32 Books like Onward

The Virgin Way

by Richard Branson • 2014

The Virgin empire was built on three things most CEOs ignore: listening, notebooks, and fun.

3.95

8k+

🚀 Entrepreneurial Leadership 🎭 Authentic Leadership 👂 Listening Skills 👥 People-First Management 💪 Empowerment

The Virgin Way 97%

The Virgin empire was built on three things most CEOs ignore: listening, notebooks, and fun.

by Richard Branson 2014

3.95

8k+ ratings

🚀 Entrepreneurial Leadership 🎭 Authentic Leadership 👂 Listening Skills 👥 People-First Management 💪 Empowerment

The Education of an Accidental CEO

by David C. Novak • 2007

A trailer park kid builds a restaurant empire with rubber chickens and relentless customer focus.

3.88

150

🍔 Restaurant Leadership 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🏆 Employee Recognition 😍 Customer Obsession ⚙️ Execution Strategy

The Education of an Accidental CEO Summary

The Education of an Accidental CEO 97%

A trailer park kid builds a restaurant empire with rubber chickens and relentless customer focus.

by David C. Novak 2007

3.88

150 ratings

🍔 Restaurant Leadership 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🏆 Employee Recognition 😍 Customer Obsession ⚙️ Execution Strategy

Radical Simplicity

by Ken Allen • 2019

A 220-country logistics giant, hemorrhaging cash. The CEO's turnaround rule: simplify ruthlessly.

3.69

127

🏭 Corporate Turnarounds 📋 Ceo Memoirs 🌐 Organizational Culture 🎯 Customer Focus 🤝 Employee Engagement

Radical Simplicity 97%

A 220-country logistics giant, hemorrhaging cash. The CEO's turnaround rule: simplify ruthlessly.

by Ken Allen 2019

3.69

127 ratings

🏭 Corporate Turnarounds 📋 Ceo Memoirs 🌐 Organizational Culture 🎯 Customer Focus 🤝 Employee Engagement

The Heart of Business

by Hubert Joly • 2021

Purpose beats profit as strategy. A CEO's playbook for winning by serving every stakeholder first.

4.23

1k+

🏢 Corporate Turnarounds 🌐 Stakeholder Capitalism 🎯 Purpose-Driven Business 🤲 Servant Leadership 💼 Work And Meaning

The Heart of Business 97%

Purpose beats profit as strategy. A CEO's playbook for winning by serving every stakeholder first.

by Hubert Joly 2021

4.23

1k+ ratings

🏢 Corporate Turnarounds 🌐 Stakeholder Capitalism 🎯 Purpose-Driven Business 🤲 Servant Leadership 💼 Work And Meaning

Right Away and All At Once

by Greg Brenneman • 2016

Five actions that rescue a company, and why the same discipline saves your life outside work.

4.16

179

🏭 Corporate Turnarounds 👔 Executive Leadership 🤝 Employee Empowerment ⚡ Bias For Action ⚖️ Work-Life Integration

Right Away and All At Once 96%

Five actions that rescue a company, and why the same discipline saves your life outside work.

by Greg Brenneman 2016

4.16

179 ratings

🏭 Corporate Turnarounds 👔 Executive Leadership 🤝 Employee Empowerment ⚡ Bias For Action ⚖️ Work-Life Integration

Leading the Starbucks Way

by Joseph A. Michelli • 2008

How Starbucks turned a commodity into community: the five principles any business can adopt.

3.78

562

🏢 Corporate Culture ☕ Customer Experience 💪 Employee Empowerment 🏗️ Brand Building 📊 Company Case Studies

Leading the Starbucks Way 96%

How Starbucks turned a commodity into community: the five principles any business can adopt.

by Joseph A. Michelli 2008

3.78

562 ratings

🏢 Corporate Culture ☕ Customer Experience 💪 Employee Empowerment 🏗️ Brand Building 📊 Company Case Studies

Jack Welch and the GE Way

by Robert Slater • 1998

A CEO's handbook from Jack Welch's GE: be honest, move fast, and own your market or walk.

