What if the secret to becoming an effective CEO isn’t just about mastering business tactics but embracing a new kind of leadership mindset? Today’s CEOs face unprecedented challenges—from rapid technological change to evolving workforce expectations—that demand more than traditional playbooks.
Leaders like Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, and Bill Gates, former Microsoft CEO, have turned to a diverse collection of books that reflect this shifting landscape. For example, Ohanian finds practical guidance in The Great CEO Within, while Gates values the strategic insights of The Ride of a Lifetime. Meanwhile, Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook, highlights Play Nice But Win for its candid lessons on leadership transitions.
While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific leadership challenges, industry, or experience level might consider creating a personalized CEO book that builds on these insights, offering a customized path to growth.
Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why and a motivational speaker, highlights a shift in leadership styles, emphasizing emotional openness and curiosity over traditional bravado. He describes "There is a new breed of CEO taking over the business world. The blustery, chest-beating CEOs who act like they make no mistakes are being replaced by CEOs who talk about their feelings, lead with curiosity and are willing to work on themselves...and Steven Bartlett is leading the revolution!" This perspective reshaped how many leaders approach their roles today. Similarly, Scott Galloway, marketing professor at NYU Stern, praises the book for its surprising wisdom that inspires both personal and professional growth.
“There is a new breed of CEO taking over the business world. The blustery, chest-beating CEOs who act like they make no mistakes are being replaced by CEOs who talk about their feelings, lead with curiosity and are willing to work on themselves...and Steven Bartlett is leading the revolution! The Diary Of A CEO is an essential companion for any leader who wants to take themselves on and lead us into the next generation.”
Steven Bartlett is an entrepreneur, speaker, investor, author, and the host of the UK’s No.1 podcast The Diary of a CEO. He is an accomplished investor in health and wellness, with notable investments including Huel and Zoe. Known for his innovative approach to social media marketing, he co-founded Flight Story, a marketing company. He has also co-founded thirdweb, a software platform backed by Shopify and Coinbase. Steven launched his private equity fund, Flight Fund, to accelerate the next generation of European unicorns. He has spoken at the United Nations, SXSW, TEDx, and VTEX Day, and was included in Forbes’s 30 Under 30 list. His debut book, Happy Sexy Millionaire, made The Sunday Times bestseller list.
Drawing from his entrepreneurial journey and extensive podcast interviews, Steven Bartlett reveals core principles that underpin success in both business and life. The book teaches you how to harness psychological insights and behavioral science to unlock your potential, emphasizing self-awareness, resilience, and unconventional leadership methods. Chapters explore laws that challenge traditional power dynamics, such as embracing vulnerability and curiosity, making it suited for emerging leaders and entrepreneurs eager to redefine what it means to lead. This isn't a typical CEO manual but a reflective guide that encourages you to rethink success on your own terms.
Michael Smerconish, host on SiriusXM and CNN, knows the demands CEOs face daily, which is why his spotlight on Indra Nooyi's memoir is telling. He shared, "@IndraNooyi joins me in 10min @SXMPOTUS @SIRIUSXM to discuss her fantastic new book MY LIFE IN FULL," highlighting the book's relevance for leadership insights. Nooyi’s candid reflections on steering PepsiCo through transformation while juggling family commitments clearly resonated with him. Alongside, Alok Kejriwal, CEO and entrepreneur, praised the book for revealing the true sacrifices top leaders make, emphasizing its value for anyone aspiring to lead at the highest level.
Indra K. Nooyi served as CEO and chairman of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2019. Her prescient strategic thinking, insight into consumer behavior, and wisdom on managing a vast, global workforce make her one of the world’s most sought-after advisors to entrepreneurs, executives, and governments. She is also revered as a role model for women and immigrants, and celebrated for her empowering messages on inclusivity. At PepsiCo, she was the chief architect of Performance with Purpose, the company’s mission to deliver sustained growth by making more nutritious products, limiting the company’s environmental footprint, and empowering its associates and people in the communities it serves. She has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, the U.S. State Department’s award for Outstanding American by Choice, and 15 honorary degrees. She is married to Raj Nooyi and has two daughters, Preetha and Tara.
When Indra Nooyi first realized the immense challenge of balancing a high-stakes corporate role with family life, she penned a memoir that goes beyond typical CEO biographies. Drawing from her years as PepsiCo's CEO, she offers insight into strategic leadership, navigating corporate resistance, and pioneering healthier product lines while managing a demanding personal life. Chapters detailing her early education in India and rise through global business provide a textured understanding of resilience and vision. If you aim to grasp what leadership at the highest level entails alongside personal sacrifice, this book offers unvarnished clarity.
