Our firm’s favorite books and podcasts of 2022

“My Life in Full” (book)

My favorite business-related book this year was “My Life in Full” by Indra Nooyi (the former CEO of PepsiCo). In general, it was a great book on building a career (she started as a consultant for BCG), leadership and functioning in a corporate space. For women, it had the added layer of discussing how she balanced work with motherhood and the lack of support for families that exists in so many workplaces. It also gave insight on how to succeed in spaces where there may not be a lot of people that look like you. – Leilani Johnson, director of research and digital

“Who” (book)

In this New York Times Bestseller, authors Geoff Smart and Randy Street explain their A Method for Hiring framework, a research-based solution to ineffective hiring in the business world. This book is a great read for anyone in the executive recruiting space. – Mitch Oakley, Charles Aris founder and chairman

“Farmers Versus Foodies” (book)

Agriculture continues to be one of the most regulated industries in the United States, yet a growing number of lawmakers who influence policy are misinformed or biased in how our farmers produce our food. This book does a nice job of explaining the battle our nation’s farmers face on a daily basis while offering facts and data to both sides of the aisle. Also, while I consider myself a “foodie,” I also represent a declining population of individuals who grew up on a farm, and my entire career has been in agriculture. – Eric Spell, agriculture practice leader

“Dare to Lead” (audiobook)

I recently enjoyed listening to the audiobook “Dare to Lead,” read by the author Brené Brown. In the book, she uses personal stories and experiences to encourage the reader to bring vulnerability, authenticity and courage to their work through tough conversations, resilience, integrity and empathy. By doing so, each of us can help create a culture in our workplace where everyone feels safe, seen, heard and respected. – Tim Cook, researcher

“Leveraging Thought Leadership” (podcast)

One of the most important things Charles Aris does as a company is give back to the business community through world-class thought leadership. As we develop new business strategies and learn about emerging trends across the variety of marketplaces we serve, refining this knowledge and sharing it with others will continue to be at the forefront of our corporate philosophy. However, it’s equally important that we continue to hone our thought leadership strategies, and this podcast has been a great way to stay on the cutting edge. – Joe Opaleski, copywriter and editor

“Atomic Habits” (book)

This is a personal development book that focuses on habit formation and gives insight to strategies on how to form good habits. It really focuses on how small changes to your day-to-day habits can yield larger results in the long run. Every idea is backed by proven studies in biology, psychology and neuroscience, and, overall, it’s a really inspiring book to enact change in oneself. – Brooklyn Mounce, associate recruiter

“Fast Company: The new way we work” (podcast)

I enjoy listening to this podcast because each episode discusses a real-life workplace trend that most professionals can relate to. In a time where the way we work is evolving considerably, it’s interesting to hear other people’s point of view and connect it to your own experiences. – Sydney Olszewski, director of marketing

“The Ag News Daily Podcast” (podcast)

This daily podcast keeps me up to date on all the latest news within the agriculture industry and includes an industry guest interview at the end of each episode. While it isn’t necessarily recruiting-specific, this program has valuable information on the overall agriculture industry and is a great way to stay in the know! – Kacey Toews, associate recruiter specializing in agribusiness

“Up First” (podcast)

This daily news podcast has helped me stay on top of what is going on in the world and added “small talk” options when speaking with colleagues, candidates and clients. For example, it kept me informed on the recent Brazilian election, which I was then able to bring up in conversation with a colleague. – Jacob Sattler, senior associate recruiter

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” (book)

In this book, author Stephen Covey takes readers through the most important habits highly effective people employ in their daily lives. From “sharpening the saw” to synergizing with others, this is a great read for anyone interested in becoming better at what they do. – Allen Oakley, president and COO