3.69

506

🏢 Corporate Turnarounds 👔 Ceo Memoirs 📚 Management Classics 🗺️ Corporate Strategy 🔄 Organizational Change

Jack Welch and the GE Way 96%

A CEO's handbook from Jack Welch's GE: be honest, move fast, and own your market or walk.

by Robert Slater 1998

3.69

506 ratings

🏢 Corporate Turnarounds 👔 Ceo Memoirs 📚 Management Classics 🗺️ Corporate Strategy 🔄 Organizational Change

Excellence Wins

by Horst Schulze • 2019

Arm employees with $2,000 to solve problems, no permission. The system that makes that pay off.

4.43

2k+

🏆 Service Excellence 💫 Customer Experience 🔓 Employee Empowerment 🏛 Organizational Culture 🤝 Servant Leadership

Excellence Wins 96%

Arm employees with $2,000 to solve problems, no permission. The system that makes that pay off.

by Horst Schulze 2019

4.43

2k+ ratings

🏆 Service Excellence 💫 Customer Experience 🔓 Employee Empowerment 🏛 Organizational Culture 🤝 Servant Leadership

The Ride of a Lifetime

by Robert Iger • 2019

Disrupt yourself first, preserve what you buy, lead with optimism: a Disney CEO's playbook.

4.40

97k+

🏢 Corporate Leadership 🎬 Entertainment Business 🎨 Creative Management 🤝 Mergers And Acquisitions 💡 Innovation Strategy

The Ride of a Lifetime 96%

Disrupt yourself first, preserve what you buy, lead with optimism: a Disney CEO's playbook.

by Robert Iger 2019

4.40

97k+ ratings

🏢 Corporate Leadership 🎬 Entertainment Business 🎨 Creative Management 🤝 Mergers And Acquisitions 💡 Innovation Strategy

Permission to Screw Up

by Kristen Hadeed • 2017

Firing everyone taught her what business school couldn't: how to lead with trust, not perfection.

4.23

3k+

🚀 Startup Leadership 🏢 Company Culture 🫀 Vulnerable Leadership 💪 Employee Empowerment 🛡️ Psychological Safety

Permission to Screw Up 96%

Firing everyone taught her what business school couldn't: how to lead with trust, not perfection.

by Kristen Hadeed 2017

4.23

3k+ ratings

🚀 Startup Leadership 🏢 Company Culture 🫀 Vulnerable Leadership 💪 Employee Empowerment 🛡️ Psychological Safety

Hit Refresh

by Satya Nadella • 2017

Microsoft's third CEO inherited a know-it-all giant. His turnaround began with one word: empathy.

3.79

18k+

🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 📖 Ceo Memoirs 🌊 Culture Change 💗 Leading With Empathy 🌱 Growth Mindset

Hit Refresh 96%

Microsoft's third CEO inherited a know-it-all giant. His turnaround began with one word: empathy.

by Satya Nadella 2017

3.79

18k+ ratings

🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 📖 Ceo Memoirs 🌊 Culture Change 💗 Leading With Empathy 🌱 Growth Mindset

The One Minute Entrepreneur

by Kenneth H. Blanchard • 2008

Passion pays only when cash, customers, and people come first: a startup truth in parable.

3.99

3k+

🧑‍🏫 Business Parables 🚀 Startup Playbooks 💰 Cash Flow Management 🤝 Customer Service 🫡 Servant Leadership

The One Minute Entrepreneur 96%

Passion pays only when cash, customers, and people come first: a startup truth in parable.

by Kenneth H. Blanchard 2008

3.99

3k+ ratings

🧑‍🏫 Business Parables 🚀 Startup Playbooks 💰 Cash Flow Management 🤝 Customer Service 🫡 Servant Leadership

Winning

by Jack Welch • 2005

Three rules for winning: demand honesty, reward the best decisively, and never tolerate mediocrity.

