Dr. Julie Pham is quoted in the “The State of Motivation Report 2026.” It draws data from Attuned users around the world, providing a unique snapshot of how global motivational trends change from year to year, revealing what’s top of the agenda for employees right now, uncovering the issues transforming the modern workplace, and showing how motivational needs vary across generations and genders.
On Elsplend Realities podcast, host ELO Oghenevwede Splendour sits down with Dr. Julie Pham to explore how curiosity can deepen respect and connection. Julie shares reflections on:
Rethinking respect across identities and experiences
How humility and self-awareness shape better collaboration
Why small shifts in perspective can change how we relate to others
A thoughtful listen for anyone navigating difference with more intention.
What if connection isn’t about impressing others—but inviting them in as you are? On What’s in Your Neighborhood? podcast featuring Dr. Julie Pham, host Melanie Vargas sits down with Julie, for a deeply personal conversation on identity, belonging, and shifting from scarcity to abundance.
Julie shares reflections on:
Letting go of comparison and “not enough” thinking
Redefining what it means to host, connect, and belong
Why honest, imperfect connection is often what people remember most
A thoughtful listen for anyone rethinking what “enough” looks like.
What if the way you communicate at work isn’t code-switching — it’s strategic leadership? In the latest episode of Thriving in Intersectionality podcast, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Julie Pham for a conversation that will shift how you think about identity, belonging, and what it means to lead.
Julie reframes code-switching not as assimilation, but as intentional communication. She introduces her 7 Forms of Respect® framework — a powerful reminder that respect isn’t one-size-fits-all. How it’s expressed, given, and received is deeply shaped by culture, lived experience, and personal history.
They also explore:
The difference between refugee and immigrant experiences — and why it matters in the workplace
“Push and pull” migration factors and how they show up in professional identity
Why success should be defined by how it feels, not just how it look
Managing energy (not just time) as a leadership practice
The power of asking for help as a career growth strategy
This episode is a masterclass in seeing the whole person behind the professional — and building workplaces where more people can thrive.
Most leaders think they’re being respectful. But intention and impact are not the same thing. Dr. Julie Pham joined Dr. Lola Adeyemo on a recent episode of Workplaces That Work podcast to dig into one of the most misunderstood dynamics in professional life: What respect actually looks like at work, and why so many teams get it wrong.
The core problem? Without a shared understanding of respect, even well-meaning leaders can create friction, erode trust, and leave team members feeling unseen — all without realizing it.
In this conversation, Julie and Dr. Lola explore:
How misaligned expectations quietly create tension on teams
The role of curiosity in stronger leadership and team dynamics
Why good intentions don’t guarantee good impact
Practical ways to build shared understanding across diverse teams
If you lead people — or work alongside them — this episode will challenge how you think about respect and how you practice it every day.
How many decisions did you make today based on an assumption you never stopped to question? Dr. Julie Pham joined the Born Without a Choice podcast for a conversation that gets at something most of us don’t like to admit — that our quick judgments, unchecked assumptions, and lack of curiosity quietly shape how we lead, how we listen, and how we treat the people around us.
This episode is an invitation to slow down.
Julie brings her signature lens to the conversation — including insights from the 7 Forms of Respect® — exploring how understanding before reacting can fundamentally change the quality of our relationships and decisions at work and beyond.
If you’ve ever been misread, misunderstood, or caught yourself doing the same to someone else — this one is worth your time.
On a recent Lifting Leaders podcast Gems episode featuring Dr. Julie Pham, the hosts Tricia Rhine and Kristal Roberts revisit insights from their conversation with Julie about her book, “The 7 Forms of Respect®.”
After taking the 7 Forms Respect Assessment themselves, they reflect on:
Why respect can look wildly different across teams and cultures
How co-creating team norms builds stronger trust and belonging
The small shifts leaders can make to create healthier communication and culture
A thoughtful listen for leaders who want to lead with more awareness, clarity, and intention.
In Episode 58 of Everything’s Not Black & White podcast, featuring Dr. Julie Pham, Julie sits down with hosts Lachandra Baker and Brian J Baker to explore what it actually takes to hold space for multiple truths. This is not as a philosophical exercise, but as a daily leadership practice.
She shares her Rubber Band Rule: Yes, stretch toward others, extend your respect, bridge the gap. But know where your limit is. Snapping doesn’t serve anyone.
She talks about the power of the pause, that small, deliberate moment between receiving something hard and choosing how to respond to it. And why that pause might be the most underrated leadership skill there is.
And she gets personal about her family’s story as Vietnamese refugees, about the history that didn’t make it into the textbooks, and about why leading with curiosity isn’t soft. It’s the hardest thing most of us will ever practice.
If you’ve ever navigated a room where people were holding very different versions of the same truth, this episode was made for you.
Most conflicts about respect aren’t really about respect. They’re about different assumptions of what respect looks like.
On the ManKind podcast featuring Dr. Julie Pham, host Boysen Hodgson to explores why people can agree on how respect feels while having completely different ideas about what respectful behavior should be.
In this conversation, Julie shares: • How culture, family, and life experiences shape our expectations • Why curiosity is often the missing ingredient in difficult conversations
Whether at work, at home, or in our communities, many conflicts become easier to navigate when we get curious about what respect means to others.
Since last fall, I’ve been focused on conducting research for my next book which will focus on respect in friendships. It’s one thing to write a book. It’s another thing to market and sell one.
While I’m proud that the sales from 7 Forms of Respect® are in the top 10% of self-published books, I dream this next book will reach many more people. I want total strangers across the country to approach respect with curiosity in everyday conversations. I envision the book being on people’s shelves and coffee tables. I hope it will lead to opportunities to grow CuriosityBased’s business and brand. And sometimes that dream seems so elusive, I wonder if it will ever happen.
Everything we’ve achieved to sell and market the 7 Forms of Respect® thus far has been through word of mouth, earned media, and consistent content creation. I recognize that to get to the next level, I’m going to have to get an agent and a traditional publisher who can distribute my book widely.
Last month, I was sharing my desire for higher distribution with another writer friend. He tried to soothe me by saying, “As long as you’re trying your hardest.” His words made me realize, “I don’t think I am trying my hardest. I don’t actually think I’m doing the things that make me uncomfortable, that risk rejection. I could be asking for a lot more help.”
This is where you come in. I have to strengthen my “platform” to prove to potential agents there’s an existing market for my work on which they can build.
So, I am asking you for help in three simple ways:
I want to grow newsletter subscribers by 20% by the end of summer. Could you please recommend to a few people to subscribe to this newsletter?