This AI-powered book on leadership prioritization develops a systematic approach with frameworks that adjust to your specific industry and leadership challenges. Created after you specify your areas of interest and background, it offers actionable strategies to streamline your priorities and decision-making processes. The content bridges theoretical leadership principles with practical methods tailored to your CEO role, helping you focus on what matters most for impactful outcomes.
TailoredRead AI creates personalized nonfiction books that adapt to your unique background, goals, and interests. Instead of reading generic content, you get a custom book written specifically for your profession, experience level, and learning objectives. Whether you're a beginner looking for fundamentals or an expert seeking advanced insights, TailoredRead crafts a book that speaks directly to you. Learn more.
2025·50-300 pages·CEO, Leadership Prioritization, Decision Making, Time Management, Delegation Techniques
This tailored leadership playbook offers CEOs a focused framework to prioritize critical leadership domains effectively. It provides a systematic approach to identifying and aligning core priorities with organizational goals, integrating decision-making strategies and time management methodologies specifically suited for executive roles. The personalized framework cuts through irrelevant advice by addressing nuanced challenges relevant to your industry, company size, and leadership style. It emphasizes actionable tactics to streamline workflows, delegate effectively, and maintain strategic focus under pressure. By honing in on essential leadership responsibilities, the book fosters clarity and impact, enabling leaders to cultivate sustained organizational performance tailored to their unique context and objectives.
Marshall Goldsmith, an executive coach and professor known for helping CEOs improve leadership impact, recommends this book for its research-backed insights. After witnessing the slow pace of gender equity in leadership, he found "Insightful and backed by relevant research, In Her Own Voice provides the tools for everyone to become an advocate and champion for women in business today." This perspective reshaped how he views leadership development in organizations. Similarly, Maggie Wilderotter, former CEO and board member, highlights the book’s practical advice and inspiring stories that resonate with both senior leaders and aspiring women executives.
“Insightful and backed by relevant research, In Her Own Voice provides the tools for everyone to become an advocate and champion for women in business today.”
Jennifer McCollum is CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, where she oversees the strategic direction and global operations of the premier leadership development firm. With a mission to “change the face of leadership,” Linkage has dedicated more than 35 years to advancing women and accelerating inclusion in organizations. Jennifer is also a keynote speaker, consultant, and author, with more than 20 years of experience building and growing businesses in the leadership space. Her expertise includes the state of women in the workforce; how to close the gender equity gap; how to develop effective, inclusive leaders; and how to demystify inclusion for leaders and organizations.
Unlike most leadership books that emphasize general executive skills, Jennifer McCollum focuses squarely on the unique challenges women face ascending to CEO roles. Drawing on 25 years of research and her experience as CEO of Linkage, she identifies key hurdles like combating internal doubts and external biases, while offering concrete strategies such as building confidence and negotiating effectively. The book provides detailed insights into overcoming these obstacles with chapters dedicated to silencing your inner critic and gaining clarity on your leadership path. If you’re a woman aiming for top leadership or an organization committed to gender equity, this book offers a data-backed framework and inspiring stories to help you navigate that climb.
Morgan Housel, an investor and financial writer at Collab Fund, highlights the full value of this book beyond its opening chapter, calling it a compelling business read rather than a typical business book. His recommendation carries weight for CEOs seeking nuanced perspectives. The book’s lessons on leadership, risk, and culture clearly resonated with him. Similarly, Brené Brown, a researcher and storyteller, praises the book’s storytelling and leadership insights, describing it as "leadership gold" rich with unforgettable stories and lessons. Together, their endorsements reveal how Robert Iger’s memoir offers practical wisdom for leading complex organizations with creativity and courage.
“Lots of people said read this book by Robert Iger for the first chapter (which is very good), but I thought the whole book was interesting. Fits Michael Batnick's definition of a book about business vs. a business book.” (from X)
Robert Iger is the CEO of The Walt Disney Company and directs the company’s creative endeavors. He served as CEO from 2005 to 2020 and as executive chairman from 2020 to 2022. Iger began his career at ABC in 1974, overseeing the broadcast television network and guiding the merger between Capital Cities/ABC and The Walt Disney Company. He expanded Disney’s presence internationally, establishing the blueprint for the company’s growth. In 2023, he was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year.