3.86

43k+

👔 Corporate Leadership 🏛️ Organizational Culture 📊 Performance Management 🧑‍💼 Talent Management 🗣️ Workplace Candor

Winning 96%

Three rules for winning: demand honesty, reward the best decisively, and never tolerate mediocrity.

by Jack Welch 2005

3.86

43k+ ratings

👔 Corporate Leadership 🏛️ Organizational Culture 📊 Performance Management 🧑‍💼 Talent Management 🗣️ Workplace Candor

Winning Now, Winning Later

by David M. Cote • 2020

Most leaders pick quarterly wins or long-term bets. A Honeywell CEO's method for delivering both.

4.03

560

🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 📖 Ceo Memoirs ⏳ Short-Termism ⚙️ Process Improvement 🏢 Corporate Culture

Winning Now, Winning Later 96%

Most leaders pick quarterly wins or long-term bets. A Honeywell CEO's method for delivering both.

by David M. Cote 2020

4.03

560 ratings

🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 📖 Ceo Memoirs ⏳ Short-Termism ⚙️ Process Improvement 🏢 Corporate Culture

Shut Up and Listen!

by Tilman Fertitta • 2019

A billionaire's blunt playbook: why niceness, tiny details, and bad timing create empires.

3.89

1k+

🛎️ Customer Experience 🛠️ Pragmatic Leadership 💰 Financial Literacy 🔄 Turnaround Management 🦈 Opportunism

Shut Up and Listen! 96%

A billionaire's blunt playbook: why niceness, tiny details, and bad timing create empires.

by Tilman Fertitta 2019

3.89

1k+ ratings

🛎️ Customer Experience 🛠️ Pragmatic Leadership 💰 Financial Literacy 🔄 Turnaround Management 🦈 Opportunism

The Starbucks Experience

by Joseph A. Michelli • 2006

How Starbucks turns baristas into experience designers and every cup into a loyalty engine.

3.75

5k+

🛎️ Customer Experience 🏢 Corporate Culture 🤝 Employee Empowerment 🎨 Service Design 💚 Brand Loyalty

The Starbucks Experience 96%

How Starbucks turns baristas into experience designers and every cup into a loyalty engine.

by Joseph A. Michelli 2006

3.75

5k+ ratings

🛎️ Customer Experience 🏢 Corporate Culture 🤝 Employee Empowerment 🎨 Service Design 💚 Brand Loyalty

Like a Virgin

by Richard Branson • 2012

People before profits, gut over analysis: the Virgin founder's business lessons no classroom taught.

3.73

4k+

🔥 Entrepreneurial Memoirs 🏷️ Brand Building 🏢 Corporate Culture 💡 Disruptive Innovation 👥 Customer Experience

Like a Virgin 96%

People before profits, gut over analysis: the Virgin founder's business lessons no classroom taught.

by Richard Branson 2012

3.73

4k+ ratings

🔥 Entrepreneurial Memoirs 🏷️ Brand Building 🏢 Corporate Culture 💡 Disruptive Innovation 👥 Customer Experience

Hot Seat

by Jeff Immelt • 2021

Inheriting an icon, he faced 9/11, a financial meltdown, and the shadow of his predecessor.

3.97

898

🏢 Corporate Leadership 🌪️ Crisis Management 🪑 CEO Memoirs 🪞 Radical Transparency 🪜 Executive Succession

Hot Seat 96%

Inheriting an icon, he faced 9/11, a financial meltdown, and the shadow of his predecessor.

by Jeff Immelt 2021

3.97

898 ratings

🏢 Corporate Leadership 🌪️ Crisis Management 🪑 CEO Memoirs 🪞 Radical Transparency 🪜 Executive Succession

Play Nice But Win

by Michael Dell • 2021

Wall Street declared his company dead. He bet $24 billion on the long term. The long term won.

4.13

3k+

🏢 Corporate Turnarounds 📖 Founder Memoirs 🔒 Going Private 🧠 Decision Frameworks 🤝 Mergers And Acquisitions

Play Nice But Win 96%

Wall Street declared his company dead. He bet $24 billion on the long term. The long term won.

by Michael Dell 2021

4.13

3k+ ratings

🏢 Corporate Turnarounds 📖 Founder Memoirs 🔒 Going Private 🧠 Decision Frameworks 🤝 Mergers And Acquisitions

Discovering the Soul of Service

by Leonard L. Berry • 1999

The sustainable success playbook from 14 companies that chose values over shortcuts.