If you read the book, 7 Forms of Respect®, please review it on GoodReads and/ or Amazon. We have 95 reviews across both platforms and I’d like to get to 200 by the end of the summer.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook and like or share our content.
Phew. There, I did it. I asked you for help.
Since that conversation with my friend, I’ve risked rejection daily by directly asking people if I can add them to my newsletter subscriber list. Fortunately, everyone has said, “Yes.”
Are you struggling to ask me for help with something because it feels like you risk rejection? If so, please tell me about it, or ask away. I’d love to hear from you.
Julie’s father, Kim Pham, standing third from the right with his friends and supporters of their family newspaper, Nguoi Viet Tay Nac (Northwest Vietnamese News), circa 1988.
Did you observe the kinds of friendships that your parents, or whomever raised you, had while you were growing up? What did you learn from them about how to treat your own friends? My next book will focus on respect in friendships. As part of my research, I ask people these questions.
While some say their caregivers explicitly taught them how to treat their friends, most say they learned through observations. There was a mix of positive and negative models of friendship. Some said their parents didn’t have friends and, as a result, they themselves didn’t learn how to form friendships until well into adulthood. Many say they had never thought about their parents’ friendships before.
I hadn’t made the connection between my parents’ friendships and my own until I asked myself these questions. As the co-founders of the local Vietnamese newspaper, they were very involved in our immediate Vietnamese community. The line between personal and professional was thin. Many of my parents’ friends were entrepreneurs. Even the doctors and lawyers owned their own practices that served others in our refugee community. Being a friend meant supporting each other’s businesses. My brothers and I were always reminded when we went to a shop or a restaurant that it was owned by someone who advertised in the newspaper.
My parents taught me that friendship means helping each other out with whatever resources we have. This may include giving advice, making key introductions and referrals, and whenever possible, being customers. Many of my friends today are other entrepreneurs, creatives, founders, or have leadership roles at their organizations. We talk about work in the same way others talk about their hobbies or vacations. When it comes to other friends who don’t want to talk about work outside of work, I try to show respect by asking about their families and hobbies. Still, I like to be asked about CuriosityBased because my work is a core part of who I am.
What did you learn about friendship from those who raised you? How is that showing up in your expectations of respect in your own friendships now?
I’d love to hear from you. If you’re interested in having a one on one interview or participating in a focus group, please let me know.
#33: Curiosity in Musical Theater with Ariel Gomez-Bradler
#33: Curiosity in Musical Theater with Ariel Gomez-Bradler
In Curiosity at Work podcast episode 33: Curiosity in Musical Theater with Ariel Gomez-Bradler, Julie speaks with Ariel who is the Managing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre, about curiosity in musical theater and the arts.
Theater is more than what happens on stage. It is production teams, designers, technicians, administrators, musicians, and countless behind-the-scenes roles working together to create something ephemeral and unforgettable.
In this conversation, they explore:
• How curiosity fuels creativity in theater production • The many roles that bring a live performance to life • The financial and operational challenges facing theaters post-pandemic • Why supporting local theaters strengthens the entire community • How family influences can spark a lifelong practice of curiosity
One line that captures the spirit of the episode: “Curiosity is built into our practice.”
Live theater asks us to be present. It invites us into shared stories. It depends on local talent and community support.
When we support the arts, we are investing in connection, creativity, and community vitality.
Check out Episode 33 of Curiosity at Work and go behind the scenes to explore how curiosity shapes musical theater leadership.
What if prosperity isn’t about having more — but having more freedom?
On the Plunge into Prosperity podcast hosted by Brandi Kolosky, Julie shares her journey from arriving in the U.S. as a Vietnamese refugee to earning a PhD at Cambridge, running her family’s newspaper through the Great Recession, and founding CuriosityBased during the pandemic.
In this conversation, they explore: • Why freedom is her definition of prosperity • How curiosity evolved from gathering knowledge to a daily practice • How the 7 Forms of Respect® can strengthen relationships at work and beyond
This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, and building a life aligned with your values. It is thought-provoking on many deep levels and not to be missed.
I often get asked about the different ways that different cultures define respect. While I can share examples from lived experience, they are anecdotal. The 7 Forms of Respect® as a framework is ultimately about having curiosity around what respect means to you and others, so I avoid making any universal claims about how certain cultures define respect.
After having read Erin Meyer’s The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business, I now have a book recommendation for those who want to understand how culture shows up in our interactions. Meyer shows how cultural differences exist along “eight scales that map the worlds’ cultures.” These scales are: communicating, evaluating, persuading, leading, deciding, trusting, disagreeing, and scheduling.
In the “communicating” scale, the two extremes are “low-context” and “high context,” which Meyers describes as:
Low-context: Good communication is precise, simple, and clear. Messages are expressed and understood at face value. Repetition is appreciated if it helps clarify the communication.
High-context: Good communication is sophisticated, nuanced, and layered. Messages are both spoken and read between the lines. Messages are often implied but not plainly expressed.
Meyers points out that the US has the lowest-context culture in the world, followed by Australia and Canada. The highest-context country is Japan, followed by Indonesia and Korea.
Whether a country is low context or high context is influenced by its history, population, and geography. The US is only a few hundred years old, geographically very expansive, and made up of immigrants from around the world. Low-context culture helps people communicate across such diversity. Japan is a largely homogenous, small island country with thousands of years of history.
Low context culture prefers written documentation and visualizations to reinforce information communicated verbally. High context cultures assume shared understanding and deep listening, so someone from a high context culture may react to a written recap of a conversation by thinking, “Why are you writing this out? Do you not trust that I can remember?” If you’re interacting with someone from a high context culture, you have to listen much more carefully for what is not said.
While my parents grew up in a high context culture (Vietnam), I realize my approach to communication is very low-context, a reflection of my American childhood.
Where does your communication style fall on the spectrum of low to high context? I’d love to hear from you.
#32: Curiosity in Life Enrichment with Monika Mathews
32: Curiosity in Life Enrichment with Monika Mathews
Curiosity at Work podcast episode 32: Curiosity in Life Enrichment with Monika Mathews, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Monika, CEO and founder of Queen Care and Life Enrichment Group. They discuss the importance of curiosity in entrepreneurship, the evolution of Queen Care from a nonprofit initiative, and the challenges of leading a diverse workforce. Monica shares her journey of personal growth and the significance of self-care in sustaining her business. The conversation highlights the generational differences in work ethic and the need for curiosity in understanding and bridging these gaps.
