Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, podcasts, or political commentary, Ivey faculty and staff bring their unique perspectives to what they read, watch, and listen to. Their selections reflect not only their intellectual passions but also the values and questions that shape their teaching, research, and work. From climate urgency to capitalism or insight into women’s health, here are some of the books, podcasts, and newsletters that have captured their attention.
Kanina Blanchard’s pick
Kanina Blanchard is an assistant professor of management communications and general management, Ivey Academic Director of CEMS Alliance, and Ivey Academy Program Director for Ivey Leadership Communications and Executive Presence, Leadership At Its Best. Her expertise centres on organizational and communication challenges as well as issues, crisis, and change management.
CTV’s Question Period and Power Play
Hosted by Vassy Kapelos
Tending to her passion for news media, Kanina Blanchard stays up to date by listening to two political affairs programs: CTV’s Question Period and Power Play, both hosted by Vassy Kapelos. Question Period brings Canadians into critical conversations with national political players while Power Play provides an insightful recap of the nation’s evolving politics.
“My first degree was in journalism with a focus on investigative journalism. Spoiler alert... I was part of the team that dug into the underbelly of Canadian politics for the book Mulroney: The Politics of Ambition. Thus, it's not a surprise I do love following politics in the news,” she said.
Janice Byrne’s pick
Janice Byrne is an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and the Corus Entertainment Chair in Women in Management.
All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women's Bodies and Why It Matters Today
by Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Diving into the historical and contemporary treatment of women in medicine is a tough pill to swallow – but Dr. Elizabeth Comen enlightens readers to empower necessary change. Through the lens of entrepreneurship, Janice Byrne praises Comen’s book for inspiring overdue innovations that can redefine women's relationship with the system. Recently published in 2024, All in Her Head presents a sociocultural discussion that gives a voice to women’s adverse experiences in all sectors of health care across time and place.
“Sometimes, we must look back to see the way forward. Health-care practices, research, and services have failed women for centuries. Dr. Elizabeth Comen helps us understand how and why,” said Byrne. “Her book gives an eye-opening, historical account of women's health care and the harmful narratives surrounding the female body that have been perpetuated for centuries. From an entrepreneurial perspective, this book gave me a deeper understanding of why there is such a massive (untapped!) potential in FemTech today.”
Nicole Haggerty’s pick
Nicole Haggerty, HBA ’89, PhD ’04, is Ivey’s Associate Dean of Faculty and an associate professor in digital innovation and information systems whose expertise centres on the effectiveness of information technology-enabled organizational performance.
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
by Shoshana Zuboff
Prompting us to think critically about the world around us, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism homes in on the unsettling impact technology is having on the future of humanity. Fitting with Nicole Haggerty’s teaching focus on information technologies and consumer behaviour, this novel is accredited as one of The Guardian’s Best 100 Books of the 21st Century. Shoshana Zuboff harnesses deep theoretical knowledge to describe the world we are living in and awakens readers to what is at stake.
“I assigned this book for a course I designed called Technology and Humanity. It affords an opportunity for us to ask questions like: What are the risks of prioritizing and monetizing behavioural prediction over consumer well-being? What are the benefits and harms from the evolution of these business models today? What opportunities might we be able to create from innovating business models that don’t rely on surveillance and behavioural manipulations?” she said. “It’s a fabulous, thought-provoking book!”
Erin Huner’s pick
Erin Huner, PhD ’21 (Western), is Director of Culture, Inclusion, Student Support, and Engagement at Ivey.
Lives Well Lived podcast
Hosted by Peter Singer and Kasia de Lazari Radek
Erin Huner’s dedication to leading an equitable and inclusive community at Ivey begins with her ability to listen to others, including the lived experiences of strangers shared on one of her favourite podcast series, Lives Well Lived. Featuring accomplished guests, the hosts, philosophers Peter Singer and Kasia de Lazari Radek, engage in conversations with individuals who are fulfilled by their unique contributions to the world – hoping to inspire listeners to lead ethical and meaningful lives.
“Philosophers Peter Singer and Kaia de Lazari Radek talk to human beings who have lived well both in the sense of living an ethical life, but also in that they are fulfilled and happy with what they have achieved in their lives,” she said.
Lara Liboni’s pick
Lara Liboni is an associate professor in strategy and sustainability whose expertise lies in the area of how collaborations can influence strategic approaches to systems change.