4.05

375

🏢 Service Industry 🤝 Customer Experience 🏷️ Brand Management 🧭 Values-Based Leadership 🌱 Employee Empowerment

Discovering the Soul of Service 96%

The sustainable success playbook from 14 companies that chose values over shortcuts.

by Leonard L. Berry 1999

4.05

375 ratings

🏢 Service Industry 🤝 Customer Experience 🏷️ Brand Management 🧭 Values-Based Leadership 🌱 Employee Empowerment

American Turnaround

by Edward E. Whitacre • 2013

Bankrupt GM returned to profit in months. The same risk-taking that landed AT&T the iPhone.

3.86

234

🏭 Corporate Turnarounds 🏗️ Organizational Restructuring 🚨 Crisis Leadership 🤝 Hands-On Leadership 🌱 Culture Change

American Turnaround 95%

Bankrupt GM returned to profit in months. The same risk-taking that landed AT&T the iPhone.

by Edward E. Whitacre 2013

3.86

234 ratings

🏭 Corporate Turnarounds 🏗️ Organizational Restructuring 🚨 Crisis Leadership 🤝 Hands-On Leadership 🌱 Culture Change

Predictable Success

by Les McKeown • 2010

Growth creates complexity, complexity kills growth. Seven stages, one sweet spot.

4.03

707

👥 Corporate Lifecycles 📉 Corporate Decline 🏗️ Scaling Companies ⚖️ Entrepreneurial Balance 🔄 Leadership Transitions

Predictable Success 95%

Growth creates complexity, complexity kills growth. Seven stages, one sweet spot.

by Les McKeown 2010

4.03

707 ratings

👥 Corporate Lifecycles 📉 Corporate Decline 🏗️ Scaling Companies ⚖️ Entrepreneurial Balance 🔄 Leadership Transitions

No Rules Rules

by Reed Hastings • 2020

Rules manage mediocrity. Netflix fired adequate people, stripped controls, and discovered speed.

4.27

34k+

🏢 Corporate Culture 🎯 Talent Management 🗣️ Radical Candor 🚀 High Performance Teams 🧭 Workplace Autonomy

No Rules Rules 95%

Rules manage mediocrity. Netflix fired adequate people, stripped controls, and discovered speed.

by Reed Hastings 2020

4.27

34k+ ratings

🏢 Corporate Culture 🎯 Talent Management 🗣️ Radical Candor 🚀 High Performance Teams 🧭 Workplace Autonomy

The Nordstrom Way

by Robert Spector • 1995

Dump the rulebook, ignore résumés, and build a floor of entrepreneurs: the Nordstrom playbook.

3.90

794

🏬 Retail Management 🎯 Customer Centricity ✨ High-Touch Service 🙇 Servant Leadership 🧑‍💼 Hire For Attitude

The Nordstrom Way 95%

Dump the rulebook, ignore résumés, and build a floor of entrepreneurs: the Nordstrom playbook.

by Robert Spector 1995

3.90

794 ratings

🏬 Retail Management 🎯 Customer Centricity ✨ High-Touch Service 🙇 Servant Leadership 🧑‍💼 Hire For Attitude

Sam Walton, Made in America

by Sam Walton • 1992

One store, one plane, and a man who hated waste. The Walmart story by its founder.

4.16

28k+

📖 Founder Memoir 🛍️ Retail Business 🎯 Customer Focus 🤝 Employee Empowerment ⚙️ Operational Efficiency

Sam Walton, Made in America 95%

One store, one plane, and a man who hated waste. The Walmart story by its founder.

by Sam Walton 1992

4.16

28k+ ratings

📖 Founder Memoir 🛍️ Retail Business 🎯 Customer Focus 🤝 Employee Empowerment ⚙️ Operational Efficiency

The Gift of Struggle

by Bobby Herrera • 2019

The hardest chapters of your life are the leadership advantage nobody taught you to claim.

