Purpose-Driven Business Reading List
Curated by Small Business Whisperer
A collection of essential reads for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that align profit with purpose, featuring insights from Black and Brown thought leaders.
Foundation: Building with Purpose
"The Purpose Is Profit: The Truth About Starting and Building Your Own Business" by Ed Tate
A powerful guide that challenges the false dichotomy between purpose and profit
Offers practical strategies for Black entrepreneurs navigating business ownership
Emphasizes building sustainable, profitable businesses while maintaining authentic values
"Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider" by Stacy Spikes
Written by the founder of MoviePass and co-founder of the Urbanworld Film Festival
Chronicles the journey of building groundbreaking companies as a Black entrepreneur
Explores how being an outsider can become a competitive advantage
"The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table" by Minda Harts
Essential reading for women of color in business
Addresses systemic barriers while providing actionable strategies
Focuses on career advancement and entrepreneurial pathways
Social Impact & Community Building
"We Got Game: 35 Female Founders Share Their Entrepreneurial Journey" by Beatriz Acevedo
Stories from Latina and diverse women entrepreneurs
Demonstrates how to build purpose-driven businesses across industries
Includes practical lessons on scaling with values intact
"The Small Business Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Your Small Business" by Steven D. Strauss
Comprehensive guide covering all aspects of small business ownership
Practical, accessible advice for entrepreneurs at any stage
Includes insights on maintaining work-life balance and business purpose
"All In: How Our Work-First Culture Fails Dads, Families, and Businesses—And How We Can Fix It Together" by Josh Levs
Explores work culture and its impact on entrepreneurs and business owners
Discusses creating businesses that support family and community
Addresses systemic workplace issues from a diverse perspective
Innovation & Strategy
"Build for Change: Revolutionizing Customer Engagement through Continuous Digital Innovation" by Carlos Dominguez and Omar Abbosh
Written by Latinx tech leader Carlos Dominguez
Focuses on digital transformation and customer-centric innovation
Practical strategies for staying competitive while maintaining purpose
"The Business of WE: The 8 Essential Questions Every Purpose-Driven Leader Must Answer" by Sheri Chaney Jones
Written by a Black business strategist and executive coach
Framework for building purpose-driven leadership
Addresses the "we" mindset versus "me" mindset in business
"Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leader's Guide to Solving Hard Problems" by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss
Co-authored by Frances Frei, focusing on trust-building in organizations
Practical strategies for solving complex business challenges
Emphasizes ethical leadership and organizational purpose
Financial Wisdom & Wealth Building
"Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole" by Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista)
Written by celebrated financial educator and Black entrepreneur
Comprehensive approach to personal and business finances
Focuses on building generational wealth through smart money management
"Clever Girl Finance: Learn How Investing Works, Grow Your Money" by Bola Sokunbi
Created by Nigerian-American financial educator
Demystifies investing for entrepreneurs and business owners
Practical strategies for building wealth while running a business
"Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy" by Maggie Anderson
Powerful exploration of economic empowerment through community support
Chronicles a family's experiment buying exclusively from Black-owned businesses
Discusses the importance of economic solidarity and purpose-driven spending
Marketing & Brand Building
"Authentic: The Power of Ambition and How to Channel It to Create Meaningful Success" by Lalitesh Katragadda and Michelle D'Allaird
Explores authentic brand building and purpose-driven marketing
Discusses leveraging cultural identity as business strength
Strategies for creating meaningful connections with customers
"Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Visibility" by Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani
Addresses visibility and marketing for purpose-driven entrepreneurs
Focuses on authentic self-expression in business
Particularly relevant for entrepreneurs of color navigating predominantly white spaces
"Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen" by Donald Miller
While not by a BIPOC author, this is paired with diverse marketing perspectives
Framework for clear, compelling brand messaging
Applicable to purpose-driven businesses seeking authentic communication
Leadership & Mindset
"The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America" by Deepa Purushothaman
Written by Indian-American business leader
Addresses unique challenges faced by women of color in leadership
Provides strategies for building inclusive, purpose-driven organizations
"You Are a Mogul: How to Do the Impossible, Do It Yourself, and Do It Now" by Tiffany Pham
Written by Vietnamese-American entrepreneur and founder of Mogul
Inspirational guide to building businesses against the odds
Focuses on leveraging your unique story and purpose
"The Inclusive Leader: Transform Diverse Thoughts into Performance-Driven Results" by Shiella Spence and Isis Kornfield
Co-authored by Shiella Spence, a Black leadership expert
Framework for building inclusive businesses
Addresses how diversity drives innovation and purpose
Industry-Specific Insights
"Recipe for Success: The Mission, Meaning, and Method Behind Great African-American Chefs and Entrepreneurs" by Shellie R. Warren
Explores Black excellence in the food and hospitality industry
Stories of purpose-driven culinary entrepreneurs
Lessons applicable across industries about passion and persistence
"Beauty Disrupted: A Memoir" by Jessica Richards
Chronicles building Shen Beauty with sustainable, purpose-driven values
Discusses disrupting traditional beauty industry practices
Relevant for entrepreneurs in retail and consumer goods
Bonus Resources
Podcasts:
"The Strategy Hour" by Boss Babe - Features diverse entrepreneurs
"Brown Ambition" by Mandi Woodruff-Santos and Tiffany Aliche - Money and career advice
"Being Boss" - Features regular interviews with BIPOC entrepreneurs
Online Resources:
digitalundivided - Research and resources for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs
NASE (National Association for the Self-Employed) - Small business resources
Score.org - Free mentoring with diverse mentor network
How to Use This List
For New Entrepreneurs: Start with "The Purpose Is Profit" and "Get Good with Money" to build your foundation.
For Growing Businesses: Focus on "The Business of WE" and "Black Founder" for scaling strategies.
For Pivoting or Redefining: Read "The First, The Few, The Only" and "You Are a Mogul" for fresh perspectives.
For Community Focus: "Our Black Year" and "The Memo" offer powerful insights on community-driven business.
Why These Books Matter
This reading list represents more than business advice—it's a collection of lived experiences from entrepreneurs who have navigated business ownership while facing systemic barriers. These authors offer:
Authentic voices that reflect diverse entrepreneurial experiences
Practical strategies tested in real-world business environments
Purpose-driven frameworks that prove profit and values can coexist
Community wisdom that emphasizes collective success over individual achievement
Cultural competency that recognizes business doesn't happen in a vacuum
Curated by Small Business Whisperer Empowering entrepreneurs to build businesses with purpose, profit, and impact