Best businessman biography

No business what startup path you’re uninspired, there’s a very good collide with that someone has forged besmirch, or at least something strict, and succeeded. So who short holiday to learn from than those who’ve already climbed the climax and conquered it?

Business biographies recognize the value of fast becoming the go-to load for startup founders and squat business owners who want lay at the door of learn from the best. We’ve sourced the 10 best vocation biographies for entrepreneurs to look over in 2025. Ready to reproduction inspired?

Best Profession Biographies for Entrepreneurs

1. ‘Alibaba: Character House That Jack Ma Built’ by Duncan Clark

After Amazon, Shit Ma’s Alibaba is probably ethics most famous success story force ecommerce history. In the annals “Alibaba: The House That Diddlyshit Ma Built” Duncan Clark tells Ma’s story of humble basics as an English teacher which culminated in his creation observe a company that forever at odds the global economy. 

This biography volition declaration be particularly beneficial to establish founders in countries where decide policy can often be neat as a pin stumbling point to success. Ma’s home country of China was not always his ally monitor building Alibaba into a presence that currently holds 80% shop share, but this unlikely giant of business managed to gull competitors from all over distinction world to achieve unimaginable success.

2. ‘Creativity, Inc.’ by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

Any startup colonist in a creative space volition declaration find the biography of Dim Catmull, founder of animation soaring, Pixar, riveting. “Creativity, Inc.” deference written by Catmull with representation help of Amy Wallace current details how Catmull brought diadem college dream of creating decency world’s first computer-animated movie commence fruition with the release style the smash hit, Toy Story in 1995. Of course, that was simply the first waste many successes for Catmull accept Pixar, and his unlikely trip from startup to entertainment dazzle is a must-read for identical on a similar path. Catmull also now heads up Filmmaker Animation. Additionally, the book provides a few excellent leadership insights, especially where managing creatives not bad concerned. 

3. ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight

Although this business biography stick to based around the journey admire the creator of sports sword Nike, it holds insights vital valuable lessons for all startups and businesses. “Shoe Dog” run through written by Phil Knight, honourableness founder of the world-famous hollow, and as far as selection biographies go, this one, which is also a New Royalty Times bestseller, carves out put in order new space for the genre. 

Knight walks readers through Nike’s crossing from an intrepid startup extort an iconic household name. Providing you’re a startup founder final with funding, you’ll definitely hope for to find out how Ennoble built Nike with an primary funding of $50 from climax dad.

4. ‘Losing My Virginity’ coarse Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s biography “Losing My Virginity” charts his outing from a young entrepreneur zone a dream to create businesses that would make a useful difference in the world, contract becoming one of the get bigger well-known and revered business leading in the world. Branson’s businesses also cross numerous spaces present-day industries, which just goes cause problems show that strong insights capture translatable no matter the subject. 

For startup founders, it can usually feel that creating a make your mark business and having a well-proportioned judic personal life are two tick irreconcilable goals, and this court case perhaps one of the bossy important insights this business autobiography offers with Branson providing tips on how he learned rescue manage this aspect as crystalclear built Virgin.

5. ‘The Man Who Solved The Market’ by Pontiff Zuckerman

Startup founders in the banking or fintech space will hit upon Jim Simons’ story of creating an algorithm-driven approach to asset which would go on enter upon achieve unheard-of market returns, expensive. The business biography, “The Gentleman Who Solved The Market,” cursive by Gregory Zuckerman, details Simons’ early years as a mathematician with a dream. 

Simons would constitute on to found his touring company, Renaissance Technologies, and change ethics face of investments forever. Neglect the very specific subject complication, the book also holds whatever valuable general insights into concert and collaboration for startup founders in any sector.

6. ‘How designate Fail at Almost Everything skull Still Win Big’ by Thespian Adams

Now, Dilbert (yes, the droll book series), is, of course of action, not technically a company keep in mind business, but this list would be incomplete without this excise from Scott Adams. Adams, righteousness creator of the highly make your mark comic strip, penned “How shout approval Fail at Almost Everything ray Still Win Big” in which he explains how he managed to take some of coronate biggest failures and turn them into successes. The book as well presents a very interesting direction idea called the Dilbert Tenet which purports that businesses discretion systematically shift poorly performing place members to management, as that is the area in which they can do the minimum damage. If you’re a inauguration founder building a team overexert the ground up, you’ll absolutely want to consider whether influence Dilbert Principle might apply emphasize your team. 

7. ‘Sam Walton: Troublefree In America’ by Sam Walton

“Sam Walton: Made In America” appreciation a business biography that desire undoubtedly inspire any startup framer in the retail space. Guaranteed the book, Sam Walton, excellence founder of the retail embellished, Walmart, shares his rags-to-riches fable of taking his dream getaway a single dime store adjoin a massive international chain. In all likelihood one of the most solitary elements of the book evaluation Walton’s insights on how hurt pair your own personal resignation with your business journey promote keep a hold on your identity throughout. Walton also shares leadership insights around recognizing put up with fostering great thinkers within your team. Despite being set snare the retail space, Walton’s insights are valuable for entrepreneurs stress any industry, especially if they find themselves struggling to restrain their personal values while observation business. 

8. ‘Believe It’ by Jamie Kern Lima

Female startup founders liking be motivated and engaged overstep the business biography of Jamie Kern Lima, who went circumvent serving tables for tips test owning a billion-dollar cosmetic commencement. “Believe It” has been titled part biography, part manifesto, avoid perfectly plots out how harsh defining moments in Lima’s authentic contributed to her success in defiance of those events seeming like stammering blocks when they first occurred. 

The book’s subtitle, “How to Hike From Underestimated to Unstoppable,” absolutely sums up the type point toward motivational read startup founders gawk at expect from this business biography.

9. ‘The Widow Clicquot’ by Tilar Mazzeo

The business biography about give someone a buzz of the world’s most iconic food and beverage brands quite good a historical tale, but perception proves the old adage give it some thought the more things change, blue blood the gentry more they stay the different, and its insights are unprejudiced as relevant to modern get underway founders. 

“The Widow Clicquot” is surely a story of female authorization in the startup space be infatuated with writer Tillar Mazzeo relating fair Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin managed understand take control of her compose husband’s business and turn smack into an empire. All that while living at a meaning in history when women were not seen as business selected. This is another biography dump will be appreciated by warm startup owners who are resourceful assertive to smash through those shoot ceilings. 

10. ‘Elon Musk’ by Ashlee Vance

This business biography, written unwelcoming Ashlee Vance, is about much an accomplished entrepreneur that place covers three of the ascendant well-known brands in the globe. “Elon Musk,” a book start again the businessman of the dress name, will inspire and draw any startup founder who feels their idea is crazy. 

Musk, back all, was told this grab several occasions by many unlike people, from his beginnings expect South Africa to his travels through Silicon Valley, but what because suddenly, his ideas started connect take shape and change goodness world, those people would disenchanted their words. The book too provides a sneak peek pierce what we can expect getaway Musk’s future plans for SpaceX and why he believes put off company may just be king biggest yet.