At Girls In Tech Switzerland, we’d never miss out on an opportunity to learn new things, whether it is with online classes, podcasts, books or a fantastic Girls In Tech event (if you know you know).  As we reach the end of 2022, we have put together a curated list of some of the books that have had a big impact on us this year, made us see things differently or inspired us.

From fiction to real life stories or self-development, here are our top picks – read more about these books & why we love them further down:

👩‍💼 Women & Leadership by Julia Gillard & Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

🥽 Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

🧠 Mindset by Carole Dweck

💬 Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed

🌏 Culture Map by Erin Meyer

⚛️ Atomic Habits by James Clear

💤 Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Learn from some of the most powerful women

What’s the book about: Through conversations with some of the world’s most powerful women–including Jacinda Ardern, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Christine Lagarde, Michelle Bachelet, and Theresa May- the book explores gender bias and asks why there aren’t more women in leadership roles.

“I loved learning more about the careers of well known female leaders, the challenges they faced and the things they have learned along the way. Women make up fewer than ten percent of national leaders worldwide and this book starts the conversation on how to change that.” – Anne-Sophie

The novel that predicted the Metaverse

What’s the book about: Snow Crash is the novel that introduced the term “Metaverse” to the world in 1992 already. It tells the story of Hiro Protagonist, a katana-wielding hacker who jumps back and forth between dystopian Los Angeles and a virtual world called – you guessed it – the Metaverse. The book features two inspiring female characters, Y.T., a fearless girl that helps the protagonist, and Juanita, a programmer that designed the faces of the avatars in the metaverse.

“This is an “old” book but I read it for the first time this year based on a recommendation and I think it hits home with the current developments of the Metaverse. If you want a (not so) futuristic look into how we might be using the Metaverse at some point, take a look at this entertaining and fast-paced cyberpunk novel.” – Lisa

The power of our mind

What’s the book about:  Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities.

“An easy read that describes the two mindsets and the huge impact of our beliefs. Whether conscious or unconscious, they strongly influence what we want and whether we succeed in getting it. It’s been a eye-opener to better understand myself and others. It made me realize that I approach some things with a growth mindset and others with a fixed mindset. As a consequence, it has created a lot of opportunities for learning!” – Noémie

Let’s think differently

What’s the book about: Rebel Ideas examines the power of ‘cognitive diversity’ – the ability to think differently about the world around us. It explains how to harness our unique perspectives, pool our collective intelligence and tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

“The book talks about the power of teamwork and creative problem-solving, and how the best ideas are born. I think it’s a must-read for anyone in tech and innovation. It highlights that cognitive diversity in decision-making has been proven to improve the quality of these decisions.” – Fabienne

The impact of culture

What’s the book about: INSEAD professor Erin Meyer provides a field-tested model for decoding how cultural differences impact international business, and combines a smart analytical framework with practical, actionable advice.

“Because “culture eats strategy for breakfast” and its so crucial to build a culture that allows for working effectively in a global marketplace.” – Taisha

Building new habits for 2023

What’s the book about: Clear reveals practical strategies teaching how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

“I love how he explains that your identity is the sum of your habits. To change your identity, change your habits. To change your habit, think of who you want to be!” – Julie

You probably aren’t sleeping enough

What’s the book about:  Walker explains the importance of sleep and how we can harness it to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity  and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses.

“This is such a great book which explains why sleep is important and how sleep deprivation can affect us.” – Ursina

We hope you enjoyed the team’s favorite reads of the year! 💛