Takeaways
Curiosity is a driving force in entrepreneurship.
Failure can lead to valuable insights and growth.
Queen Care originated from a nonprofit initiative focused on youth empowerment.
Effective leadership requires letting go and trusting your team.
Understanding generational differences is crucial for workplace harmony.
Self-care is essential for long-term sustainability in business.
Curiosity fosters personal and professional development.
Mentorship plays a vital role in nurturing curiosity. -The wellness industry faces unique challenges that require innovative solutions.
Investing in young people can lead to a more engaged workforce.
More Curiosity at Work podcast episodes can be found here: https://curiositybased.com/category/curiosity-at-work-podcast/ or at https://curiositybased.com/
n honor of Pride Month, CuriosityBased curated this 2026 LGBTQIA+ Authored Leadership Book List of books written by authors that identify as LGBTQIA+. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement. The books are listed in alphabetical order by book title. Check out all of the CuriosityBased curated leadership book lists.
A Burst of Light: and Other Essays — Audre Lorde
A Place for Us: A Memoir — Brandon J. Wolf
A Queer History of the United States — Michael Bronski
A Year of Pride and Joy — Simon James Green
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto — George M. Johnson
All Down Darkness Wide: A Memoir — Sean Hewitt
All In: An Autobiography — Billie Jean King
All Pride, No Ego — Jim Fielding
All The Things She Said — Daisy Jones
Allies at Work — Dr. David M. Hall
Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion — Michael Bach
An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk’s Speeches and Writings — Harvey Milk
And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir — Joan Baez
And Now We Are Going to Have a Party — Nicola Griffith
Another Word for Love — Carvell Wallace
Authentic Leadership — Lemuel W. Watson & Joshua Moon Johnson
Bad Feminist — Roxanne Gay
Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life — Alan Cumming
Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life — Alan Cumming and Dey Street Books
Banned from California — Robert C. Steele
Be a Revolution — Ijeoma Oluo
Beautiful on the Outside: A Memoir — Adam Rippon
Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender — Dr. Kit Heyam
Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization — Rhodes Perry
Beyond The Rainbow — Jenn T. Grace
Binge — Tyler Oakley
Black Boy Out of Time — Hari Ziyad
Blood, Bones & Butter — Gabrielle Hamilton
Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation — Robyn Henderson-Espinoza
Borderlands / La Frontera: The New Mestiza — Gloria Anzaldúa
In Curiosity at Work podcast episode 31: Curiosity in County IT with Viggo Forde, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Viggo Forde, the Chief Information Officer for Snohomish County. They discuss the role of curiosity in the IT sector, particularly within government operations. Viggo shares his experiences from the private sector to public service, emphasizing the importance of fostering curiosity among employees, the evolution of IT in government, and how innovation funds can support agile projects. They also touch on the impact of AI on job roles and the personal challenges of maintaining curiosity in a busy work environment.
Takeaways
Maintaining an open mindset is key to practicing curiosity.
Curiosity is essential for personal and professional growth.
Leadership should encourage asking questions and exploring new areas.
Information management is crucial for effective government operations.
The pace of decision-making in government differs from the private sector.
AI should be viewed as a tool for enhancing productivity, not replacing jobs.
Training and development opportunities foster a culture of curiosity.
Innovation funds can help implement new ideas without lengthy planning cycles.
Collaboration with external partners can enhance project outcomes.
Personal hobbies can spark curiosity and creativity outside of work.
In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month, CuriosityBased curated this 2026 AANHPI Authored Leadership Book List of books written by AANHPI authors. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement. The books are listed in alphabetical order by book title.Check out all of the CuriosityBased curated leadership book lists.
13 Key Strategies to Make Money Fast in Business by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
7 Forms of Respect: A Guide to Transforming Your Communication by Julie Pham, PhD
A Living Remedy: A Memoir by Nicole Chung
A Principled Stand: The Story of Hirabayashi v. United States by Gordon K. Hirabayashi
Acitivites of Daily Living by Lisa Chen
Actions Speak Louder: A Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming an Inclusive Workplace by Deanna Singh
Adventures of the Karaoke King by Harold Taw
All in by Jerry Yang
All of Us or None: Migrant Organizing in an Era of Deportation and Dispossession by Monisha Das Gupta
All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung
Ambitious Women Rise by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States by Erika Lee
An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan
Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work by *Aiko Bethea*
Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian In a Mountain Place by Neema Avashia
Art of Gathering, The: How We Meet and Why it Matters by Priya Parker
Art of Stillness, The: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer
Art of Strategy, The: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success by Avinash K. Dixit
Art of the Start 2.0, The by Guy Kawasaki
Asian American Achievement Paradox, The by Jennifer Lee, Min Zhou
Asian American Histories of the United States by Catherine Ceniza Choy
Asian Women Trailblazers Who BossUp by Tam Luc, et al.
