Corporate entrepreneurship is both an art and a science. Below the OneLeap team shares four books we’ve enjoyed over the last year which will help you develop as both an artist and scientist in corporate entrepreneurship.

Read these? Got other suggestions? Let us know your thoughts on LinkedIn.

1. Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen

Rita Gunther McGrath is a professor of management at Columbia Business School, and a long-time friend of OneLeap. In 2021 she was listed again in the Thinkers50 Top 10 for 2021.

In her fifth book, Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen, she discusses how inflection points or paradigmatic market shifts (think launch of the world wide web) can either lead to the development of new entrepreneurial opportunities or spell out the demise of a business.

She provides key insights into how to spot signal shifts before they arrive, what organisations can do to improve their innovation proficiency (and adapt to change), as well as ways to expand their network to stay competitive in the long run.

“Spotting a major change on the horizon isn't necessarily hard; predicting the timing is, devilishly. Seeing Around Corners provides practical advice for businesses to capture, assess and respond to signals proportionately. It also contains a lot of fresh, compelling examples that make it a real read, not just a skim.”

– OneLeap Associate Director, Juliet Wagner

2. Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good

Dr Christian Busch is a lecturer on executive education, business model innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact at the London School of Economics (LSE) and New York University (NYU), where he directs the CGA Global Economy Program.

Following the success of The Serendipity Mindset, this month Chris launched his second book, Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck. Lauded by the likes of Reid Hoffman and Ariana Huffington, Chris guides you through the ‘Serendipity Field’ where ‘triggers’ combined with thoughtful connections (and great tenacity) can lead us to moments of serendipity.

For businesses, cultivating this mindset in teams, and combining it with a clear direction and purpose can prove invaluable.

3. Non-Bullshit Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds

Global keynote speaker, David Rowan, best known as WIRED UK’s Founding Editor is an expert in technology, emerging business, innovation and future-proofing the workplace.

Published a few years ago but enjoyed across the OneLeap team, his book, Non-Bullshit Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds, was written when he personally “hit the limit of [his] tolerance for corporate innovation’s spuriously sophisticated bull****…”.

His frustration sparked a global quest to find examples of true innovation. In this book he shares real world case studies from:

• the world’s most successful scale-ups (Amazon, Airbnb, Spotify)

• a historical independent book shop in London (Heywood Hill)

• established and evolving corporates (ARUP, Quantas, American Express)

• new frontier national governments (Dubai, Estonia)

• incubators and research facilities (IDEO, X Development)

He includes concise ‘Action Points’ at the end of each chapter, providing an engaging and thoroughly pragmatic summary of where innovation has succeeded (as well as plenty of questions for those who have yet to measure the success of their labour).

4. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

If the last 2 years have taught us anything, it is the human need to gather, to share and experience things together. If you’re not systematically thinking about how to do this better, you are missing an opportunity as a corporate entrepreneur.

Priya Parker is a facilitator and specialist in helping communities and leaders communicate and interact better. Founding member of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, and member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on New Models of Leadership, her book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters was named Best Business Book of the year by Esquire Magazine, The Financial Times, and Bloomberg.

Drawing on 15-years of experience, she illuminates the ins and outs of events and gatherings in all forms, explaining what works - what doesn’t – and why. She shares how a ‘human-centric’ approach can help anyone create purposeful and memorable experiences.

“This book completely changed how I think about bringing people together. Packed full of memorable stories and genuinely actionable tips and tricks, it’s a must read for anyone who wants to improve the way they host both personal and professional gatherings.”

- OneLeap Transformation Consultant, Charley McGarry

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