Dear Members:
Summer is right around the corner! This means (for some of us) that the pace of the year begins to ease and the days grow a little longer, bringing a welcome opportunity to slow down, recharge, and reconnect. One of my favorite ways to do that is through a great book or a thought‑provoking podcast.
Learning in the summer feels different. It’s less about checking a box and more about curiosity. Exploring new perspectives, reflecting on familiar ones, and sometimes simply enjoying a story or conversation can make you think in a new way. Whether it’s a few quiet pages at the end of the day or a podcast queued up for a walk or road trip, these moments have a way of sticking with us.
That’s why I’m excited to once again share my summer reading and listening lists, alongside our Executive Leadership Team’s—featuring titles that have inspired us or that we’re eager to explore. I hope you’ll find our recommendations challenging, inspiring, energizing, or just plain fun.
Here’s what’s on my list.
My podcast listening mix lately reflects a balance of staying informed, learning from leaders, and having a little fun along the way:
On my reading list, I’m planning to dive into “CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest” by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra. It’s a McKinsey-backed look at what sets top-performing CEOs apart, and I’m always interested in perspectives that sharpen leadership thinking.
Prashanta Pradhan, EVP, Chief Information Officer: Three books have recently been very interesting to me. “Robot Dreams” by Isaac Asimov is a short science fiction about ethics and morality. It was written in the 90s, but it is relatable to what is going on with AI and automation. “Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion” by psychologist Paul Bloom makes the argument that empathy is a poor choice for decision-making because it can lead to personal biases. Third, “The Wandering Inn” is a massive fantasy web serial written by Pirateaba.
Ryan Murphy, EVP, Chief Financial Officer: For reading, I always try to balance books that help me learn with science fiction I pick up for enjoyment. For learning, I have “Untangled,” a book about raising daughters, along with “Give and Take” and “Thinking Fast and Slow” on my kindle. When it comes to podcasts, I enjoy “Odd Lots” and am focused on others about economics and how AI is being integrated into finance.
Christine Mayes, EVP, Chief Member Engagement Officer: I have a list of “business reads,” which are mostly driven from recommendations from the Credit Union Executives Society training I attended earlier this spring. Two are books: “How the Mighty Fall” by James Collins, and “Why Simple Wins,” by Linda Bodel. I also enjoy the “Acquired” podcast and have listened to several episodes. The episodes on Hermès and Mars came highly recommended, so those are next on my list. On my personal reading list, I recently began reading “The Kite Runner,” and I just finished the light mystery “The Inheritance Games;” I plan to read the other books in the series. Finally, “The Lost Apothecary” was recommended to me by a good friend, so I’ve added that to my list, too.
Regina Lewie, Chief Risk Officer: While I will listen to podcasts about risk management, like “RIMScast,” in the evening I enjoy a good comedic podcast, such as “Good Hang” with Amy Poehler. And there’s nothing like falling asleep to someone reading me a story or history lesson. I’m currently listening (and sleeping) to “Sherlock Holmes Short Stories” or “Historic Royal Palaces.”
Whatever topic or genre you gravitate toward, I hope that any reading (and listening) you do this summer sparks creativity, sharpens your thinking, and leads to the kind of insights that stick with you long after the final words have been absorbed.