AugmentAsian: Professional & Leadership Success by AsianUpward & Elevate Teams
Authentic Inclusion: Drives Disruptive Innovation by Frances West
Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance by Suneel Gupta
Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee by Sharon Lee
Be Your Own Cheerleader: An Asian and South Asian Woman’s Guide by Neelu Kaur
Behind Closed Doors, Career Decisions: What HR Executives Know About Career Decisions That Nobody Will Tell you (The Career Reality Series Book 4) by Ringo Nishioka
Behind Closed Doors, Hiring Decisions: What the Room Knows About Hiring Decisions That Nobody Will Tell You by Ringo Nishioka
Behind Closed Doors, Interview Questions: What Recruiters Know About Interview Questions That Nobody Will Tell You by Ringo Nishioka
Behind Closed Doors, Resumes: How Resumes are Judged Before Anyone Speaks to You (The Career Reality Series Book 1) by Ringo Nishioka
Behind Deep Blue: Building the Computer that Defeated the World Champion by Feng-Hsiung Hsu
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist by Lori Matsukawa
Bengali Harlem and the Lost Histories of South Asian America by Vivek Bald
Best We Could Do, The by Thi Bui
Beyond Happiness: How Authentic Leaders Prioritize Purpose and People by Jenn Lim
Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self by Alex Tizon
Big We, The by Hali Lee
Bitter Fruit: The Politics of Korean-Black Conflict in New York City by Claire Jean Kim
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim
Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen
Boldly You: A Story about Discovering What You’re Capable of When You Show Up for Yourself by Janet Phan
Boundaries by Maya Lin
Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians by Jane Hyun
Bridging the Confidence Gap: How Empowered Women Change the World by Sheena Yap Chan
Brotherhood: Dharma, Destiny, and the American Dream by Deepak Chopra & Sanjiv Chopra
Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang
Budding Lotus in the West by Nhi Yến Đỗ Trần
Caste Matters by Suraj Yengde
Checklist Manifesto, The: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
Color of Success, The: Asian Americans and the Origins of the Model Minority by Ellen D. Wu
Come into My Office: Stories from an HR Leader in Silicon Valley by Mai Ton
Conversations that Change Everything by Dr. Zachary Van Rossum and Dr. Tammy Wang
Cooked Seed, The: A Memoir by Anchee Min
Courage: The Backbone of Leadership by Gus Lee, Diane Elliott-Lee
Creating Culture: Empowered Leadership for Systems Change by Jyoti Jani
Creating the Digital Future: Secrets of Consistent Innovation at Intel by Albert Y.c. Yu
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
Dat: Tackling Life and the NFL by Dat Nguyen
Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice by Ali Wong
Death of Truth, The: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump by Michiko Kakutani
Decoding the World: A Roadmap for the Questioner by Arvind Gupta and Po Bronson
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Diversity Advantage, The: Fixing Gender Inequality In The Workplace by Ruchika Tulshyan
Eat a Peach: A Memoir by David Chang
Edge: Turning Adversity Into Advantage by Laura Huang
Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan by Ruby Lal
Enduring Conviction: Fred Korematsu and His Quest for Justice by Lorraine K. Bannai
Energize: Make the Most of Every Moment by Simon Alexander Ong
Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness by Richard Lui
Every Day Is a Gift by Tammy Duckworth
Falling Back in Love With Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls by Kai Cheng Thom
Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry
Fault Lines: A Memoir by Meena Alexander
FEISTY: Dangerously Amazing Women Using Their Voices by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
Fierce and Fearless: Patsy Takemoto Mink by Judy Tzu-Chun Wu & Gwendolyn Mink
Finding the Edge: My Life on the Ice by Karen Chen
Fixing Fairness: 4 Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All by Lily Zheng
Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir by Eddie Huang
Glue: How Project Leaders Create Cohesive Teams by Anh Dao Pham
Go Back to Where You Came From by Wajahat Ali
Good Talk by Mira Jacob
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Growing Up Asian in Black and White America by Julia Lee
Growing Up Brown: Memoirs of a Filipino American by Peter M. Jamero
Hawaii’s Story by Liliuokalani
Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm by Kazu Haga
Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter’s Story by Mazie K. Hirono
Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul by Satya Nadella
Holding Serve: Persevering on and Off the Court by Michael Chang
House Barbie: A Memoir by Geena Rocero
House of Sticks: A Memoir by Ly Tran
How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life by Jeanie Y. Chang, LMFT
How to Raise a Feminist Son by Sonora Jha
How to Speak Machine by John Maeda
Hyderabad Days: The code we lived by before we coded by Ravi Vedula
I Love a Broad Margin to My Life by Maxine Hong Kingston
I Love Yous Are for White People: A Memoir by Lac Su
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For: Now What? by Dr. Sweta Chawla
I’ll Love You Forever: Notes from a K-Pop Fan by Giaae Kwon
I’m the One That I Want by Margaret Cho
If Lin Can: How Jeremy Lin Inspired Asian Americans by Richard Ho, et al.
Impressive First Impressions by Vu H. Pham
In Sensorium: Notes for My People by Tanaïs
Inclusion on Purpose by Ruchika Tulshyan
Innovation Starts With I: Increase Your Influence. Ignite Your Impact. by Saleema Vellani
Inspiring Women of Hawaii by Loretta Chen
Invitation to Lead: Guidance for Emerging Asian American Leaders by Paul Tokunaga
It Is Done: 15 Secrets to Manifest Your Dream Life by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
It Rhymes With Takei by George Takei by George Takei
It Takes Moxie by Maureen Francisco
It’s Always Sunny Above the Clouds: Getting into the Cockpit by Nick Tran
Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong by Dawn B. Mabalon, PhD, Gayle Romasanta
Joyful Living: Find Joy in the Journey by Lien Ngu
Karma of Success, The: Spiritual Strategies to Free Your Inner Genius by Liz Tran
Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias, The by Anne Chow
Leadership and Crisis by Bobby Jindal
Leadership Toolkit for Asians by Jane Hyun
Legal Heroes in the Trump Era by Tahmina Watson
Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee by Daryl Joji Maeda
Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster by Jim Kwik
Lions and Tigers and Bears: The Internet Strikes Back by George Takei
Living for Change by Grace Boggs
Local by Jessica Machado Born
Loneliest Americans, The by Jay Caspian Kang
Love for Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim
Love Your Asian Body: AIDS Activism in Los Angeles by Eric C. Wat
Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir by Padma Lakshmi
Ma and Me by Putsata Reang
Madame Wu Chien-shiung: The First Lady Of Physics Research by Tsai-chien Chiang
Magical Language of Others, The: A Memoir by E.J. Koh
Making a Scene by Constance Wu
Making of a Manager, The: What to Do When Everyone Looks At You by Julie Zhuo
Making of Asian America, The: A History by Erika Lee
Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong
Mid-Career Momentum: Design Your Next Phase with Purpose and Joy. by Sharmin Banu
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo by Jo Koy
Modern Asian Mom: A Memoir by Juliet Dang
Money Makers: Build A Business WITHOUT Paid Ads by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
Monsoon Diaries, The: A Memoir by Calvin D. Sun
Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story by Ava Chin
Moving Beyond Boxes: The Journey to Self-Discovery by Dr. Nhu Truong
