“I would continuously search for new ideas. I read every book and magazine I could. Heck, 3 bucks for a magazine, 20 bucks for a book. One good idea that led to a customer or solution and it paid for itself many times over.”
Those are the words from legendary investor and businessman Mark Cuban.
And he’s not alone. Berkshire Hathaway Chairperson Warren Buffett, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg all espouse the virtues of reading.
Indeed, in business, what one reads can be the difference between making a bad investment and a good one.
So, although not exactly a UC-specific topic, we decided to get into the minds of UC All Stars to see what makes them tick when it comes to their information consumption.
What we found was that in a year where AI and technological advancement dominated headlines, UC industry leaders found inspiration and insights from a diverse range of business books and podcasts, spanning from classic leadership texts to cutting-edge tech discussions.
Leadership and Strategy Remain Core Focus
Despite the tech-heavy nature of the industry, many leaders gravitated toward fundamental leadership and strategy content.
Melody Brue, VP & Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, highlighted Extreme Ownership as a classic that maintains its relevance.
Penned by a New York Times best-selling author, the book dives into leadership strategy and how confronting fears and taking ownership make someone great.
Iain Smith, Practice Director at Insight, emphasised how his schedule has changed his reading habit:
“As I’m a Director at Insight, I spend a lot of time leading and managing teammates. So, my book reading over the previous years has diminished from technical books to more leadership and development.”
This leadership development interest manifested in two books: The Chimp Paradox and Radical Candor, self-help mind training books.
Adam Ball, Co-Founder/MVP at Cloud Revolution, joins in on the leadership angle but with a number of podcasts and books:
“Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Podcasts: All-In, The Working Genius, All That Salesy Stuff.”
The Timeless Teachers
Although the UC is a fast-evolving industry, a surprising number of All Stars felt that going back to the past is a great source for finding solutions for the future.
Deepak Selvaratnam, Chief Operating Officer at Customer Services Audit, was cut-and-dry in this regard:
“Sun Tzu reigns supreme.”
The Art of War author from Ancient China imparted many lessons about how to beat adversaries through unconventional ways, using deception and planning as key facets.
These lessons still seem relevant in the modern and often competitive UC sphere, highlighting the enduring value of classical strategic thinking.
Although not exactly ancient wisdom, another All Star, John Cognata, President at SOFTEL Communications, highlighted how he also enjoyed books of a more speculative and philosophical tone:
“I highly recommend The Privacy Fallacy: Harm and Power in the Information Economy by Ignacio Cofone, a legal academic at Oxford University. I found it to be an insightful read in 2024, particularly for understanding the critical role of data in AI.”
With an economic outlook but humanist tone, the book explores why privacy law has been disappointingly powerless in today’s data-driven society.
Tech and AI-Focused Content
Despite not being as strong a theme in this set of questions as in previous iterations, AI interest continues, with several leaders focused on content that helps navigate this transformation.
Zack Saidi, Microsoft Solutions Architect at HP Inc., took an interest in the immediate forms of AI that have taken over the cultural zeitgeist with his recommendation:
“Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World,” a book that chronicles the untold behind-the-scenes story of the battle between two AI companies.
Meanwhile, Andre Codespoti, Head of Creative Technology at MCI Brazil, found value in something more speculative on AI:
“The most useful business book I read in 2024 was The Creativity Code by Marcus du Sautoy. It explores the fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence and human creativity, showing how algorithms are reshaping industries and unlocking new possibilities in problem-solving and innovation.”
Uwe Ansmann, Senior TC Manager at HP, equally shared this forward-looking approach:
“The most useful business book I read in 2024 is The Future Is Faster Than You Think by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler. It dives deep into how exponential technologies, including AI, are transforming industries and shaping the future of work.”
The selection of AI-focused content reflects a broader industry trend where understanding and implementing AI technologies has become crucial for business success.
Industry-Specific Podcasts
The Microsoft Teams ecosystem generated significant interest, with multiple leaders recommending Teams-focused content.
Craig Durr, Founder and Chief Analyst at The Collab Collective, praised “Tom Arbuthnot‘s Teams Insider” as “a tremendous educational listen,” a sentiment echoed by Chris Goodwill from Symity who described it as “essential listening.”
For AI-specific content, Mrinal Rai, Assistant Director and Principal Analyst at ISG recommended “AI Today podcast with Kathleen Walch and Ronald Schmelzer.”
The popularity of these specialised podcasts indicates a growing need for detailed platform-specific knowledge in the UC space.
Graham Walsh from Neat and several other leaders specifically mentioned Teams-related podcasts suggesting that Microsoft’s platform continues to be a crucial focus area for industry professionals.
Looking Ahead
The diverse range of content consumed by business leaders was perhaps surprising yet brought with it an interesting idea to see what was occupying the minds of the UC industry.
As the industry continues to evolve, leaders are seeking knowledge from both traditional business wisdom and cutting-edge technological insights; focusing on the philosophical as well as the practical.
The mix of traditional leadership books and AI-focused content suggests that while technology is driving change, the fundamentals of business leadership remain crucial for success in the UC space.
Eager to take part? If so, register your interest here.
