5 must-read books: Be inspired by stories of great leaders

1. Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella

The man at the helm of Microsoft tells his story – from childhood in Hyderabad, India to studying in the US
and then joining Microsoft in the early-90s.

This book promises insight into the company’s continuing transformation, with a dose of inspiring call to action, told in conjunction with Satya’s own story.

2. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

The story of how global megabrand Nike came to be is not so well known. In Shoe Dog, Nike’s founder and board chairman, Phil Knight, tells his tale of starting out selling shoes from his car in the 60s all the way to today, when annual Nike sales top US$30 billion.

Read this book to learn of the risks, the setbacks and the close calls, as well as the triumphs.

3. Eyes Wide Open by Isaac Lidsky

Born with a rare disease that meant he gradually lost his vision, Isaac Lidsky was completely blind by age 25. The former Saved by the Bell star’s story tells of his many successes, despite the odds.

Isaac graduated from Harvard, was a Supreme Court law clerk, founded a multi-million-dollar tech company, is a father of four and is now CEO of a US$150-million construction company.

4. Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark

Meet the man behind e-commerce empire Alibaba, Jack Ma, and learn how this ex-English teacher went on to found, build and grow one of the world’s largest companies.

This book is a compelling and inspiring insight into Jack’s life and incredible success.

5. The Airbnb Story by Leigh Gallagher

Less than a decade ago Airbnb burst onto the scene, going on to disrupt the hotel industry with its unique sharing-economy model. Valued at US$30 billion, it has not only changed the way we travel, but has made a few enemies along the way.

This book gives insight into the rise of Airbnb and offers a character study of co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, while also revealing how the company got to where it is today and what lies ahead.