Muslim Women Are Everything: Stereotype-Shattering Stories by Seema Yasmin and Fahmida Azim
My Forty Years as a Diplomat by Feng-Shan Ho
My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi
My Life: Growing up Asian in America by CAPE and SuChin Pak
My Money My Way: Taking Back Control of Your Financial Life by Kumiko Love
My Unforgotten Seattle by Ron Chew
Myth of the Model Minority, The by Rosalinda Chou and Joe Feagin
Naturally Tan by Tan France
Next American Revolution, The by Grace Lee Boggs
Nisei Radicals: The Feminist Poetics and Transformative Ministry by Diane C. Fujino
Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, & Feeling Guilty by Dr. Aziz Gazipura
Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami
Oh My Mother! A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang
Oh Myyy!: There Goes the Internet by George Takei
Out of the Gobi: My Story of China and America by Weijian Shan
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work by Reshma Saujani
Perfect Enough: How to be happier and more productive by Judy T. Dang
Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health by Jenny Wang
Postcolonial Leadership, A by Hee An Choi
Power of Unwavering Focus, The by Dandapani
Power Your Purpose: A Leader’s Guide by Shian Chuan
Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees by Akhtar Badshah
Racial Melancholia, Racial Dissociation by David Eng
Radical : Fighting to Put Students First by Michelle Rhee
Radical Curiosity by Priyanka Raha
Reflections of Seattle’s Chinese Americans: The First 100 Years by Ron Chew
Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change by Ellen Pao
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education, The by Honggang Yang, Wenying Xu
Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, Philip Wang
SAVING FIVE; A Memoir of Hope by Amanda Nguyen
Savor: A Chef’s Hunger for More by Fatima Ali
See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur
Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life by Scott Shigeoka
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, The by Deepak Chopra
She Made It Happen: 15 Inspiring Stories from Female Entrepreneurs by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
Sheer Determination: Swimming Upstream in a Downstream World by Kay Hirai
Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less by Alex Soojun-Kim Pang
Show Your Worth: 8 intentional Strategies by Shelmina Babai Abji
Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir by Phuc Tran
Silent Master, The: Awakening the Power Within by Tae Yun Kim
Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work by Jessica Chen
Soil of Leadership, The by Britt Yamamoto
Somewhere Inside by Laura Ling & Lisa Ling
Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir by Elizabeth Miki Brina
Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History by Margaret Juhae Lee
Stay True by Hua Hsu
Still life with Rice by Helie Lee
Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael Luo
Suitable Boy, A by Vikram Seth
Sun Shining on Morning Snow by Ingrid Hu Dah
Talk it Up! A Guide to Successful Public Speaking by Mr. David Suk Brown
Tao of Self-Confidence, The by Sheena Yap Chan
The Hyakusho Way: Japanese Wisdom for a Flourishing Life by Britt Yamamoto
They Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta’
Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu
Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, The by Haemin Sunim
This is Not a T-Shirt by Bobby Hundreds
This Is One Way to Dance: Essays by Sejal Shah
To The Stars: The Autobiography of George Takei by George Takei
Unassimilable: An Asian Diasporic Manifesto for the Twenty-First Century by Bianca Mabute-Louie
Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success by Ruchika T. Malhotra
Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind by Elaine Lin Hering
Unprecedented: The Masters and Me by Tiger Woods
Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone by Vanessa Priya Daniel
Unshrink Yourself: 12 Mini-Shifts to Ditch Self-Doubt and Own Your Life by Thanh Nguyen
Unspoken Rules, The: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right by Gorrick Ng
Unsung Hero: The Col. Young O. Kim Story by Woo Sung Han
Uplifted: Journeys of Abundance, Community, and Identity by Geena Chen
Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen by Jon M. Chu
Visibility Mindset, The by Bernice M. Chao & Jessalin Lam
Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change by Michelle Mijung Kim
War on Normal People, The by Andrew Yang
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu
What if Pigs Can Fly? by Van Lai-DuMone
What My Bones Know: A Memoir by Stephanie Foo
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
When Fish Fly by John Yokoyama
When Invisible Children Sing by Chi Cheng Huang
Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity by Soo Jin Lee
Where the Past Begins: Memory and Imagination by Amy Tan
Who We Are Becoming Matters by Norma Wong
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
With Schwarzkopf: Life Lessons of The Bear by Gus Lee
Woman On Top: The Art of Smashing Stereotypes by Loretta Chen
Woman Warrior, The by Maxine Hong Kingston
Women Who Lead by Dr. Izdihar Jamil
Working Well: How to Build a Happier, Healthier Workplace Through the Science of Attunement by Nidhi Tewari, MSW, LCSW
#30 Curiosity in Arts & Lecture with Rebecca Hoogs
#30 Curiosity in Arts & Lecture with Rebecca Hoogs
What does curiosity look like in arts leadership?
In the Curiosity at Work podcast episode #30 Curiosity in Arts & Lecture with Rebecca Hoogs, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Rebecca Hoogs, Executive Director of Seattle Arts & Lectures, about curiosity as a core leadership value.
Rebecca’s path through nonprofit management and poetry offers a powerful reminder: curiosity is not just a mindset. It is a practice.
In this conversation, Julie and Rebecca explore:
• Why listening and asking better questions are essential leadership skills • How curiosity shapes community and audience engagement • The tension between problem-solving and staying open • The role of moderation and active listening in public conversations • Why paying writers strengthens the local creative economy • How poetry and creative writing are rooted in curiosity
Leadership is not only about direction. It is about creating space for others to share their stories.
Rebecca reminds us how curiosity fuels arts leadership and helps leaders slow down, listen more deeply, and build stronger communities. What happens when you slow down?
What does curiosity look like inside a healthcare system?
In Episode 29 of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Curiosity in Healthcare IT with Bradd Busick, Dr. Julie Pham sits down with Bradd, Senior Vice President and CIO at MultiCare Health, to explore how curiosity shapes healthcare IT, patient care, and leadership during uncertainty.
From navigating COVID-19 to accelerating telehealth adoption, Bradd shares how technology is not just a support function — it’s part of the care team.
They discuss:
• Why psychological safety is essential for reporting failures • How a questioning mindset improves patient outcomes • The evolving role of the CIO in healthcare • Why investing in IT directly impacts care delivery
One of our favorite lines from the episode: “IT is part of the care team.”
Curiosity isn’t abstract. It changes how we lead, how we respond to uncertainty, and how we care for others.
We curated this list 2026 Women Authored Leadership Book List to promote women authored leadership books. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement and the books listed are in alphabetical order. Check out our other leadership book lists by authors who identify as LGBTQIA+, AANHPI, Native American, Black, and Hispanic/ Latino/ Latinx. View all of our leadership book lists here.
