Leaning in, the power of sleep, and data privacy

Each week, we delve into the reading lists of finance professionals around the world. This week, we hear from Byron K. Patrick, CPA/CITP, CGMA, managing director at Network Alliance, a US consultancy specialising in IT services for accounting firms. Here is a sampling of content that has resonated with him:

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: Patrick said he decided to read the book by Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, because he has daughters. “While many assume this is a book only for women, this is a book for everyone,” he said. “I quickly discovered the impact for me goes far beyond applying this for my daughters. The book created a consciousness for me that I believe has enhanced my career.”

“Google Can Read Your Corporate Data. Are You OK With That?”: Patrick singled out this article to remind organisations to consider data privacy processes. “Many organisations have abandoned the Microsoft platform to replace it with Google Enterprise,” Patrick said. “What many organisations do not know is that Google not only has access to your data, it is reading it.” He advises organisations to understand the contracts they are signing, specifically the privacy aspects.

“Pandora’s Brain”: Patrick recently saw Calum Chace speak, so he visited the blog of the writer and speaker on all things artificial intelligence. “On his site, he shares a series of stories that attempt to provide us a glimpse into what the world will look like after the AI and robotic revolution,” Patrick said.

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams: “Since starting this book, I feel like I have unlocked a secret weapon in life that I wish I had known about sooner,” Patrick said of the Matthew Walker work. “The importance of sleep is absolutely undeniable, and this book makes it very clear.”

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