Emotional Agility
by Susan David
Learning how to navigate our inner world of thoughts and emotions is key to personal and professional success. As a changemaker in sustainable business development in Latin America, Lara Liboni is committed to motivating responsible leaders through teaching sustainability in business strategy – but she also recognizes that leadership begins with self-awareness to manage life’s challenges. Susan David’s book outlines key practices to help readers adapt, grow, and thrive to achieve lasting behavioural change and personal fulfillment.
“In Emotional Agility, psychologist Susan David offers practical, evidence-based strategies for noticing, naming, and moving through our thoughts and feelings without getting hooked by them – an essential skill when we’re leading change or facing uncertainty,” she said.
Karen MacMillan's pick
Karen MacMillan, PhD ’13, is an assistant professor of organizational behaviour whose research focuses on leadership, employee voice, and diversity.
Duo newsletter pick: Dear Good People by Dolly Chugh and One Useful Thing by Ethan Mollick
Karen MacMillan turns to the newsletter world for inspiration and suggests a dynamic duo that blends humanity and technological insight. Dolly Chugh’s Dear Good People shares personal reflections and research on being a force for good, and MacMillan describes it as, “full of tips on how to be the good-ish, growth-y person you mean to be.” Ethan Mollick’s One Useful Thing explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming work, education, and life.
“I like newsletters because they require little time to read and they contain very current information,” says MacMillan.
Colin McDougall’s pick
Colin McDougall, MBA ’06, is a lecturer in marketing with expertise in zero-cost, entrepreneurial, and sports and entertainment marketing.
Surrounded by Idiots:The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
by Thomas Erikson
In this global bestseller, Erikson explains how to understand and adapt to four behavioural types – Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow – to improve communication in every aspect of life. McDougall says he finds the framework both accessible and practical for navigating personal and professional interactions.
“It’s an insightful read for anyone trying to build high-performance teams within organizations where the brand outpaces the talent, informal influence overrides accountability, and values are flexed situationally to protect legacy power instead of drive progress,” he said.
Candis McInnis’ pick
Candis McInnis is Executive Director of Ivey Publishing
Station Eleven
by Emily St. John Mandel
Set in the aftermath of a global pandemic, Station Eleven is a haunting and poetic novel about art, memory, and what endures when civilization collapses. Candis McInnis is drawn to the story’s emotional depth and the resilience of the human spirit.
“This book stayed with me long after I read it. It made me reflect on what we value and preserve when everything else falls away,” she said.
Seemantini Pathak’s pick
Seemantini Pathak is an associate professor of strategy and the Ihnatowycz Family Foundation Chair in Leadership, with a cross-appointment at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership and Innovation. Her research examines the interplay between strategic leadership and corporate strategy, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility.
Fire Weather
by John Vaillant
A finalist for the 2023 Giller Prize, Fire Weather is a riveting account of the Fort McMurray wildfires and the broader implications of a warming planet. Seemantini Pathak finds Vaillant’s writing urgent and deeply researched.
“As we get deeper into another severe wildfire season, this Canadian author delivers a vivid account of the 2016 Fort McMurray fire. Vaillant shows how we've entered a new climate era where once-in-a-century disasters now happen regularly. The book is urgent, compelling, and frankly terrifying – but essential reading for understanding our changed world,” she said.
Gal Raz’s pick
Gal Raz is an associate professor of operations management and sustainability whose research centres on supply-chain management and sustainable operations with a special focus on pricing, remanufacturing, innovation, and government environmental regulations.
Outliers: The Story of Success
by Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell explores the factors behind high achievement, from birth dates to cultural legacies. Gal Raz appreciates the book’s engaging storytelling and the way it challenges conventional ideas about success.
“What I really liked about the book was his point about the importance of developing expertise and that to achieve world-class expertise in any skill, one needs about 10,000 hours of practice. He then illustrates how being given the opportunity to build this expertise has helped people become extremely successful using examples such as Bill Gates, the Beatles, and the Canadian Hockey League. To me it also proved the old saying that ‘timing is everything,’” he said.
Mazi Raz’s pick
Mazi Raz, MBA ’05, PhD ’14, is an assistant professor of strategy whose research and teaching focus on the relationship between ideological trends and managerial thinking, and the role of human imagination in organizational life.
From the Ashes
by Jesse Thistle
In this raw and moving memoir, Jesse Thistle recounts his journey from addiction and homelessness to academia and Indigenous advocacy. Mazi Raz finds it an unforgettable story of resilience, identity, and healing.
“This book is a fresh and reviving look beyond the boardroom or classroom – an inspiring memoir of resilience, identity, and the transformative power of second chances. It promises to introduce you to a new emotion, a volcanic mix of hopes and tears,” he said.