At SE10, we are passionate about the power of words. As an integrated PR agency, most of our team spends at least half of their week writing press releases, web stories, bylines, and more. What sets us apart is our nose for a story and our ability to make even the most complex of topics rich and interesting for every type of reader.
But where do we get our creative inspiration? Outside of the constant stream of news that our team monitors every day, we are also dedicated readers. To mark World Book Day, we asked which books have given us the most professional inspiration over the years. Here’s what the team had to share.
Matt Pearman, Associate Director, Singapore
The book: A Promised Land
The author: Barack Obama
The why: President Obama candidly shares his journey from a young, idealistic organiser to becoming the first Black president of the United States. His story underscores the power of persistence, even in the face of obstacles.
Ben Shaw, CEO
The book: The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Murder and Mutiny
The author: David Grann
The why: I only read this book in 2024 but I was really struck by the resilience of the characters in it. A story of great determination, and some interesting lessons to be learned on teamwork, leadership and trust.
Hannah Kitchener, Associate Director, London
The book: Work Like A Woman
The author: Mary Portas
The why: Work Like A Woman by Mary Portas was a hugely inspiring read for me. At the time, I was a couple of years into having direct reports at SE10 and stepping into more of a leadership role. As someone naturally quieter, the book helped me see that leadership isn’t about fitting a certain mould – it’s about bringing your own strengths to the table. Portas’ insights on the value of empathy, collaboration, and diversity of thought reinforced that a nurturing and inclusive approach is crucial to a positive and well-functioning workplace in today’s society and gave me the confidence to lead in a way that feels authentic to me.
Salmah Elhaissane, Account Manager, Singapore
The book: Harvard Business Review’s book on Mental Toughness
The why: I really like how the book emphasises professional resilience and growth. It highlights the importance of thriving under pressure, managing emotions by acknowledging them, setting short-term goals to achieve long-term success, and surrounding yourself with people who push you to improve. The focus on using challenges to become a better leader really stood out to me and I enjoyed the comparison on what professionals and leaders can learn from tried and tested techniques used by Olympic athletes!
Jack Porter, Account Manager, London
The book: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
The author: Haruki Murakami
The why: I bore everyone with my running hobby, so retreat into this book for a bit of kinship. It’s short and zippy, and states some flexible lessons about dedication and perseverance you can take into the workplace. Stylistically, it’s straight-to-the-point – something I try and increasingly adopt in my PR writing. I also purchased this before I ran the Cambridge Half Marathon with my friends/colleagues at the beginning of 2024 so associate some nice memories with it.
Mariana Santos, Account Director, Chicago
The book: Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
The author: John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
The why: It gave me a great overview of how presidential campaigns used to be structured in the U.S., the details involving the development of politicians’ “brands”; it’s fascinating to see the journalistic work to get this book to this level of detail, but also fascinating to see the jobs of these “PR” professionals in politics.
Ben Poulten, Creative Designer, London
The book: Joy at Work
The author: Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein
The why: I enjoyed Marie Kondo’s other work on organising home life, and have found this book particularly helpful for both desk and digital storage, time management and decision-making.
Rosie Hopkins, Account Director, London
The book: Option B
The author: Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
The why: I stumbled across Sheryl Sandberg during her episode of Desert Island Discs (which I highly recommend!) a few years ago. I enjoyed it so much that I started to explore her work. I first read Lean In which inspired me to really take control of my own career destiny. It spoke of the barriers that hold women back from leadership positions and sparked a global movement towards creating networks for women in leadership. But the book that really inspired me professionally is called Option B. It’s all about resilience, something that I have needed to build over the years. It’s a deeply personal account of how, when “Option A” i.e. your assumed life and direction is taken away from you, you can create an “Option B”. A different yet beautiful path.
Bolly Methakittiworakun, Digital Marketing Manager, London
The book: Big Magic
The author: Elizabeth Gilbert
The why: My career in digital marketing began because I found passion in everything digital. I really enjoy being creative, understanding data, and figuring out the whys and the solutions for all those whys. I often found myself staying up late learning different digital marketing skills, curious to connect the dots and make sense of the full 360 degree picture of digital marketing. For a long time, I felt like a “jack of all trades and master of none”, especially with everyone on LinkedIn saying to specialise in one area.
Reading Big Magic changed my outlook. It helped me see that my mix of skills doesn’t make me less valuable; it’s actually a strength. The book showed me that creativity is about enjoying the ride, facing fears, and embracing the whole process. In career in digital marketing, I try to keep an open mindset, staying curious and really involved in what I do while enjoying the process.
Feel free to get in touch with us at SE10 about a writing project (or recommend a book!). We’re always happy to make new contacts.
