected Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk. The book illustrates how science fiction worlds fueled Musk's obsession with multiplanetary life, AI, and bold engineering.

Historical resilience and modern technology trends also shaped the leaders' thinking. Matt Gibson, Head of the Client Solutions Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, selected "Unbroken: A WWII Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand.

The book tells the story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic runner and military pilot who survived 47 days at sea after his plane crashed in the Pacific, followed by years as a prisoner of war. Gibson described it as demonstrating the strength of the human spirit and an individual's ability to prevail through worst circumstances.

Ling Pong, Head of the North Asia region for Private Wealth Management, recommended the podcast "In Good Company" with Nicolai Tangen. The podcast features conversations with exceptional operators about capital, leadership, and strategy at scale.

Specific episodes with Stanley Druckenmiller, CATL founder Robin Zeng, and Trip.com's Jane Sun stood out. Pong highlighted how Sun articulated leadership through standing alongside her people, cutting her own salary to zero during the pandemic, and balancing work with being a present mother.

Brittany Boals Moeller, Region Head of Private Wealth Management in San Francisco, identified "20VC," "The a16z Show," and "No Priors" as essential listening. These podcasts provide insights on technological advancements and market trends that impact client strategies and wealth management.