"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.""
"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."
"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."
Six executives from Big Tech, financial firms, and style brands named books that shaped their leadership approaches. Sarah Cooper (AWS) rereads Clayton Christensen's The Innovator's Dilemma and values Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence for its emphasis on emotional awareness and empathy as AI reshapes work. Jennifer Van Buskirk (AT&T) seeks candidates who take risks and cites Extreme Ownership and Get Sh*t Done to reinforce ownership and execution. The recommendations mix management classics with soft-skill titles that emphasize decisive action, strategic innovation, emotional awareness, and practical execution in modern leadership.
Read at Business Insider
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