10 Insightful Books For Female Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs  

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future  
by Ashlee Vance
Founder, CEO & CTO of SpaceX and Chariman and CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, this South African-born, Canadian-American innovation tycoon, is no stranger to thriving through tough times and overcoming adversity. As an engineer, inventor and investor he’s a beacon of inspiration for budding entrepreneurs and innovators. Ashlee Vance shares insights and anecdotes into Musk’s achievements and failures that are sure to enlighten professionals from start-up to fortune 500.

Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World  
by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler
Every Entrepreneur, who also uses the word Innovator interchangeably, dreams to not just launch a successful venture, but to change the world and make an impact by doing so. From the coauthors of the New York Times bestseller Abundance , Bold, offers such innovators [and corporate executives] a roadmap to the next frontier and inspiration to accomplish it.

Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist  
by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson
To get funding or not and how to do it? Questions that every entrepreneur asks herself at some point and whether she takes funding or declines funding, the first step is to educate yourself on the process. Co-founders of Foundry Group, a Boulder based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage information technology companies, Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson are no strangers to giving advice when it comes to funding a start-up. Both have impressive resumes and extensive knowledge on investing in start-ups and don’t shy away from giving direct, tangible advice on the funding process.

#GIRLBOSS  
by Sophia Amoruso
A rags to riches, self-made millionaire, Sophia Amoruso is the definition of #GirlCrush for most female founders. Unclear of what she wanted to be when she grew-up and at times very lost in life, Sophia found her path through unconventional means, from selling vintage clothing on ebay to building the $100M+ online fashion retailer, Nasty Gal, Amoruso proves that success is about trusting your instincts and following your gut; “I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OK? Cool.  Then let’s do this.”

The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future  
by Chris Guillebeau
A refreshing break from the conventional “You can do it!” motivational Startup books, which every entrepreneur needs at some point, this book actually tells entrepreneurs how to do it. Chris Guillebeau doesn’t define an entrepreneur by funding rounds, IPOs or Press mentions, his take is a more humble entrepreneur, focusing on what you’re passionate about and finding a way to get paid doing it. He states, “This alternate perspective is about starting on your own, with limited money and no special training. You don’t need outside investment (of any kind), an MBA, or a 65-page business plan that no one will ever read. You just need a product or service, a group of people willing to buy it, and a means of getting paid.”

The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster: Why Now Is the Time to #JoinTheRide  
by Darren Hardy
Like the game of golf, entrepreneurial success is an internal mind game, managing the highs and lows of the roller coaster ride and focusing on the task at hand is the biggest key to success. In this book, Darren Hardy discusses the four essential skills necessary for entrepreneurial success: Sales, Recruiting, Leadership, and Productivity; and at the same time gives insight on ignoring the naysayers and dream killers and gives readers guidance on confidence, motivation and leadership skills that are necessary to overcome the low moments of entrepreneurship and staying focused.

Who Built That: Awe-Inspiring Stories of American Tinkerpreneurs  
by Michelle Malkin
For inventors, history buffs or those who just like to know trivial facts, this book is a tribute to American inventions and dives into the inventors behind them, the process they went through and the fortitude and ambition that was needed to bring their ideas to life. Filled with riveting stories and interesting anecdotes, this book is an entertaining read that will leave the reader surprisingly educated on American “Tinkerpreneurs” like Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain and other change-makers and risk-takers who built the American dream.

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future  
by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
A short read at around 200 pages and offering an interesting take on future inventions and successful startups. This book gives an optimistic view of future innovators and offers a handbook on finding value in unexpected places with refreshing ideas on how to create future value through unique and insightful creations.

The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses  
by Eric Ries
An insightful book on entrepreneurship and management, The Lean Start-Up should sit on the shelf of every professional from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 corporate executives.  It dives into the science of “lean thinking” and gives insight and helpful tools to help organizations large and small to sustain innovation by effectively and efficiently leverage the time, passion, and skills of their resources.

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration  
by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace
Ed Catmull, co-founder [with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter] of Pixar Animation Studios, the Academy Award–winning studio behind recent Blockbuster Inside Out and long-time favorite Toy Story, is a role model for achieving enormous success while maintaining artistic standards. This book gives insight into his creative leadership and persistent commitment to innovation, creating a leadership manual for those looking to push their teams to exciting new heights and accomplishments.