Entrepreneurship essentials

Looking to gain new skills, be inspired or learn from others’ experiences? We’ve put together a list of books and podcasts that will give you some insights and knowledge to help you on your entrepreneurial journey.

How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives – Brian Elliott, Sheela Subramanian and Helen Kupp

The global pandemic was a catalyst for change in the workplace. Gone are the days of 9 to 5 and sardinelike commutes, and here to stay are video calls and remote working. This book offers a blueprint for using flexible work to unlock the potential of your people, from the leaders of Slack and Future Forum.

The Diary of a CEO podcast – Steven Bartlett

The super-successful Dragon shares his experience of being the ex-CEO of one of the UK’s fastestgrowing companies and interviews high-profile founders, innovators and business leaders about their experiences of getting to the top of their game.

The Right It – Alberto Savoia

The former Director of Engineering and Innovation Agitator (yes, that’s a real job title!) at Google gives insider tips on making sure you’re building the right product or service for your customers. Up to 90 per cent of business ideas fail, but yours doesn’t have to if you use this strategic approach to market research.

Black & Found podcast – Imperial College London

This Imperial College London podcast explores the entrepreneurial journeys and experiences of Black and mixed Black heritage founders. You can read more about the podcast on page 14.

It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage – Arlan Hamilton and Rachel L. Nelson

From sleeping on the floor of San Francisco Airport to breaking into Silicon Valley, Arlan Hamilton tells her story of breaking barriers and using the power of being underestimated to get exactly where she wanted to be. Named one of the best books of the year by Fortune, this is sure to give you a double dose of inspiration and determination.

Speak! Become a Storytelling Hero in Five Acts – Stewart Bewley

So, we’ve got expert advice on visual storytelling on page 42, but what about conveying your idea or business when speaking? With a deeply practical and interactive approach, Stewart Bewley will be your guide as you unlock your voice to make a difference in the boardroom, when pitching or through the screen.

Unlearn: Let Go of Past Success to Achieve Extraordinary Results – Barry O’Reilly

There’s a learning curve to running a successful business. But when leaders rely on past achievements or get stuck using old thinking, they need to take a step back and unlearn. This innovative and actionable framework from executive coach Barry O’Reilly shows leaders how to break the cycle and strategise for the future.

The Soul of Startups: The Untold Stories of How Founders Affect Culture podcast – Sophie Theen

We all know how important creating a good company culture is (WeWork, BrewDog, we’re looking at you!). Award-winning HR and diversity and inclusion professional Sophie Theen delves into the impact founders can have on the culture of their startup and the importance of creating an environment that allows their team to thrive, personally and professionally.

You can borrow all these books and more from the library in the Enterprise Lab co-working space. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know – Adam Grant

Intelligence is usually seen as the secret to success, but Adam Grant explores the idea that the ability to rethink can be more important as it can give us the flexibility to adapt and understand the perspective of others.

Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World – David Epstein

We’ve all heard the theory that 10,000 hours of practice is what you need to excel in a particular field, whether it be sport, music or business, but David Epstein’s research turns this on its head. In his second book, he shows that, more often than not, generalists are the ones who excel.

Twice as Hard: Navigating Black Stereotypes and Creating Space for Success – Opeyemi Sofoluke and Raphael Sofoluke

This book is an exploration of Black identity in the working world and a blueprint for success. Gather a wealth of experience from over 40 business professionals with advice and insights on building your network and creating space for personal growth.

Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days – Jake Knapp

A New York Times best seller, this is essential reading for anyone looking to innovate fast, whether that be testing a business idea or improving processes or products. This tried-and-tested approach takes just five days to go from concept to concrete evidence.