4.01

365

🏢 Organizational Culture 🎭 Authentic Leadership 🤝 Trust Building 💪 Adversity As Advantage 🎯 Coaching Leadership

The Gift of Struggle 95%

The hardest chapters of your life are the leadership advantage nobody taught you to claim.

by Bobby Herrera 2019

4.01

365 ratings

🏢 Organizational Culture 🎭 Authentic Leadership 🤝 Trust Building 💪 Adversity As Advantage 🎯 Coaching Leadership

Conscious Leadership

by John Mackey • 2020

The Whole Foods founder on why love and integrity outperform pure profit-chasing.

3.72

402

🤝 Stakeholder Capitalism 🧭 Purpose-Driven Business 🔭 Visionary Leadership ⚖️ Ethical Leadership 🏛️ Organizational Culture

Conscious Leadership 95%

The Whole Foods founder on why love and integrity outperform pure profit-chasing.

by John Mackey 2020

3.72

402 ratings

🤝 Stakeholder Capitalism 🧭 Purpose-Driven Business 🔭 Visionary Leadership ⚖️ Ethical Leadership 🏛️ Organizational Culture

Think Big, Act Small

by Jason Jennings • 2005

The most profitable companies in America share one habit: they never stop acting like beginners.

3.72

367

🏢 Corporate Culture 📈 Sustainable Growth 🤲 Humble Leadership 🔑 Ownership Mindset 🛠️ Hands-On Management

Think Big, Act Small 95%

The most profitable companies in America share one habit: they never stop acting like beginners.

by Jason Jennings 2005

3.72

367 ratings

🏢 Corporate Culture 📈 Sustainable Growth 🤲 Humble Leadership 🔑 Ownership Mindset 🛠️ Hands-On Management

Trump

by Donald J. Trump • 2004

The things money can't buy, from a man who's lost and rebuilt more than most.

3.34

436

👔 Executive Leadership 🎲 Risk Taking 🛡️ Reputation Management 👥 People Management 💪 Business Perseverance

Trump 95%

The things money can't buy, from a man who's lost and rebuilt more than most.

by Donald J. Trump 2004

3.34

436 ratings

👔 Executive Leadership 🎲 Risk Taking 🛡️ Reputation Management 👥 People Management 💪 Business Perseverance

Good Power

by Ginni Rometty • 2023

Turning a century-old company taught her power works best when given away. Here is how.

3.95

1k+

👩‍💼 Women In Leadership 🛡️ Stewardship Leadership 📖 Business Memoir 💻 Tech Industry 🔮 Future Of Work

Good Power 95%

Turning a century-old company taught her power works best when given away. Here is how.

by Ginni Rometty 2023

3.95

1k+ ratings

👩‍💼 Women In Leadership 🛡️ Stewardship Leadership 📖 Business Memoir 💻 Tech Industry 🔮 Future Of Work

Hug Your Customers

by Jack Mitchell • 2003

A family retailer's playbook for replacing sales scripts with genuine human connection.

4.03

986

🛍️ Customer Experience 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Business 🏬 Retail Management 🌟 Service Excellence 💎 Customer Loyalty

Hug Your Customers 95%

A family retailer's playbook for replacing sales scripts with genuine human connection.

by Jack Mitchell 2003

4.03

986 ratings

🛍️ Customer Experience 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Business 🏬 Retail Management 🌟 Service Excellence 💎 Customer Loyalty

Confronting Reality

by Larry Bossidy • 2004

Face the facts competitors ignore: the practice that separates survivors from the disrupted.

3.80

295

🏢 Corporate Leadership ♟️ Business Strategy 🔄 Organizational Change ⚡ Industry Disruption 🧩 Business Model Design

Confronting Reality 95%

Face the facts competitors ignore: the practice that separates survivors from the disrupted.

by Larry Bossidy 2004

3.80

295 ratings

🏢 Corporate Leadership ♟️ Business Strategy 🔄 Organizational Change ⚡ Industry Disruption 🧩 Business Model Design

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