26 essential book recommendations by and for IT leaders
Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity
By Frank Slootman
Barr Moses, CEO and co-founder at Monte Carlo, recommends Amp It Up by Frank Slootman.
“Frank Slootman, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Snowflake, shares his playbook for building a successful company,” says Moses, “having led Snowflake to the biggest software IPO ever. In his first book, he pulls no punches about the importance of speed and focus when leading a hypergrowth organization, as well as setting a high bar for the rest of your team. As co-founder and CEO of my own category-creating company in the data space, I found Slootman’s tactical advice and insightful perspective on what it takes to reach unprecedented scale to be a goldmine. 10/10; would — and often do — read again.”
On technology and innovation
Co-Intelligence
By Ethan Mollick
Looking for a quick read to help you explain AI to the people in your life who don’t live and breathe it? Gaurav Banga, CEO and founder of Balbix, recommends Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick. In the book, Mollick encourages readers to engage with AI as a coworker and offers real examples of AI in action.
“Mollick has wonderful insights on AI as a collaborator, partner, and agent,” says Banga. “He shares highly tangible examples he uses with his students at Wharton. I highly recommend sharing with a parent who might be trying to understand how gen AI will fit in, or with a child who might want to think about the best ways to apply it to their education.”
The Coming Wave
By Mustafa Suleyman
Several people recommendedThe Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman. “There are many books on the topic of AI, but there are three main things that I like about this book,” says Ken Englund, media and telecommunications leader at EY Americas Technology.
“First, Mustafa Suleyman founded Deep Mind and later sold it to Google. He and his co-founders were literally at the early commercial explosion of neural networks, which is the foundational architecture behind today’s generative AI wave,” Englund explains. “Secondly, while I consider him balanced and optimistic on humanity, he does place an extremely critical eye on Big Tech.”
Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leader’s Guide to Solving Hard Problems
By Frances Frei
When Facebook made “move fast and break things” an informal motto, the idea took off. And things got broken. If you prefer to build a great company, help people, and solve hard problems, Beth Scagnoli, vice president of product management at Redpoint Global, recommends reading Move Fast and Fix Things by Frances Frei.
“The premise is to be able to solve hard — and important — problems quickly while emphasizing companywide trust and empathy,” Scagnoli says. “In the tech space, especially where stakes are high for getting ahead of the pack, the book’s focus on radical candor and prioritization, as well as inclusivity across an organization resonated with me, especially in terms of using storytelling to communicate the ‘why’ when working across silos in a company.”
Age of Invisible Machines: A Practical Guide to Creating a Hyperautomated Ecosystem of Intelligent Digital Workers
By Robb Wilson
Sherry Comes, former CTO at IBM Watson and current managing director of conversational AI at PwC, thinks you need to read Age of Invisible Machines by Robb Wilson. This thorough roadmap for negotiating the future of digital automation is written by the founder and chief technologist at OneReach.ai and the owner of UX Magazine.
“This is the technology book every business and technology leader needs to read,” says Comes. “With each chapter, I found myself agreeing more and more. This made my ‘must-read’ list for anyone who cares about technology.”
The Industries of the Future
By Alec Ross
Duck Creek’s Vaidyanathan also recommends Alec Ross’ The Industries of the Future. Ross was Senior Advisor for Innovation to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and traveled the world, visiting startup hubs and R&D labs, to uncover the latest advances that are emerging from every corner of the globe. In the book, he examines robotics, AI, cybercrime, genomics, big data, and more.
“It covers the different aspects of what will drive global transformation and how these will cause progress or failure,” says Vaidyanathan. “Ross also looks at how the global economic future will be shaped and the trends that will drive the way we live.”
For building culture and motivation
What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture
By Ben Horowitz
Andrey Ivashin, CIO at Dyninno, recommends What You Do Is Who You Are by Ben Horowitz because it “shows the importance of company culture and the role of leadership.” Horowitz is a venture capitalist and management expert who uses history and modern organizational practice to offer advice on culture building.
