Curious about what’s on the bedside tables of top HR leaders? These CHROs share the books that have left a lasting impact, shaping their views on life, leadership and personal growth.
Barry Dell, HR executive partner at Atlas Finance, says “I am an avid reader – it’s almost an addiction, although I must admit that I have always gravitated toward business and self-development books, but recently, I took on a new challenge: reading the top 100 classics of all time.
“It’s fascinating; the Bible remains the undisputed favourite and best-read book. So now, I’m reading not only leadership books but also immersing myself in classics, letting them transport me to wonderful, imaginary worlds. I’m about halfway through the list, and it’s brought me so much joy.
“Some of my favourites are The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I also loved Mind the Gap. Right now, I’m just about to dive into The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett.”
Barry’s interests go beyond self-development, stretching into anthropology and human endurance stories. “I’m very drawn to true stories of resilience,” he explains. “Lewis Pugh’s book was particularly memorable, and I absolutely love everything by John Boyne. Honestly, I think I’ve read every business and leadership book and article I could lay my hands on!”
Mahlogonolo Masenya, head of people and culture at MakwaIT, finds himself returning to The Man In The Mirror: Solving The 24 Problems Men Face by Patrick M. Morley and RC Sproul. “It’s an honest reflection on the 24 challenges men face, from a man who looked in his own mirror and didn’t like what he saw,” he reflects. “The book encourages men to focus on solutions, which is how I approach my work and life.”
Meanwhile Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba, group director of HR and transformation at Netcare Limited, is reading two thought-provoking books: Bell Hooks’ All About Love and Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. “All About Love redefines love as a powerful, active force,” he shares. “Hooks critiques how society distorts love, often associating it mainly with romance and individualism, while overlooking its broader implications in family, friendship, and self-worth. It’s fascinating and gives you so much to think about.”
The Covenant of Water offers something equally powerful for him. “It’s a sweeping, multi-generational novel set in Kerala, India, spanning from the early 20th century to the 1970s. The story follows a matriarch and her descendants, who are bound by a mysterious condition causing family members to die by drowning,” Ndzwayiba explains. “Verghese, who is also a physician, brings a deep sense of empathy to themes of human resilience and suffering, especially as they relate to health and healing.”
Nomaswazi Ngwane, human capital executive at Old Mutual’s mass & foundation cluster, is engrossed in It didn’t start with you: how inherited family trauma shapes who we are and how to end the cycle by Mark Wolynn. “The book dives into how trauma and emotional wounds in families can shape behaviours, health and relationships across generations,” she explains. “Wolynn’s work, grounded in emerging research in epigenetics, makes a compelling case for how we can connect our current struggles with our family history and break these cycles.”
From self-discovery and resilience to love and legacy, these CHROs find both professional insights and personal reflections in the books by their bedside. For each, reading offers not just knowledge, but a journey into deeper understanding and growth.
