Sanjay K Mohindroo
From boardroom strategies to team trust, I share the books that reshaped my journey—and why they still matter.
Books change minds. But some change careers. This post traces the titles that reshaped how I think, lead, and build in the world of tech. These aren’t just reads—they’re companions, provocateurs, and sparring partners. Each one left a mark on how I lead teams, make choices, and think about the future. #LeadershipReads #TechWisdom #CIOInsights
From Pages to Practice
Why Books Still Matter in Tech
We live in a world that moves fast. Too fast for most to pause and reflect. But books slow you down just enough to sharpen your edge.
I’ve held senior leadership roles across continents. Managed large teams. Solved global problems. Through it all, I’ve turned to books. Not because they had all the answers, but because they helped me ask better questions.
In an age of AI, real-time dashboards, and cloud-first everything, the written word still guides me. That’s the paradox I embrace. #TechLeadership #BooksMatter #ThinkSlowBuildSmart
1. Good to Great by Jim Collins
What Defines the Long Game
This one rewired my brain. It showed me that success isn’t random. Greatness comes from discipline, not hype. In tech, we worship scale. But scale without stability is fragile.
The "Hedgehog Concept"—doing one thing well—has helped me focus in moments when everything feels urgent. I still think about Level 5 leadership when mentoring future CIOs. #BuiltToLast #JimCollinsWisdom #FocusAndDiscipline
2. The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford
IT Is a Business Function—Period
Every IT leader should read this. It’s fiction, but it feels more real than most manuals. It reminds you that behind every system glitch is a human story. And behind every process is a culture.
It helped me bring DevOps thinking into boardroom conversations. And it made me a better translator between IT and business. #DevOpsCulture #PhoenixProject #ITIsBusiness
3. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Understanding Thought to Improve Tech
I used to believe tech was about logic. But leadership is about emotion. This book reminded me that humans are not rational actors, and neither are teams.
In decision-making meetings, I often ask: Are we in System 1 or System 2 mode? Are we reacting, or are we reasoning?
It has helped me design better strategies. And build more human-centered products. #CognitiveBias #Kahneman #DecisionScience
4. Drive by Daniel H. Pink
What Moves People
Motivation isn’t money. It’s autonomy, mastery, and purpose. That insight hit hard when I was leading a 2,500+ person tech team.
Pink gave me a vocabulary for something I had felt but couldn’t frame. He made it clear: If your team doesn’t know why they work, they won’t care how. #MotivateTeams #PurposeDrivenWork #LeadershipBooks
5. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Strategy Doesn’t Age
Odd pick? Not really. Tech leadership often feels like warfare, without the weapons. This book isn’t about an attack. It’s about knowing when not to fight.
I’ve made better vendor decisions, talent calls, and budget cuts using its principles. And yes, I’ve read it more than once. #TimelessStrategy #SunTzuInTech #TechLeadershipWisdom
6. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Build, Measure, Learn—Then Scale
This one helped me fight perfectionism. It taught me that great ideas start ugly. Waiting for perfection is the same as choosing slow death.
I applied this in building e-commerce systems, digital platforms, and agile teams. Speed isn’t reckless when paired with feedback. #BuildMeasureLearn #LeanThinking #FailFastGrowSmart
7. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Leadership Is About Trust First
No tech stack solves trust. No tool makes your team feel safe. This book laid it bare. You want performance? Start with safety.
Every time I’ve had to lead through conflict, I’ve returned to Lencioni’s model. It’s a mirror I hold up—first to myself, then to the team. #TeamHealth #TrustAndLeadership #LencioniModel
How I Read Has Changed
But Why I Read Hasn’t
I now use e-readers. Audiobooks on long flights. Blinkist when pressed for time. But the goal stays the same:
Read to grow. Read to slow down. Read to remember that others have walked this path.
And more importantly, to remind myself that the questions I’m facing now have been faced before, just in different forms. #ReadToLead #LifelongLearning #LeadershipReflection
What’s Next On My List
Titles I’m Exploring Now
- Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton
- Range by David Epstein
- Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt and others
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
These are not about chasing trends. They’re about refining how I think, lead, and support others. #ReadingList2025 #FutureLeadershipReads #SharpenTheSaw
The Books That Made Me
These books didn’t teach me tech. They taught me leadership. They challenged my assumptions, reset my beliefs, and gave me language I use every day.
You don’t read to copy. You read to see.
And once you see the world differently, you build differently. #BooksThatMatter #LeadWithWords #CIOReadingList