When Robert Iger first realized that leadership is about balancing innovation with core values, he crafted this memoir to share his journey at Disney. You learn how he navigated tough decisions, prioritized quality over short-term gains, and embraced technology to transform Disney into a global powerhouse. The chapters detailing acquisitions like Pixar and Marvel offer concrete insights into strategic risk-taking and brand stewardship. If you're aiming to lead large organizations or manage creative teams under pressure, this book gives a grounded perspective on sustaining growth and fostering respect in complex environments.
Steven Sinofsky, a board partner at Andreessen Horowitz with deep experience advising tech leaders, discovered this book during his reflections on leadership in evolving companies. He highlighted how Michael Dell reveals his inner struggles and growth in a way that goes beyond typical business stories, calling it "much more 'inside his head' and at times 'emotional' about his journey, and reflective." Sinofsky notes that Dell stands out as one of the last PC-era founders still steering the company, offering a rare, authentic perspective on leadership transitions. Alongside him, Parik Patel Ba CFA ACCA Esq., an investor and analyst, found the book so engaging he "couldn’t put it down," underscoring its appeal beyond just tech insiders.
“2/ Michael's first book (Direct from Dell) is a great story of the nuts and bolts of Dell. Definitely an important book. This book is much more "inside his head" and at times "emotional" about his journey, and reflective. Also Michael is the "last" PC era founder still CEO!” (from X)
Michael Dell is chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies, an innovator and technology leader providing the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important information. Michael is an honorary member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum and is an executive committee member of the International Business Council. In 1999, he and his wife, Susan Dell, established the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
When Michael Dell first realized the challenges of evolving from a founder to an effective leader, he set out to share his journey in this candid memoir. You gain insight into three pivotal battles that defined Dell Technologies: launching the company from a dorm room, defending it amid fierce industry shifts, and transforming it into a lasting enterprise. The book goes beyond just business wins; it highlights leadership lessons about resilience, strategic thinking, and balancing humanity with fierce competition. If you're navigating leadership transitions or seeking perspective on growing a tech company through volatile markets, this book offers a grounded, personal account rather than abstract theories.
This AI-powered book on crisis leadership develops a systematic approach with frameworks that adapt to your specific industry and organizational challenges. The content adjusts based on your leadership experience and goals to address the nuanced difficulties faced when navigating economic downturns. It provides tailored strategies for risk assessment, communication, and operational scaling, focusing on practical applications to stabilize and grow your business during turbulent market conditions. Created after you specify your areas of interest and expertise, it bridges the gap between broad principles and your unique leadership context.
TailoredRead AI creates personalized nonfiction books that adapt to your unique background, goals, and interests. Instead of reading generic content, you get a custom book written specifically for your profession, experience level, and learning objectives. Whether you're a beginner looking for fundamentals or an expert seeking advanced insights, TailoredRead crafts a book that speaks directly to you. Learn more.
This personalized book provides a tailored framework for CEOs aiming to lead organizations through economic and market crises. It explores adaptive leadership methodologies and crisis management strategies customized to your industry and organizational scale, enabling targeted decision-making in turbulent environments. The book addresses risk assessment models, communication frameworks, and resilience-building tactics, all calibrated to fit your specific operational context and strategic goals. It offers a disciplined approach to scaling businesses under pressure, cutting through generic advice to focus on actionable, situation-specific interventions that enhance stability and growth.
St is a product builder known for creating things people want, and his recommendation carries weight in startup circles. He pointedly shared, "@rossyg92 @patrick_oshag @InvestLikeBest his book is also amazing," signaling strong endorsement from his experience shaping high-growth ventures. His appreciation reflects how Frank Slootman's approach to leadership intensity and urgency resonates with those building fast-moving companies. Meanwhile, Tren Griffin, with a background in private equity and Microsoft, values the book for its insights on operational excellence, noting how it sharpens understanding of top operators. Together, these voices frame the book as a meaningful guide for leaders aiming to amplify growth and execution.
Frank Slootman is the CEO of Snowflake, a leading cloud-based data platform, and has a proven track record in driving enterprise growth. He previously led Data Domain and ServiceNow to significant public market success. With extensive experience in scaling organizations, Slootman shares his insights on leadership and growth strategies in his book, providing practical advice for executives and entrepreneurs.
The breakthrough moment came when Frank Slootman rethought how leadership impacts hypergrowth. Drawing from his tenure leading Snowflake, ServiceNow, and Data Domain to market-topping success, he challenges the common complacency in executive leadership by emphasizing raising expectations, urgency, and intensity. You’ll gain a rigorous framework for aligning teams around clear priorities and executing with relentless focus—no restructuring or costly hires needed. For example, in chapters detailing daily operational discipline, Slootman illustrates how intensity can unlock performance without changing the business model. This book suits executives and founders ready to push beyond status quo growth by transforming leadership mindset and company culture.
Trey Taylor is the managing director of trinity | blue, a consultancy providing executive coaching and strategic planning for C-Suite leaders. His diverse background spans technology, financial services, venture capital, and real estate development, informing his practical approach. Taylor wrote this book to help CEOs break free from overwhelming workloads by focusing on what truly matters: culture, people, and numbers. His experience speaking at major conferences like the Human Capital Institute and Ascend Conference further underscores his expertise in guiding executives toward sustainable leadership.
Trey Taylor is the managing director of trinity | blue, a consultancy designed to provide executive coaching and strategic planning to C-Suite leaders. His experience derives from fields as diverse as technology, financial services, venture capital, and commercial real estate development. Frequently featured as a keynote speaker, he has addressed attendees at the Human Capital Institute, the Ascend Conference, and many other engagements. You can find out more about Taylor's consulting work at trinity-blue.com.
Unlike most CEO guides that overwhelm with endless tasks, Trey Taylor's book cuts through the noise by focusing on just three core aspects: culture, people, and numbers. Drawing from over two decades of experience consulting with top-tier companies, Taylor offers a clear framework to help you identify where your energy should go to avoid burnout. You'll learn how to craft a company culture that aligns with your vision, hire individuals who embody the right mindset, and lead teams toward measurable results. This book suits CEOs at any stage who want to simplify their role and amplify impact without getting bogged down in minutiae.
Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google and Executive Chairman of Alphabet, appreciates this book for its rare view into leadership and innovation. Reflecting on Schwarzman's journey from a family linen store in Philadelphia to global influence, Schmidt notes, "Steve Schwarzman has made towering contributions to finance, relations between the U.S. and China, and computing, including a seminal investment in AI research that will help establish the age of intelligence." This long-term perspective reshaped Schmidt's understanding of strategic leverage across multiple fields. Additionally, Norman Ornstein, a respected scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, highlights the book's relevance to American political dynamics, recommending it as essential reading for insights into figures like Biden.
“From his start as an entrepreneur working in his family’s linen store in 1950s Philadelphia, Steve Schwarzman has made towering contributions to finance, relations between the U.S. and China, and computing, including a seminal investment in AI research that will help establish the age of intelligence. Steve always takes the long view and then helps move us in the direction that will pay the greatest dividends. This book reveals how he has achieved the rarest kind of leverage in multiple fields.”
Stephen A. Schwarzman is Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment firms. Mr. Schwarzman is an active philanthropist with a history of supporting education, culture, and the arts, among other areas. Mr. Schwarzman holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He lives in New York City with his wife and three dogs.
When Stephen A. Schwarzman first realized the importance of building an organizational culture centered on disciplined risk management and relentless pursuit of excellence, he transformed a modest $400,000 investment into Blackstone, a global financial powerhouse. This book takes you through his journey from folding handkerchiefs in his father's linen shop to founding one of the world’s leading asset management firms, offering insights into deal making, leadership, and philanthropy. You'll learn how strategic talent hiring, rigorous analysis, and long-term vision underpin sustained success, with chapters detailing Blackstone's investment processes and Schwarzman's efforts to impact education and international relations. If you're aiming to understand how visionary leadership can scale organizations and influence global systems, this book is a straightforward account that balances personal narrative with practical lessons.
Ryan Hoover, founder of Product Hunt, recommended this book during his journey navigating startup scaling. He noted, "Matt's book, The Great CEO Within, is free on Google Docs: It's well worth the read. Very concise and actionable." Hoover's endorsement matters because as a founder, he’s had to master practical leadership rapidly. This book helped him grasp key systems without the overhead of trial and error. Similarly, Naval Ravikant, co-founder of AngelList, emphasized the book's clarity in defining the exact path for founders to scale their companies effectively, reinforcing its practical value.
by Matt Mochary, Alex Maccaw, Misha Talavera··You?
About the Author
Matt Mochary, a former founder, CEO, and investor, coaches Silicon Valley tech CEOs and heads of tech investment firms. He shares insights from his extensive experience in leadership and organization building. Additionally, he is a filmmaker and the founder of the Mochary Foundation, which helps ex-convicts learn job skills and gain employment.
