Oprah Winfrey — "A Return to Love"
The CEO of the Oprah Winfrey Network, known for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and the power of her endorsements (particularly when it comes to books), has spoken out about a number of her favourites over the years. Her Book Club even offers reviews and reading lists.
One of the titles that inspired her is "A Return to Love'" by Marianne Williamson, which discusses how love can provide an answer to problems in all aspects of life including careers, health, and relationships.
Some of Winfrey's other favourites:
"The Seeker's Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure" by Elizabeth Lesser.
"The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment" by Eckhart Tolle.
"The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have" by Mark Nepo.
"A New Earth: Create a Better Life" by Eckhart Tolle.
Arianna Huffington — "Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (And World Peace)"
The Huffington Post co-founder, who stepped down in 2016 to devote her time to her startup Thrive Global, has been called one of the Most Influenial Women in Media, and one of the Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes.
A book she credits some of her success to is "Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (And World Peace)" by Chade-Meng Tan, which gives advice on "enhancing mindfulness and emotional intelligence in life and work."
Some of Huffington's other favourites:
"Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death" by Joan Halifax.
"Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity" by David Lynch.
"Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success" by Adam M. Grant.
"Memories, Dreams, Reflections" by C.G. Jung.
Sheryl Sandberg — "Portfolios of the Poor: How the World's Poor Live on $2 a Day"
The Facebook COO and founder of Leanin.org was the first woman to serve on the social network's board, taking the post in 2012.
Sandberg has said that "Portfolios of the Poor: How the World's Poor Live on $2 a Day" by Daryl Collins, Jonathan Morduch, Stuart Rutherford, and Orlanda Ruthven is a read that inspired her work. The book aims to "systematically explain how the poor find solutions to their everyday financial problems."
Some of Sandberg's other favourites:
"Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty" by Daron Acemoğlu and James A. Robinson.
"Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton.
"The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History" by Ibn Khaldun.
"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander.
Beyoncé — "What Will It Take to Make A Woman President?: Conversations About Women, Leadership and Power"
The singer/songwriter has not only risen to fame through her music, but also has a stake in music streaming service Tidal, a fashion collaboration with Topshop, and owns her own range of fragrances.
She found inspiration in "What Will It Take to Make A Woman President?: Conversations About Women, Leadership and Power" by Marianne Schnall. The book is inspired by a question from Shnall's eight-year-old daughter during the 2008 election of Barack Obama.
Ellen DeGeneres — "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom"
Not only is she the 13-time Emmy-winning host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but Ellen DeGeneres has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her influence and humanitarian work.
DeGeneres has cited "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom" by Don Miguel Ruiz as one of the works that helped set her career and mindset in motion. The book is centred around four agreements: Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, and always do your best.
Another favourite of DeGeneres is "Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao" by Wayne W. Dyer.
Tory Burch — "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less"
American fashion designer Tory Burch, who was among the top 100 influential women in 2015 according to Forbes, has held roles at Harper's Bazaar, Vera Wang, and Polo Ralph Lauren before launching her own label in 2004.
A favourite of Burch is "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown. It teaches you to get the right things done in your time, and be more selective on where you spend your energy.
Indra Nooyi — "The Road to Character"
Nooyi is the CEO of PepsiCo and frequently features as one of the Most Powerful Women in the world according to the likes of Forbes, Time, and Fortune.
One of the ways she learned to build her strong character was by reading "The Road to Character" by David Brooks, which takes a deep look at the qualities and values that should shape you.
"Beyond provoking valuable self-reflection and introspection, it sparked a wonderful discussion with my two daughters about why building inner character is just as important as building a career," Nooyi told Fortune. "In fact, the two go hand in hand — the moral compass of our lives must also be the moral compass of our livelihoods."
Chloe Macintosh — "The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers"
The co-founder of online furniture company Made.com and creative advisor to Soho House has shaken up the interior design market.
She got her motivation partly from "The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers" by Ben Horowitz. It offers a brutally honest perspective on the difficulties that arise when running a business.
Meg Whitman — "Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works"
"Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works" by A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin seemed to have an effect on Hewlett-Packard CEO and president Meg Whitman.
Whitman, who has also served as the CEO and president of eBay and worked as an executive at Hasbro, Dreamworks, and P&G, took tips on how to think about strategy in a business from Lafley, a former CEO at P&G. This includes how leaders can create clearer, bigger goals to see action in their company.
Tyra Banks — "Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining Table and Beyond"
Banks may be known first and foremost as a model, but she was also the creator of the format for the "America's Next Top Model" television programme, which has been recreated around the world.
The executive producer, actress, presenter, and model has featured in the world's most influential people list in TIME magazine a number of times.
She has claimed that "Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining Table and Beyond" by Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazermanwas one of the books that helped her get to the top.
Marissa Mayer — "The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism"
Not only is Mayer Yahoo!'s president and CEO, but she was also a Stanford graduate, the first female engineer for Google, and holds several patents in artificial intelligence and product design.
If you're hoping to follow in her footsteps, try reading one of her picks: "The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism" by Olivia Fox Cabane. It gives advice on how to improve your charisma when applying for a job, leading other people, or even just in your relationships.
Another book on Mayer's list is "The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman.