April 23rd is World Book Day. The date was declared in 1995 by the United Nations (UNESCO) to pay tribute to works and authors from around the world, as well as to encourage access to reading. Great names in literature are honored on this day to recognize the impact of books responsible for creating links between past, present, and future, bridging generations and cultures..
To celebrate the occasion, founders, CEOs, and C-level executives from companies such as Bemobi, Cenp, KaBuM!, Omie, OmniChat, Revo, Simpress, SIS Innov & Tech, Sólides, and Superlógica share their current reading recommendations or the most memorable ones from their repertoires. These works are part of their personal and professional journeys, contributing to reflections, learning, and even decision-making.
The recommendations range from classics, bestsellers, national and international highlights, and even new additions to shelves or virtual bookshelves. This selection is a great choice for those looking to start new reading and build a high-quality collection. See the list below:
Book Tip: Good to Great, by Jim Collins
“The book ‘Good to Great’ offers inspiring examples that illustrate how to build and maintain a successful organization. It also shares powerful lessons about leadership and building strong teams, which directly impact the development of employees and the company. It shows that success comes from humble yet determined leaders, and the concept of ‘the right person in the right place’ reinforces the importance of aligning individual purpose with the company’s objectives, something essential for everyone to thrive. For me, it’s a reminder that brilliant careers are built where there is culture, vision, and, above all, people committed to evolving together.”
Fabiano Ferreira, Director of Logistics and Transportation at KaBuM!
Book tip: “Stolen Focus: The Attention Thieves of Modern Life,” by Johann Hari
“The book details the author’s sabbatical experience with a non-digital routine, addressing the behavioral issues of the modern world faced with excessive technology use. Hari addresses the numbing impact this excess has on humans and its consequences, such as sleep disorders and increased anxiety, correlating the material with scientific research. All of this in accessible language and an engaging read.”
Fabio Gabaldo, Business Director at KaBuM!
Book tip: “Outlive: The Art and Science of Living Longer and Better,” by Peter Attie and Bill Gifford
“I highly recommend this book to anyone who works in high-pressure environments. This book takes a broad and holistic look at our most precious asset: our health. It mentions five important pillars of health: physical exercise, sleep quality, nutrition, supplementation, and emotional health. In today’s world, with the overload of information and pressure in the corporate environment, taking care of yourself and prioritizing yourself are the first steps not only to your personal success but also to that of your team and your company.”
Georgia Rivellino, Director of Marketing, Products and Solutions at Simpress
Book tip: “The Courage to Be Imperfect: How to Embrace Vulnerability, Overcome Shame, and Dare to Be Yourself,” by Brené Brown
“The Courage to Be Imperfect” represented a turning point in my career. I always considered showing vulnerability to be negative, especially as a woman, associating it with the idea of fragility or lack of control. Brené Brown shows just the opposite: that vulnerability is an essential strength for personal growth and building genuine relationships. The book explores how, by accepting our flaws and limitations, we free ourselves from shame, allowing us to live a more authentic life.
Mauricio Trezub, CEO of OmniChat
Book tip: “Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works,” by A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin
“Playing to Win” offers a clear and straightforward approach to creating effective strategies. The authors transform complex concepts into actionable insights, presenting a structured process for strategic decision-making. I appreciate that the examples from Procter & Gamble demonstrate how these strategies can be successfully implemented, regardless of business size or industry.
Dica de livro: “7 Powers: the foundations of Business Strategy”, de Hamilton Helmer
“7 Powers” presents seven sources of strategic power that can guarantee lasting competitive advantage. The book offers a new perspective on how to build solid strategies, going beyond traditional approaches. The clarity of concepts and the emphasis on creating sustainable competitive advantage are essential for entrepreneurs seeking long-term success.