Matt Mochary, a former founder and investor deeply embedded in Silicon Valley's tech ecosystem, leverages his extensive CEO coaching experience to distill how to scale startups into robust companies. You get precise frameworks to implement accountability systems, improve problem-solving, and cultivate transparent feedback loops—tools critical for anyone leading a fast-growing company. For example, the book dedicates chapters to creating effective meeting rhythms and building leadership teams that can handle rapid change. If you're a CEO or manager needing a practical manual to navigate the messiness of scaling, this guide lays out what training you don't have time to figure out on your own.
Richard Branson, founder and CEO of Virgin Group, considers his endorsement vital because he’s built a business empire valuing innovation and social impact. After reflecting on how traditional business often neglects its deeper purpose, he found "Trailblazer is an urgent and compelling book for anyone in business who yearns to fulfill a higher mission in the world. Marc’s powerful and poignant stories of leadership remind each of us what we can achieve when we abandon 'business as usual' and make our values the driving force of our work." This book reshaped Branson’s view on leadership by emphasizing values as the core of success. Similarly, Billie Jean King, founder of the BJKL Initiative, praises its focus on trust and inclusion, noting how it lays out a model for a culture where all voices matter.
“Trailblazer is an urgent and compelling book for anyone in business who yearns to fulfill a higher mission in the world. Marc’s powerful and poignant stories of leadership remind each of us what we can achieve when we abandon 'business as usual' and make our values the driving force of our work.”
Marc Benioff is chairman, co-CEO, and founder of Salesforce and a pioneer of cloud computing. Benioff was named the Decade’s Top Innovator by Forbes, one of the World’s Greatest Leaders by Fortune, and one of the 10 Best-Performing CEOs by Harvard Business Review. He has won numerous awards for his leadership on equality. A Fortune 500 company with more than 45,000 employees, Salesforce has been recognized as the Most Innovative Company by Forbes and the Best Place to Work and 15th Most Admired Company in the World by Fortune. Upon founding Salesforce, Benioff created the 1-1-1 model of philanthropy, giving one percent of the company’s equity and product and employees’ time back to communities around the world. Today, more than 8,500 companies have adopted the 1-1-1 model through the Pledge 1% movement.
2019·272 pages·CEO, Salesforce, Leadership, Business, Company Culture
What if everything you knew about leadership was wrong? Marc Benioff, drawing from his experience as founder and co-CEO of Salesforce, argues that embedding core values like trust, innovation, and equality into your company's DNA is not just ethical but a strategic advantage. You’ll discover how these principles can transform company culture and drive sustainable growth, illustrated through candid stories from Salesforce’s rise. This book suits anyone leading an organization or aspiring to influence through purpose-driven leadership, especially when navigating complex business landscapes. It’s less about traditional management tactics and more about cultivating an inspired workforce aligned with meaningful impact.
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Conclusion
Together, these 10 CEO books reveal a spectrum of leadership approaches—from the introspective and values-driven to the fiercely strategic and growth-oriented. Whether you’re navigating work-life balance like Indra Nooyi in My Life in Full, or leading hypergrowth as Frank Slootman explains in Amp It Up, the lessons here can guide you through complex decisions.
If you’re facing the challenge of scaling your company, pairing The Great CEO Within with A CEO Only Does Three Things can help sharpen your focus on what truly moves the needle. For those seeking to redefine corporate culture, Trailblazer offers a compelling vision of leadership with soul.
Once you’ve absorbed these expert insights, create a personalized CEO book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation, accelerating your leadership journey with targeted strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?
Start with The Diary of a CEO for a fresh leadership perspective or The Great CEO Within if you want practical startup scaling advice. Both offer accessible entry points into CEO thinking.
Are these books too advanced for someone new to CEO?
Not at all. Books like A CEO Only Does Three Things simplify leadership focus, making them suitable for new CEOs, while memoirs provide relatable personal journeys.
What's the best order to read these books?
Begin with leadership mindset books like The Diary of a CEO, then explore strategic and operational guides such as Amp It Up and The Great CEO Within for growth and execution.
Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?
You can pick based on your needs—founders may prefer Play Nice But Win, while those focused on culture might choose Trailblazer. Each book targets different leadership facets.
Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?
The Great CEO Within offers concrete frameworks for company building, and Amp It Up delivers clear strategies to raise team performance immediately.
How can personalized CEO books complement these expert recommendations?
Personalized CEO books tailor insights from these experts to your unique role, industry, and goals, saving time and boosting relevance. Explore creating your own CEO book to get focused guidance.
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