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The pace of work often limits time for enriching perspectives through impactful books. The holiday season, for some, offers a chance for leaders to decompress while expanding global business intelligence.
Our team works to stay on top of world affairs and industry trends in part by reading new releases and some of the “classics.” We compiled our top recommendations to pick up this holiday season for sharpening your international IQ across the fields of economics, technology, communications, negotiations, and leadership.
1. No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram (Sarah Frier)
Bloomberg tech journalist Frier deconstructs the rise of Instagram from startup to one of the world’s most influential social platforms. It reveals major lessons around product innovation, company culture, partnerships and responding to hypergrowth.
Takeaway: The pulls and pitfalls facing tech startups aspiring to rapidly scale new digital products to global user bases.
2. The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business (Erin Meyer)
Professor Erin Meyer provides a field guide for navigating eight critical cultural dimensions that shape assumptions and preferences in areas like communication, feedback, decision-making and trust-building across different parts of the world. By mapping these invisible boundaries, readers can adapt behavior and style to bridge cross-cultural gaps hindering operations or deals abroad.
Takeaway: This framework decodes how deep cultural differences manifest day-to-day in workplace environments and business relationships globally, empowering more harmonious collaboration.
3. Hot Seat: Hard Won Lessons in Challenging Times (Jeff Immelt)
In his leadership memoir “Hot Seat”, Jeff Immelt recounts his 16 years at the helm of iconic American conglomerate GE, navigating major historical events and internal company challenges, along with sharing key lessons learned. Immelt provides an inside look at the difficulties of stepping into Jack Welch’s “hot seat” as CEO against the tumultuous backdrop of 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and rapidly evolving technological disruption.
Takeaway: Authentic and transparent leadership matters most in times of crisis and change.
4. World Wise (Lanie Denslow)
In her book “World Wise”, author (and our friend and colleague) Lanie Denslow draws on decades of experience working across 95 countries to reveal the keys to decoding cultural complexity and leading effectively in today’s global business landscape through story-telling and actionable frameworks. Denslow offers tangible advice for overcoming cross-border collaboration barriers, avoiding cultural blunders, and progressing inclusive working styles adapted to local contexts.
Takeaway: Cultural fluency empowers leaders to unite global teams, accelerate international growth, and make a positive impact worldwide.
5. The Algorithmic Leader: How to Be Smart When Machines Are Smarter Than You (Mike Walsh)
Futurist Mike Walsh examines how artificial intelligence and automation are transforming leadership requirements in the 21st century, providing frameworks and advice for executives to become “algorithmic leaders” by re-imagining their cognitive capabilities, company culture, and decision-making in partnership with AI. Walsh blends thought-provoking ideas with practical steps so leaders can harness innovation for competitive advantage rather than fall victim to disruption.
Takeaway: Leading in the age of AI calls for embracing machine collaboration over human vs. machine tribalism to drive progress.
Let us know if any really resonated with your experience scaling businesses internationally! We wish you both rest and intellectual rejuvenation this holiday season.
