Celebrating Black Entrepreneurs and Leaders

In honor of Black History Month, The Thomas Yoseloff Business Center at SNFL is celebrating black entrepreneurs and leaders with this reading list. 

In 1968, Martin Luther King said: 

"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

The black entrepreneurs and leaders whose books appear on the list come from all different walks of life. Yet they all have in common the desire to genuinely serve others and make the world a better place. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE LIST IN PDF FORMAT

(You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and view the document)

OR YOU CAN SEE THE BOOKS BELOW:

• SECTION 1: Entrepreneurship and Career Success
• SECTION 2: Inspirational Biographies (Life, Business, and Career Success) 

Also, remember that our Librarians are here to serve if you need any assistance with your business research projects! We offer 30-min video consultations that are free, confidential and completely tailored to you and your business needs. Take advantage of this wonderful service: no library card required, and completely open to the public. This means that you don't even need to live in New York City to get access to our Librarians and their wonderful knowledge. The Thomas Yoseloff Business Center can help anyone who is starting or growing a business! 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION.

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SECTION 1: Entrepreneurship and Career Success

50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Porter, Kathey (2016)
Book 

Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies, and Resources for the African American Entrepreneur 
Lee, Dante (2010)
E-book

Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness 
Pinkett, Randal (2018) 
Book | Audiobook 

Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires
Wills, Shomari (2018)
Book | E-Book | Audiobook

Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic, Rocking Our Truth
Bond, Beverly (Editor) (2018)
Book | E-Book | Audiobook

Black Power Inc.: The New Voice of Success
Daniels, Cora (2004)
Book

Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman's Playbook for Love and Success
Jackson, Charreah (2018)
Book | E-Book | Audiobook

Climb: Taking Every Step With Conviction, Courage, and Calculated Risk to Achieve a Thriving Career and a Successful Life
Gadsden-Williams, Michelle (2018)
Book | E-Book

Conversations in Black: On Power, Politics, and Leadership
Gordon, Ed (2020)
Book | E-Book | Audiobook

Double Down: Bet on Yourself and Succeed on Your Own Terms 
Clarke, Antoinette M. (2019)
Book | E-Book | Audiobook

Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less 
Dufu, Tiffany (2017)
E-Book | Audiobook

Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success From a Wall Street Vet
Harris, Carla A. (2009)
Book | E-Book

Her dream of dreams: The rise and triumph of Madam C.J. Walker 
Lowry, Beverly (2004)
Book | E-book

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Shetterly, Margot Lee (2016)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

It's About Time: The Art of Choosing the Meaningful Over the Urgent
Burton, Valorie  (2019)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women
Uwagba, Otegha (2018)
Book | E-book

Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business From Scratch--Naturally
Branch, Miko (2015)
Book | E-book

Mo's Bows: A Young Person's Guide to Start-up Success: Measure, Cut, Stitch Your Way to a Great Business
Bridges, Moziah (2019)

Book | E-book | Audiobook

More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work That Uncovers Your True Beauty
Erica Campbell (2019)
Book

Networking for Black Professionals: Nonstop Business Networking That Will Change Your Life
Thompson, N. Renee (2013)
Book

Rise and Grind: Out-Perform, Out-Work, and Out-Hustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life 
John, Daymond (2018)
Book

The Wealth Choice: Success Secrets of Black Millionaires: Featuring the Seven Laws of Wealth 
Kimbro, Dennis (2013)
Book | Ebook

Strategize to Win: The New Way to Start Out, Step up, or Start Over in Your Career 
Harris, Carla A. (2014)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

Success Runs in Our Race: The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the Black Community
Fraser, George C. (2009)
E-book

The Book of Awesome Black Americans: Scientific Pioneers, Trailblazing Entrepreneurs, Barrier-Breaking Activists and Afro-Futurists 
Jones, Monique L. (2020)
Book

The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women
Brown, Elaine Meryl (2010)
E-book | Audiobook

The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table
Harts, Minda (2019)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago: Anthony Overton and the Building of a Financial Empire
Weems, Robert E. (2020)
Book

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl 
Rae, Issa (2015)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

The Nia Guide for Black Women: Achieving Career Success on Your Terms
Huggins, Sheryl and McKissack, Cheryl Mayberry (Editors) (2004)
Book

The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life's Direction and Purpose
Winfrey, Oprah (2019)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage
John, Daymond (2017)
Book | E-book

The Road to Someplace Better: From the Segregated South to Harvard Business School and Beyond
Lambert, Lillian Lincoln (2010)
Book

Think Big, Act Small: How America's Best Performing Companies Keep the Start-up Spirit Alive
Jennings, Jason (2005)
Book | E-book

You Got This!: Unleash Your Awesomeness, Find Your Path, and Change Your World
Penn, Maya (2016)
Book | Audiobook

Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators 
Tedrick, Susanne (2020)
Book | E-book

SECTION 2: Inspirational Biographies (Life, Business, and Career Success) 

A Journey by Faith: No Risk, No Reward
Lewis, Harold and Tina (2019)
Book

Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life's Riches
Harvey, Steve (2014)
Book | Audiobook

Becoming
Obama, Michelle (2018)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

Black and White: The Way I See It
Williams, Richard (2014)
Book | E-book

Building Atlanta: How I Broke Through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire
Russell, Herman J. (2014)
Book

Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter 
Jackson, Curtis "50 Cent" (2020)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

Madam C.J. Walker: Inventor and Businesswoman
Lisa M. Bolt Simons.  (2018). 
Book

More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)
Welteroth, Elaine (2019)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

Never Stop: A Memoir
Sana, Simba (2017)
Book

The Art & Science of Respect: A Memoir
Prince, James (2018)
Book

The Man From Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women
Edward Lewis ; with Audrey Edwards. (2014). 
Book

The Work: The Search for a Life That Matters
Moore, Wes (2014)
Book | E-book | Audiobook

What I Know for Sure
Winfrey, Oprah (2014) 
Book | E-book | Audiobook

Year of Yes
Rhimes, Shonda (2015)
Book | E-book | Audiobook