Your Summer Reading List: Must-Read Leadership Books for MBAs
Before diving into textbooks, case studies, and late-night group projects, summer offers a golden opportunity to sharpen your leadership mindset. Whether you’re a future CEO or an aspiring entrepreneur, the right pre-MBA summer reading can lay a powerful foundation.
These five leadership books are more than just page-turners; they’re roadmaps for becoming the kind of leader who inspires, innovates, and succeeds. Hit the ground running after summer with some powerful tools and new ideas in your brain, and make the most of your summer before you start your MBA!
1. “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown – Embrace Vulnerability in Leadership
Why This Book Matters for MBA Students:
Forget the old idea that leaders need to be tough at all costs. Research Professor at the University of Houston, Brené Brown, breaks down the myth that vulnerability is a weakness. In Dare to Lead, she argues that real strength comes from the courage to be authentic, to own your story, and to lead with empathy.
What makes this book essential for MBA candidates is Brown’s deep dive into emotional intelligence, a quality often underestimated in business settings. Her research-based approach shows how leaders who foster trust, empathy, and open communication create more resilient and innovative teams. Through personal stories, case studies, and practical exercises, readers learn how to lead with heart while still delivering results.
As you prepare for an MBA program filled with group work, leadership simulations, and high-pressure presentations, Brown’s lessons help you connect on a deeper level with your peers and approach leadership with compassion. This isn’t just a mindset, it’s a skill set that can transform your MBA experience.
2. “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek – Discover Purpose-Driven Leadership
How This Book Elevates Your Strategic Thinking:
Too often, we focus on what we do and how we do it, but Simon Sinek flips the script. In Start With Why, he reveals how the world’s most inspiring leaders, like Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King Jr., always start by asking “Why?”
Sinek’s core idea is simple but powerful: People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. This insight resonates deeply with MBA students who are learning to lead, pitch, and make critical business decisions. If you don’t know your own “why,” how can you expect others to follow you?
Throughout the book, Sinek uses real-world examples to show how purpose-driven leadership can revolutionize branding and organizational success. For MBA candidates, Start With Why becomes a strategic tool for crafting meaningful business plans, developing leadership identity, and making values-based decisions in high-stakes situations. It’s a foundational read that teaches you to lead from the inside out.
3. “Think Again” by Adam Grant – Cultivate a Growth-Oriented Mindset
Why It’s Essential Pre-MBA Training:
In a world that’s constantly evolving, being right isn’t as important as being willing to rethink. In Think Again, Adam Grant challenges the idea that intelligence means knowing everything. Instead, he shows that real wisdom lies in flexibility, curiosity, and the courage to change your mind.
This is a crucial read for MBA students entering a fast-paced, diverse learning environment. From debating case studies to tackling real-world business problems, your ability to adapt and rethink will define your success. Grant, an organizational psychologist at Wharton, provides frameworks for identifying cognitive biases, recognizing outdated beliefs, and learning how to disagree constructively.
He also dives into leadership lessons, showing how the best leaders are those who can admit when they’re wrong and who foster cultures of learning, not just performance. Think Again will help you stay agile, ask better questions, and cultivate a growth-oriented mindset that sets the tone for your entire MBA journey and beyond.
4. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen M. R. Covey – Build Core Habits for Success
Why Every MBA Student Should Read This Classic Leadership Book:
Stephen M. R. Covey’s 7 Habits is far more than a productivity guide—it’s a personal development roadmap rooted in timeless principles. Each habit builds on the next to foster a life of integrity, self-mastery, and meaningful relationships. For MBA students juggling academic demands, networking events, and leadership roles, this book provides the grounding needed to thrive.
From learning to be proactive to mastering time management with “Put First Things First,” Covey’s habits offer clarity amid the chaos. One standout lesson for MBA life is the concept of “Synergy”, or understanding how to truly collaborate by valuing diverse perspectives and co-creating better outcomes. That’s a daily reality in business school, and Covey should know; he has an MBA from Harvard.
Another powerful takeaway is Habit 5: “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.” In an environment filled with competitive dialogue, this habit teaches the value of listening. With practical tools, relatable stories, and a holistic view of success, 7 Habits prepares you to lead yourself before leading others.
5. “The Culture Code” by Daniel Coyle – Understand What Makes Great Teams Work
What It Teaches You About Team Success in Business School:
MBA programs can center around teamwork in study groups, consulting projects, or startup labs. The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle explores what makes certain groups more connected, motivated, and ultimately more successful than others.
Coyle identifies three key skills behind high-performing cultures: building safety, sharing vulnerability, and establishing purpose. These principles are essential for creating trust, encouraging risk-taking, and aligning group effort with a shared vision. Through stories from Navy SEALs, Pixar, and Google, The Culture Code shows that great teams don’t happen by accident; their leaders intentionally build them.
For MBA students, this book offers immediate, actionable strategies. You’ll learn how to set group norms, offer productive feedback, and lead from within a team—even without a formal title. In a competitive academic environment where collaboration is everything, The Culture Code equips you with the skills to be a culture builder, not just a participant. It’s your secret weapon for team excellence.
Start Your MBA with a Leadership Mindset
Success in business school isn’t just about grades or networking, it’s about who you become in the process. These five leadership books offer more than knowledge; they deliver frameworks, mindsets, and actionable insights that will set you apart from day one.
So, before your MBA officially kicks off, invest in your personal growth. Fill your summer with leadership books that spark inspiration, challenge your thinking, and lay the foundation for the leader you want to become. Make this summer count.
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