Kickstart Your Reading List with Our CIO’s Top Picks

Feb 4, 2025

2-minute read

RO Chief Innovation Officer Todd Wynne shares five favorite books from his 2024 reading list, with takeaways on leadership, goal-setting, negotiation and challenging assumptions.

Who else set a New Year’s resolution to read more in 2025? If expanding your knowledge and sharpening your leadership skills are on your list of goals, you’re in good company. Our CIO, Todd Wynne, made reading a priority in 2024, diving into books that fueled his growth in leadership, innovation, and personal development. Now, he’s sharing his top reads to help inspire your own journey this year!

graphic of todd's top reads in 2024 part 2

Why Reading Matters for Leaders

In an industry that’s constantly evolving, staying ahead requires more than just hands-on experience. The best leaders continuously seek new perspectives, challenge their thinking, and develop skills that drive innovation. Whether you’re aiming to lead with impact, think outside the box, or invest in self-improvement, these books offer valuable insights to help you grow in 2025.

“Reading is a way to invest in ourselves. It’s about opening our minds to new ideas, challenging our perspectives, and sharpening our thinking. Great books offer us lessons that transcend time and can shape how we lead, work, and live.”
— Todd Wynne, Chief Innovation Officer

Todd Top Reads from 2024

Here are just a few he swears by:

Radical Candor by Kim Scott
“It perfectly aligns with my leadership style, emphasizing the need to challenge directly while caring personally. It’s a principle I hope to embody daily,” Wynne said.

Measure What Matters by John Doerr
“This book provides clarity and alignment in goal-setting, which has been transformative for our company. It ensures everyone is rowing in the same direction,” Wynne said.

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
“It changed how I approach negotiation, teaching me that empathy and understanding are as powerful as strategy,” Wynne said.

Good to Great by Jim Collins
“It’s a constant reminder that complacency is the enemy of excellence. It challenges me to think about how we can consciously choose greatness in everything we do,” Wynne said.

Think Again by Adam Grant
“It’s a lesson in intellectual humility. This book pushed me to question my assumptions and encourages a culture of rethinking and learning, which is critical in a fast-evolving industry like ours,” Wynne said.

Join the Conversation

Have you read any of these books? If so, which one was your favorite? Do you have a must-read book that should be on this list? We’d love to hear your recommendations. Drop them in the comments or share them with us on social media!

Read more about the learning mentality at RO at r-o.com/about