#KeepGoing: From 15-Year-Old Mom to Successful CEO & Entrepreneur – Mari Tautimes
#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women – Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale (eds)
[Un]framing the “Bad Woman” – Alicia Gaspar de Alba
10 New Rules for Women at Work – Deb Liu
101 Reasons to Get Out of Bed – Natasha Milne
12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader – Josefine Campbell
3HAG Way – Shannon Byrne Susko
50 Billion Dollar Boss – Kathey Porter
7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership – Kate Coleman
7 Forms of Respect – Julie Pham, PhD
A Body, Undone: Living On After Great Pain – Christina Crosby
A CEO for All Seasons – Carolyn Dewar
A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir – Jacinda Ardern
A Face for Picasso – Ariel Henley
A Good Cry, What we Learn from Tears and Laughter – Nikki Giovanni
A House of My Own: Stories From My Life – Sandra Cisneros
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground – Alicia Elliott
A Mythic Life: Learning to live our greater story – Jean Houston
A Passion for the Possible – Jean Houston
A Room of One’s Own – Virginia Woolf
A Writer’s Diary – Virginia Woolf
Abandon Me: Memoirs – Melissa Febos
Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader – Hermina Ibarra
Acting Up: Winning in Business and in Life – Janice Bryant Howroyd
After the Idea – Julia Austin
After the Rain – Alexandra Elle
Against White Feminism – Rafia Zakaria
Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism – Bell Hooks
All About Love – Bell Hooks
All In: An Autobiography – Billie Jean King
All It Takes Is a Goal – Jon Acuff
All That She Carried – Tiya Miles
All the Leader You Can Be – Suzanne Bates
Ally Leadership – Stephanie Chung
Almost a Woman – Esmeralda Santiago
America for Americans – Erika Lee
American Indian Stories – Zitkala-Sa
An Indian Among Los Indígenas – Ursula Pike
An Overachiever’s Guide to Breaking the Rules – Heather Whelpley
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness – Kay Redfield Jamison
Anchored, Aligned, Accountable – Aiko Bethea
And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir – Joan Baez
And Now We Are Going to Have a Party – Nicola Griffith
Annapurna: A woman’s place – Arlene Blum
AOC: The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes – Lynda Lopez
Apocalyptic Best Practices – Elisebeth VanderWeil
Are You Mad at Me? – Meg Josephson
As Long As Grass Grows – Dina Gilio-Whitaker
As We Have Always Done – Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Ask For It – Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever
ASL Saved My Life…Until it didn’t – Jenni Kleinman Berebitsky
Atlas of the Heart – Brene Brown
Audition – Katie Kitamura
Authenticity, Identity, and Being Yourself at Work – Susan David
#28 Curiosity in Community Action with Janice Deguchi
#28 Curiosity in Community Action with Janice Deguchi
In episode #28 of Curiosity at Work podcast: “Curiosity in Community Action with Janice Deguchi,” Dr. Julie Pham interviews Deguchi, executive director of Neighborhood House, a community action organization. They discuss the importance of curiosity in the social service sector, the structure and services of Neighborhood House, and the challenges of practicing curiosity as a leader.
Furthermore, Janice shares insights on the diverse workforce at Neighborhood House, the significance of culturally responsive behavioral health care, and the need for continuous learning in leadership roles.
Key takeaways include:
Curiosity is essential in the social service sector.
Community Action organizations are rooted in the civil rights movement.
Neighborhood House serves a diverse population from birth to end of life.
A significant portion of the workforce is involved in direct services.
Diversity in the workforce enhances community engagement.
Culturally responsive behavioral health care is crucial for immigrant communities.
Practicing curiosity can be challenging for leaders with busy schedules.
Slowing down can lead to better decision-making and understanding.
Peer support and thought partnership are vital for effective leadership.
Continuous learning through podcasts and peer interactions fuels curiosity.
We created this list to promote Black authored leadership books. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement and the books listed are in alphabetical order. Check out our other leadership book lists by authors who identify as LGBTQIA+, AANHPI, Native American, Women, and Hispanic/ Latino/ Latinx. View all of our leadership book lists here.
12 Notes: On Life and Creativity – Quincy Jones
50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership – Kathey Porter
9 Laws of Success: Attracting the Life, Love, Health & Success You Want! – Stormy Wellington
A Conscious Leadership Collective Volume I: Leading From Within: Ceasing and Desisting the Internal BS – Chantée L. Christian (editor)
A Good Cry, What we Learn from Tears and Laughter – Nikki Giovanni
A Lucky Man – Jamel Brinkley
A Promised Land – Barack Obama
A Seat at the C-Suite Table: Insights from the leadership Journeys of African American Executives – Chuck Wallington, PhD
A Way Out of No Way: A Memoir of Truth, Transformation, and the New American Story – Raphael Warnock
Acting Up: Winning in Business and in Life Using Down-Home Wisdom – Janice Bryant Howroyd
After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love – Alexandra Elle
Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism – Bell Hooks
Air Traffic: A Memoir of Ambition and Manhood in America – Gregory Pardlo
All About Love – Bell Hooks
All That She Carried – Tiya Miles
Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution – Elie Mystal
American Imam: From Pop Stardom to Prison Abolition – Taymullah Abdur-Rahman
Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work – Aiko Bethea
And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self – Common
Authentic: The Myth of Bringing Your Full Self to Work – Jodi-Ann Burey
Bad Feminist – Roxane Gay
Balancing Work and Life: The Nia Guide for Black Women – Sheryl Huggins & Cheryl Mayberry McKissack
Bamboozled: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams – Yvonne Orji
Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” – Zora Neale Hurston
Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World – Ijeoma Oluo
Beating the Odds: Eddie Brown’s Investing and Life Strategies – Eddie Brown
Becoming – Michelle Obama
Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid – Mikaila Ulmer
Believe Bigger: Discover the Path to Your Life Purpose – Marshawn Evans Daniels
Between the World and Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates
Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do – Jennifer Eberhardt
Black AF History: The Un-whitewashed Story of America – Michael Harriot
Black and White: The Way I See It – Richard Williams
Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies, and Resources for the African American Entrepreneur – Dante Lee
Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists – Leah Penniman