Ale Garcia, co-founder and co-CEO of Sólides
Book tip: “Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and their Radically Rational Plans for Success,” by William N. Thorndike
The book debunks the myth of the charismatic CEO and shows, with data and real stories, how some of the most successful leaders in American corporate history built extraordinary value not with inspiring speeches, but with disciplined financial decisions, independent thinking, and a focus on rational capital allocation. The work reveals a discreet, efficient, and deeply strategic leadership model, offering an alternative path to the traditional management approach. The combination of this strategy with great energy, combined with a transformational and inspiring objective, is incredibly powerful.
Pedro Ripper, co-founder and CEO of Bemobi
Book tip: “The End of the World Is Just the Beginning,” by Peter Zeihan
“The end-of-globalization scenario, addressed in the book, has become even more relevant with the recent global tariff war. The book encourages reflection on how to review business strategies and understand local dynamics in the face of uncertainty.”
Book tip: “The Next Wave: Artificial Intelligence, Power, and the Biggest Dilemma of the 21st Century,” by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaska
“The book addresses how Artificial Intelligence is transforming our lives and businesses, providing valuable insights to anticipate trends in a rapidly changing environment and reinforcing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation.”
Rodrigo Otavio Nascimento, CFO of Revo
Book tip: “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith
A classic that stands the test of time. Adam Smith reminds me that behind the numbers and models lies human nature and the pursuit of collective prosperity. I always return to him to understand how incentives shape markets—and how this still resonates in business decisions today.
Book tip: “Capitalism in the Age of Surveillance”, de Shoshana Zuboff
A book that redefines how we view value in the 21st century. Zuboff shows how data has become a central asset in business decisions and the digital economic model. For C-suites, it’s a provocative and essential read to understand the new drivers of growth, the dynamics of technological power, and the role of leadership in this ever-changing landscape.
Talita Zampieri – CMO of the Superlogica Group
Book tip: “Ensemble – from Solo to Symphony” – by various authors
“The project, coordinated by the ‘Uma Sobe e Puxa a Outra’ movement, features inspiring stories from 139 women, who bring real accounts of overcoming challenges, leadership, and resilience, transcending borders and generations, and which I had the pleasure of collaborating on. In addition to real stories of women who are transforming the world in various areas, in my chapter I encourage you to plant seeds of self-love and wisdom in the soil of time, with the courage to truly know yourself.”
Book tip: “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg
“This book is straightforward, inspiring, and full of real-life experiences. Sheryl, former COO of Facebook/Meta, shares personal stories with data and research on women’s place in the workplace, focusing on how women can achieve and exercise leadership without giving up who they are. One piece of advice I’ve taken with me is ‘sit at the table,’ which showed me how important it is for women to take the lead, take a stand, raise their hand, and propose ideas and solutions wherever they are.”
Luiz Lara, Chairman of TBWA Brasil and president of Cenp – Advertising Market Self-Regulation Forum
Book tip: “Oswald de Andrade, the Wicked Savage”, by Lira Neto
Very well written, it rescues the history of São Paulo, the culture of our city, the Art Week of 22, the Anthropophagic Movement, his passion for Tarsila do Amaral, his plays, books and controversies, showing how the elite behaved and influenced behavior, the arts, dance, theater, the press and politics.
Thiago Cappi, CEO at SIS Innov & Tech
Book tip: “Measure What Matters,” by John Doerr
“This book is an excellent introduction to OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), and shows how companies like Google and Intel have successfully applied this methodology. The book’s main feature is its practicality: it offers clear, real-world examples that help you understand how to align teams and generate focus. This is the ideal read for anyone seeking strategic clarity, measurable goals, and a culture of accountability for their company.”
Book tip: “No Rules Are the Rule,” by Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
This book is a fascinating study of Netflix’s culture, based on freedom and extreme responsibility. The collaboration between Reed Hastings (Netflix CEO) and Erin Meyer (organizational culture expert) brings a unique combination of practice and theory. The book shines when it shows the “culture clashes” and how Netflix adapts (or imposes) its culture in different countries. Ideal for leaders who want to challenge traditional structures and build bold cultures.
