Every senior leader remembers the book that changed how they showed up at work. So we asked Chief Members: What's the first one you'd hand to a collaborator or direct report who's stepping into a more senior role?

From a Wall Street survival guide, to an FBI veteran’s guide to negotiation, to a reporter's inside look at Silicon Valley power, here's what they recommend for women who are stepping into their next big role — or mentoring the person who will.

Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace by Carla Harris

Chief Member Lola Brown, SVP, Strategic Initiatives at Advocate Health, recommends this memoir by Wall Street power player (and past Chief speaker) Carla Harris as a foundational leadership text to any new hire. “When starting my first high-visibility job, I read this book and it was transformational," she says. “It gave me a practical, highly actionable roadmap guiding me on how to position myself for success.”

Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott

In this book, author Susan Scott offers a practical framework for unlocking positive change by increasing clarity in your everyday conversations, at work and at home. “It offers practical, thought-provoking guidance on having the conversations we often avoid but that ultimately make us better leaders,” says Chief Member Stephanie Young, Vice President of Portfolio Operations at isolved.

The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael D. Watkins

This international bestseller has been named one of the 100 Leadership & Success Books to Read in a Lifetime by Amazon Editors, along with Chief Member Keri Kratofil, CEO at RNS Innovations. When you’re promoted, you need to prove yourself urgently and strategically or it can cause you larger issues in the long run, she explains. “I have read the book with every new role as a reminder of how to navigate and each time I have read it, something new stands out.”

How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University by Theo Baker

In his debut memoir, journalist Theo Baker takes readers inside his journey as a student reporter at Stanford whose investigation into research misconduct eventually brought down the university’s president. He also details the excess and access offered to students who have been anointed as the next generation of tech billionaires. Chief Member Deirdre Latour, Founder of Rebellis Communications, calls it a “sober view into how Silicon Valley actually operates today.”

The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

Wherever you are in your career or life, you have the opportunity to influence and innovate, argues globally recognized leadership advisor Robin Sharma. His book “reinforced my belief that leadership is about who we choose to be, not the position we hold,” says Chief Member Pauline Leung, Founder of Flow Grounds. “Real influence comes from taking ownership, continuously growing, and creating the conditions for others to thrive.”

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss With Tahl Raz

Chief Member Kimberly Bedeau, Director of DE&I at HelloFresh, calls this book “a masterclass in reading people, wrapped in real hostage-negotiation stories that make the tools stick.” For emerging leaders, every conversation, from a comp negotiation to a hallway check-in, is a chance to practice this, she says. “This book gives language for something many of us do instinctively but were never taught to name or wield deliberately.”

Chief Guides also recommend this book for leaders who are in career transition.

Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer

Chief Member Karlyn Gold, Chief of Staff at Main Street Autonomy, recommends this book by award-winning restaurateur Danny Meyer for its “very simple, very powerful premise." “I refer to the book and his core philosophy anytime I'm resetting a team to clarify purpose: ‘Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel.’” His advice applies to interactions with your customers, team members, managers, and more.