Black Entrepreneur Survival Guide: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful African American Entrepreneur – Dunneille D. Anderson
Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness – Randal Pinkett & Jeffrey Robinson
Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit – Mary-Frances Winters
Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires – Shomari Wills
Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider – Stacy Spikes
Black Futures – Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham
Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic, Rocking Our Truth – Beverly Bond
Black Power Inc.: The New Voices of Success – Cora Daniels
Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire – Carol Jenkins & Elizabeth Gardner Hines
Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District – Hannibal B. Johnson
Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism – Jenn M. Jackson, PhD
Black, White, and The Grey – Mashama Bailey & John O. Morisano
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking – Malcolm Gladwell
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood – Trevor Noah
Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman’s Playbook for Love and Success – Charreah Jackson
Bridges to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing – Erin Jones
Building Atlanta: How I Broke Through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire – Herman J. Russell
Burn the Blueprint: Reject the Lies, Embrace the In-Between, and Begin Again – Carlos Whittaker
Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel – Loretta Ross
CEO of My Soul: The Self-Love Journey of a Small Business Owner – Nic Cober Esquire
Chasing Youth Culture and Getting it Right: How Your Business Can Profit by Tapping Today’s Most Powerful Trendsetters and Tastemakers – Tina Wells
Climb: Taking Every Step with Conviction, Courage, and Calculated Risk to Achieve a Thriving Career and a Successful Life – Michelle Gadsden-Williams & Carolyn M. Brown
Colorization: One Hundred Years of Black Films in A White World – Wil Haygood
Constructing a Nervous System – Margo Jefferson
Conversations in Black: On Power, Politics, and Leadership – Ed Gordon
Crazy as Hell: The Best Little Guide to Black History – Hoke S. Glover & V. Efua Prince
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants – Malcolm Gladwell
Death of Innocence – Christopher Benson & Mamie Till-Mobley
Decoded – Jay-Z
DEI-ing: A Guide to Navigating the Gotdamn Mess They’ve Made of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Dr. Cheryl Ingram
Display of Power – Daymond John
Double Down: Bet on Yourself and Succeed on Your Own Terms – Antionette M. Clarke & Tricia Clarke-Stone
Driven by Intention: Own Your Purpose, Gain Power, and Pursue Your Passion as a Woman at Work – Michelle Gadsden-Williams
Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less – Tiffany Dufu
Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White – Kitt Shapiro
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower – Brittney Cooper
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds – adrienne maree brown
Everybody’s Got Something – Robin Roberts & Veronica Chambers
Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – And How You Can Too – Chris Hogan
Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success From a Wall Street Vet – Carla A. Harris
Feeding the Soul – Tabitha Brown
Finding Me: A Memoir – Viola Davis
Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward – Valerie Jarrett
Fire Shut Up in My Bones – Charles Blow
First Things First: Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game – Nadirah Simmons
From the Hood to the Holler: A Story of Separate Worlds, Shared Dreams, and the Fight for America’s Future – Charles Booker
FutureProofed: How to Navigate Disruptive Change, Find Calm in Chaos, and Succeed in Work & Life – Natalia Peart
Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole – Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche
Get the F Out Your Own Way: A Guide to Letting Go of the Sh*t that’s Holding You Back* – MJ Harris
Get Up And Get On It: A Black Entrepreneur’s Lessons on Creating Legacy and Wealth – Dana Frank
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic – Sonja Thomas & Lilly Workneh
Gracism: The Art of Inclusion – Dr. David A. Anderson
Green Power: The Successful Way of A.G. Gaston – A.G. Gaston
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law – Haben Girma
Heavy: An American Memoir – Kiese Laymon
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race – Margot Lee Shetterly
Hood Feminist: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot – Mikki Kendall
How Boards Work and How They Can Work Better in a Chaotic World – Dambisa Moyo
How to Be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi
How to Get Stupid White Men Out of Office: The Anti-Politics, Un-Boring Guide to Power – adrienne maree brown (eds)
How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir – Shayla Lawson
How to Succeed in Business Without Being White: Straight Talk on Making It in America – Earl G. Graves
How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community – Mia Birdsong
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body – Roxane Gay
I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free – Tabitha Brown
I Saw Death Coming: A History of Terror and Survival in the War Against Reconstruction – Kidada E. Williams
Ida B. Wells Marches for the Vote – Dinah Johnson
Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits – Emmanuel Acho
I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual – Luvvie Ajayi
I’m Not Yelling – Elizabeth Leiba
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – Austin Channing Brown
I’m That Girl – Jordan Chiles
Impolite Conversations: On Race, Politics, Sex, Money, and Religion – Cora Daniels & John L. Jackson Jr.
In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose – Alice Walker
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl – Harriet Jacobs
Inside Out: The Equity Leader’s Guide to Undoing Institutional Racism – Caprice D. Hollins
Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man’s Education Book – Mychal Denzel Smith
It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership – Colin Powell
It’s About Damn Time – Arlan Hamilton
It’s About Time: The Art of Choosing the Meaningful Over the Urgent – Valorie Burton
Just As I Am – Cicely Tyson
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption – Bryan Stevenson
Know What Makes Them Tick: How to Successfully Negotiate Almost Any Situation – Shonda Rhimes
Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change – Stacey Abrams
Leadership Unlocked: Harness the Power of Your Ambition – Jesse Rhodes
Leslie F*cking Jones: A Memoir – Leslie Jones
Let Love Rule – Lenny Kravitz
Life Coaching for Successful Women: Powerful Questions, Practical Answers – Valorie Burton
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina – Misty Copeland
Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women – Otegha Uwagba
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America – James Forman, Jr.