“It offers helpful suggestions and examples of what does and doesn’t work in terms of creating a strong company culture,” says Ivashin. “I think it’s more significant that the author examines how leaders may foster a healthy work atmosphere and inspire people to perform at their highest level throughout the book.”
Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow
By Manuel Pais and Matt Skelton
“CTOs and CIOs who work for organizations that are struggling to deliver value sustainably will greatly benefit from reading Team Topologies,” says Peter Kreslins Jr., CTO and co-founder of Digibee. This step-by-step guide to designing a high-functioning organization helps you understand four team types and interaction patterns and helps you to type and build it.
“It gives the fundamental patterns for achieving fast flow,” he says. “By defining team types, their fundamental interactions, and the science behind them, you learn how to better model your organizations according to these definitions. This book is mind-bending because it translates the complex theories behind the socio-technical aspects of software development and delivery into a set of easy-to-understand patterns. It also gives a set of streamlined steps to get started.”
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
By Daniel H. Pink
Ivashin also thinks IT leaders will enjoy Daniel H. Pink’s Drive. Pink is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books about work, creativity, and behavior and his books have sold millions of copies around the world.
“This book explores what truly motivates people, based on scientific research from psychology, economics, and neuroscience,” says Ivashin. “Pink points out that conventional motivational techniques, such as rewards and punishments, are less successful than we assume and might even be counterproductive. It shows that the three key motivation factors are autonomy, mastery, and purpose.”
Do/Disrupt: Change the Status Quo. Or Become It
By Mark Shayler
SymphonyAI’s Bragg also recommends Mark Shayler’s Do/Disrupt: Change the Status Quo. Or Become It. This advice book offers tips — as well as quotes from some of history’s most famous innovators — on how to be strategic and bold as you take your own path toward transforming your ideas into reality.
“It is a fun and straight to the point guide or sketchbook,” he says. “It’s suitable for all seeking a brave new way.”
For better process
The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
By Eliyahu M. Goldratt
Dyninno’s Ivashin also recommends Eliyahu M. Goldratt’s The Goal, a treatise on modern economic theory, packaged as a novel.
“It is a well-known book and a classic of business literature,” says Ivashin. “And because it is written like a novel, it is accessible and engaging. It offers helpful techniques and solutions for resolving typical corporate issues like bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and poor communication. The lessons you learn from the characters in the book can be applied to any business and it highlights the necessity for businesses to continuously enhance their processes to remain successful and competitive.”
Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations
By Dr. Nicole Forsgren, PhD, Gene Kim, and Jez Humble
Rajesh Jethwa, CTO of Digiterre, suggests Accelerate by Dr. Nicole Forsgren, PhD, Gene Kim, and Jez Humble, a book that examines, through extensive research, ways that technology can drive business value.
“Backed by considerable research,” says Jethwa, “the book provides data-driven insights and practical guidance on how to improve technology delivery capabilities and foster a culture of continuous improvement to build high-performing teams.”
Bonus: Novels that entertain and teach
In another nod to Gene Kim, Digibee’s Kreslins Jr. also recommends two books by the founder and former CTO of Tripwire.
The Unicorn Project: A Novel About Developers, Digital Disruption, and Thriving in the Age of Data tells the story of Maxine, a senior lead developer, as she tries to survive in a heartless bureaucracy overrun with paperwork and committees.
In The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win(IT Revolution Press, 2013), Bill — an IT manager — takes over a critical project that’s over budget and behind schedule. The CEO demands that Bill deliver the project in 90 days.
“Both books talk about modern ways of delivering software,” says Kreslins Jr. “They touch the core of the issues that prevent organizations from delivering value without obstacles — generating a sense of purpose, meaning, and pride for everyone working on it. The great thing about both of these books is that they are novels that tell the story from the point of view of people struggling with their day-to-day jobs, as they are hindered by bureaucracy, unnecessary processes, and overall team dysfunction. The Phoenix Project, in particular, shed light on the DevOps movement that later became widely adopted in organizations.”
