With change coming from every direction, rising expectations, and technology moving rapidly, leadership can currently feel both exciting and overwhelming. With this in mind, as Women’s History Month comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the kind of leadership the world really needs today and to draw on insights from influential women who are currently shaping the industry.
For women in leadership and the organizations supporting them, growth in 2026 isn’t about doing more, faster. Being a leader today means working things out as you go, making people feel valued, and fostering curiosity and teamwork. The best leaders earn trust by listening, learning, and leading with heart.
The six books below offer practical ideas, reassuring perspectives, and thoughtful guidance for navigating complexity, embracing bold thinking, and staying connected to what really matters. All are written by inspiring women in the leadership space. From working with doubt and disruption to redefining success at work, these reads capture the true spirit of Women’s History Month: celebrating confident, compassionate, and future-focused leadership.
Best read for: Bold leadership and breaking the mold
Leading on the Edge: The Bold Art of Being More Irrational and Less Mediocre
Zana Goic Petricevic
$22.99 (Paperback), Rethink Press
Playing it safe might feel comfortable, but it rarely leads to real impact. Leading on the Edge is for leaders who don’t want to settle for ‘just okay.’ Zana Goic Petricevic encourages you to rethink the rules you’ve been playing by, take bolder risks, and lead with real purpose.
Leading on the Edge is full of relatable stories and practical tips, helping you to overcome doubt and trust yourself along the way. It’s a motivating read for anyone ready to push past their comfort zone.
Best read for: Innovation in insurance and fintech
Navigating Insurtech: Opportunities and Challenges in Digital Insurance
Janthana Kaenprakhamroy
$26.38 (Kindle), Kogan Page
As digital change transforms the insurance industry, understanding insurtech is no longer optional. Navigating Insurtech takes this fast-moving, complicated world and makes it easy to understand with practical, hands-on insights.
Using real-world examples and expert guidance, Janthana Kaenprakhamroy shows how AI, blockchain, and IoT are changing the way customers experience services, how risks are managed, and where growth can happen. It’s a must-read for leaders, innovators, and investors who want to keep up, stay ahead, and make smarter decisions in a fast-changing digital world.
Best read for: Leading with confidence through uncertainty
Brilliant Doubt: Harnessing Uncertainty to Lead with Impact
Jenny Williams
$19.99 (Paperback), Practical Inspiration Publishing
Many leaders experience doubt, but few talk about it. In Brilliant Doubt, executive coach Jenny Williams reframes doubt as a strength, not a weakness. Drawing on real-world experience, she explains how doubt can sharpen decision-making, boost collaboration, and make leadership more thoughtful, but only if we learn to work with it rather than ignore it.
By exploring three types of professional doubt and introducing the idea of Active Doubt, the book helps leaders turn hesitation into clarity and uncertainty into action. It’s a reassuring and empowering read for women stepping into bigger roles or navigating complex change.
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Best read for: Adopting a curious mindset
The Power of the Learning Mindset
Lilian Ajayi Ore and Marshall Goldsmith
$26.10 (Hardcover), Wiley
In a world that’s always changing, the leaders who thrive are the ones who keep learning. The Power of the Learning Mindset explores how curiosity, adaptability, and self-improvement can help you and your team grow and succeed.
Using real-world examples, the authors explore their WIN mindset model — Willingness, Intentionality, and Nurturing — giving leaders the tools to develop their own willingness to learn; their capacity to lead with clarity of direction; and their coaching abilities to motivate, support, and empower others.
Best read for: Staying grounded under pressure
Anchored: Staying Grounded When Everything Speeds Up
Rochelle Trow
$21.99 (Paperback), Rethink Press
Leadership can look impressive from the outside, but feel exhausting on the inside. Anchored speaks to high-achieving professionals who feel stretched, pressured, or constantly “on.”
Rochelle Trow shares practical guidance to slow down internally, stay centered, and respond with intention instead of fear. With reflection exercises and real-world strategies, the book helps leaders manage doubt, perfectionism, and pressure, without losing themselves. It’s an essential read for anyone seeking sustainable success.
Best read for: Meaningful growth and employee engagement
Meaning Over Purpose: The CEO’s Strategic Blueprint for Growth and Lasting Engagement
Angela Rixon
$18.65 (Paperback), Practical Inspiration Publishing
A purpose statement alone isn’t enough to engage teams. In Meaning Over Purpose, Angela Rixon shows how organizations can get people truly engaged by connecting what matters to them with the company’s goals.
Using research and real-world examples, the book offers strategies to build cultures where people feel valued, motivated, and connected. For leaders looking to drive growth while keeping people at the heart of their organizations, this is a timely and highly-relevant read.
Together, these books show what modern leadership looks like. They emphasize that real growth comes from leading with awareness, courage, and care — a message that feels especially meaningful on International Women’s Day.