Love and Rage – Lama Rod Owens
Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear Based World – John Hope Bryant
Lovely One: A Memoir – Ketanji Brown Jackson
Lovesong: Becoming a Jew – Julius Lester
Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum – Antonia Hylton
Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative – Keke Palmer
Meaty: Essays – Samantha Irby
Men We Reaped – Jesmyn Ward
Mental Detox: The Power and Guidance to Implement Peace, Joy, Balance, and Financial Abundance in Your Life – Cheyenne Bryant
Miles: The Autobiography – Miles Davis
Miss Jessie’s: Creating a Successful Business From Scratch — Naturally – Miko Branch
Mom & Me & Mom – Maya Angelou
More Myself: A Journey – Alicia Keys
More than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) – Elaine Welteroth
More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work that Uncovers Your True Beauty – Erica Campbell
Mo’s Bows: A Young Person’s Guide to Start-up Success – Moziah Bridges & Tramica Morris
My Bondage and My Freedom – Frederick Douglass
My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies – Resmaa Menakem
My Life: Queen of the Court – Serena Williams
My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing & Hope – Karamo Brown
Nothing is Missing: A Memoir of Living Boldly – Nicole Walters
Nothing Personal – James Baldwin
Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction from Social Justice Movements – adrienne maree brown (eds)
Of Greed and Glory: In Pursuit of Freedom for All – Deborah G. Plant
On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope – DeRay Mckesson
On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life’s Great Labors – Brandi Sellerz-Jackson
Our Brave Foremothers: Celebrating 100 Black, Brown, Asian & Indigenous Women Who Changed the Course of History – Rozella Kennedy
Outliers: The Story of Success – Malcolm Gladwell
Own Your Phenomenal Self: A Guide on Character, Success, & Leadership – Rita P. Mitchell
Playing the Game Without a Coach: How Courage, Resilience and Forgiveness Helped One Man Seize the American Dream – Benjamin Raymond
Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes – Phoebe Robinson
Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good – adrienne maree brown
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler – Susana M. Morris
Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks – Crystal Wilkinson
Produced by Faith: Enjoy Real Success Without Losing Your True Self – DeVon Franklin
Professional Troublemaker: The Fear Fighter Manual – Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Purple Harvest: Planting Goals, Growing Truths – Dr. Rashonda Harris
Purpose Driven Leadership: Building and Fostering Effective Teams – Brigette Tasha Hyacinth
Quantum Leaps: 10 Steps to Help You Soar – Gloria Mayfield Banks
Queer Eye: Love Yourself, Love Your Life – Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, & Karamo Brown
Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation – Rev Angel Kyodo Williams
Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding – Ben Jealous & Trabian Shorters
Reimagine Equity: Leading Strategically to Fulfill the Promise of DEI – James Whitfield & Kristen Whitfield
Responsible Marketing – Lola Bakare
Revelations: The Autobiography of Alvin Ailey – Alvin Ailey & A. Peter Bailey
Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace – Minda Harts
Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life – Daymond John & Daniel Paisner
Self-Esteem is the New Black: How to become the confident woman you have always wanted to be! – Monique Mays
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself – Nedra Glover Tawwab
Singing Away the Hunger – Mpho ‘M’atsepo Nthunya
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches – Audre Lorde
Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use – Amanda Seales
So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir – Ashley C. Ford
Speaking Truth to Power – Anita Hill
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America – Ibram X. Kendi
Standing Above the Crowd – James Donaldson
Starting at Zero – Jimi Hendrix
Strategize to Win: The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career – Carla Harris
Strength to Love – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Success Is A Side Effect: Leadership, Relationships, and Selective Amnesia – Moe Anderson
Success Never Smelled So Sweet: How I Followed My Nose and Found My Passion – Lisa Price & Hilary Beard
Successful Women Think Differently: 9 Habits to Make You Happier, Healthier & More Resilient – Valorie Burton
Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All – Russell Simmons
Swimming with Sharks in Dark Waters – Athene Brinson
Talk it Up!: A Guide to Successful Public Speaking – David Suk Brown & Danny Suk Brown
Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace – Minda Harts
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story – Nikole Hannah-Jones
The Art of Ronin Leadership – Mike Howard
The Autobiography of Malcolm X – Malcolm X & Alex Haley
The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell – W. Kamau Bell
The Beautiful Ones – Prince
The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of Your Dreams – Paris Woods
The Black Woman Millionaire: A Revolutionary Act that DEFIES Impossible – Dr. Venus Opal Reese
The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love – Sonya Renee Taylor
The Book of Awesome Black Americans – Monique Jones
The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother – James McBride
The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions – Quincy Jones
The Dead Don’t Need Reminding – Julian Randall
The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto – Charles Blow
The Elevation Approach – Tina Wells
The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility – Marilyn Gist
The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin
The Gatekeepers Are Gone: Hustle + Technology = Success – Lamar Tyler
The Hill We Climb – Amanda Gorman
The Last Black Unicorn – Tiffany Haddish
The Light We Carry – Michelle Obama
The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women – Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, & Rhonda Joy McLean
The Memo: Five Rules for Your Economic Liberation – John Hope Bryant
The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table – Minda Harts
The Mentor Leader – Tony Dungy
The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago: Anthony Overton and the Building of a Financial Empire – Robert E. Weems
The Mind of a Winner – Steve Canal
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl – Issa Rae
The One Week Budget – Tiffany Aliche
The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose – Oprah Winfrey
The Perfect Day to Boss Up – Rick Ross & Neil Martinez-Belkin
The Power of Broke – Daymond John
The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart – Alicia Garza
The Pursuit of Happyness – Chris Gardner
The Race Whisperer: Barack Obama and the Political Uses of Race – Melanye Price
The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery – Sarah Lewis
The Road to Someplace Better: From the Segregated South to Harvard Business School and Beyond – Lillian Lincoln Lambert
The Secrets to Success: When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breathe – Eric Thomas
The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice – Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown
The Source of Self-Regard – Toni Morrison
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference – Malcolm Gladwell
The Transformational Consumer – Tara-Nicholle Nelson
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey – Kamala Harris
The Urgent Life – Bozoma Saint John
The Wealth Choice: Secret Success of Black Millionaires – Dennis Kimbro
The Work: Searching for a Life that Matters – Wes Moore
These Wilds Beyond Our Fences: Letters to My Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home – Bayo Akomolafe
Thick: And Other Essays – Tressie McMillan Cottom
This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism – Don Lemon
Transforming Ethnic and Race-Based Traumatic Stress with Yoga: Rest, Reflect, Renew – Gail Parker
Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms – Shellye Archambeau
Unbowed – Wangari Maathai
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man – Emmanuel Acho
Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals – Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Unprecedented: The Masters and Me – Tiger Woods & Lorne Rubenstein
Up from Nothing: The Untold Story of How We (All) Succeed – John Hope Bryant
Upper Hand: The Future of Work for the Rest of Us – Sherrell Dorsey
We Are Bridges – Cassandra Lane
We Should All Be Feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power – Rachel Rodgers
We Will Not Cancel Us – adrienne maree brown
Werk 101: Get Your Life Together Guide – Koereyelle DuBose
What I Know for Sure – Oprah Winfrey
When Leadership Matters – Robert Britten
When the Miracle Drops: How Instagram Helped Turn a Quick Fix Into a Million-Dollar Product – Jessica Dupart
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Where You Are is Not Who You Are – Ursula Burns
White Girls – Hilton Als
Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? – Reginald Lewis & Blair S. Walker
Wildflower: A Memoir – Aurora James
Will – Will Smith
Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators – Susanne Tedrick
Worthy – Jada Pinkett Smith
Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison – Shaka Senghor
Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person – Shonda Rhimes
You Are Before the World: Lessons on Doing Good without Being Undone – Tara Jaye Frank
You Got This!: Unleash Your Awesomeness, Find Your Path, and Change Your World – Maya Penn
You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why – Eric Thomas, PhD
Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America – Karen Arrington
You’ve Got to Be Hungry: The Greatness Within to Win – Les Brown
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name – Audre Lorde
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2025 Native American & Alaska Native Authored Leadership Book List
In honor of Alaska Native & Native American Month, we’ve updated our Native American & Alaska Native Authored Leadership Book List. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement. The books are not ranked or listed in any particular order.
