By Roxanne Chen, Student in the M.S. in Technology Management program
From artificial intelligence and causal inference to cybersecurity, design, and organizational leadership, the faculty of Columbia’s M.S. in Technology Management (TMGT) program aren’t just teaching the future of tech — they're writing it. This year’s reading list spans new releases and essential works by TMGT instructors, offering fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping technology and business today.
Whether you’re looking for your next professional development read, a gift for a colleague, or a deep dive into a field you’ve been meaning to explore, these titles are a great place to start. Dig in.
“Meritocracy: How to Manage Talent for Higher Profits and Happier People”
Paolo Gaudiano, Lecturer, AI/ML for Technology Leaders; Founder, Aleria; and Co-Founder, ARC (Co-authored with Cynthia Overton)
Practical Inspiration Publishing, June 2026
Most leaders believe in meritocracy — very few know how to build it. Meritocracy introduces a powerful framework for managing human assets more effectively so that all talent can thrive. Gaudiano and Overton show leaders how to develop strategies and implement measurable workplace initiatives that reduce risk, increase profits, and build trust across the workforce — so everyone embraces and is accountable for the success of the entire organization.
“Modern Causal Inference: Methods and Applications”
Chris Kuo, Lecturer, Applied Analytics and AI/ML for Technology Leaders; Director of Data Science, The Hartford
Innovation Press, February 2026
A practical, hands-on guide for students, researchers, and practitioners eager to unlock the power of cause-and-effect reasoning in the age of data. Drawing on more than 25 years of industry experience, Kuo walks readers through modern causal inference using four widely adopted Python libraries — DoWhy, EconML, CausalML, and Causal-learn — making this an essential companion for anyone moving beyond correlation to answer the question that actually drives decisions: What caused this?
“Female Leadership for a Sustainable Future: Stories of Six Resilient Global Leaders”
Katja Schroeder, Associate Program Director and Senior Lecturer, Technology Management (Co-authored with A. Argo, C. Miller, B. Steger, A. Miller, and A. Rodriguez)
In “Global Leadership for a Sustainable Future: Issues and Solutions in Public and Non-Profit Organizations,” Emerald Publishing, October 2025
Published by Emerald in October 2025, this chapter presents a qualitative study of six female leaders driving social impact organizations across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America. Schroeder and her co-authors surface a clear throughline: to build and lead resilient organizations, women themselves must become resilient — by tapping into existing networks, committing to lifelong learning, and staying connected to organizational purpose and mission.
“Thinking Fast and Slow in Human and Machine Intelligence”
Francesca Rossi, Lecturer, Ethics and Technology in a Changing World with AI; IBM Fellow and Global Leader for Responsible AI and AI Governance (Co-authored with Francesco Fabiano, Marianna B. Ganapini, Andrea Loreggia, Nicholas Mattei, Keerthiram Murugesan, Vishal Pallagani, Francesca Rossi, Biplav Srivastava, and K. Brent Venable)
“Communications of the ACM,” Vol. 68, No. 8, July 2025
What does it mean to think fast versus slow — and do machines do it, too? In this peer-reviewed article published in “Communications of the ACM,” Rossi and her co-authors draw on the dual-process theory of cognition to examine parallels and differences between human and machine intelligence. The work offers a rigorous framework for understanding how AI systems reason and where they diverge from human thought — essential reading at a moment when AI is increasingly embedded in high-stakes decisions.
“Cybersecurity For Dummies,” 3rd Edition
Joseph Steinberg, Lecturer, Cybersecurity; Cybersecurity Expert
Wiley, April 2025
A fully updated 2025 edition of Steinberg’s bestselling cybersecurity primer, with new material on AI-driven threats, hybrid work environments, and the modern attack surface. Steinberg explains how to lock down computers, devices, and systems; test security to find holes before attackers do; and build a culture of cyber awareness at home and at work — making this an essential reference for anyone responsible for keeping data safe.
“A Whole New Strategy: Rethinking Strategy for an Experience-Driven World”
Nathan Shedroff, Lecturer, Design-Based Innovation; Professor, California College of the Arts (Co-authored with Tony Ahn)
Experience Design Books, October 2023
A pioneer of experience design, Shedroff teams up with Tony Ahn to deliver an integrated framework that ties together the often-fragmented components of strategy — customer experience, sustainability, business model, and operations — into one coherent approach. The book clarifies the different aspects of strategy and offers a process that surfaces better opportunities and connects them in a holistic way.
“Designing Here/Now: A Global Selection of Objects, Concepts, and Spaces for the Future”
Allan Chochinov, Lecturer, Practices in Design and Innovation; Founding Chair, SVA MFA Products of Design; Partner, Core77 Inc.
Thames & Hudson, September 2014
With an introduction written by Chochinov, this curated showcase features innovative design projects drawn from the Core77 Design Awards. The collection serves as a visual reference for how product, environmental, and service design intersect with technology and social impact — useful reading for any tech leader who wants to understand how design choices shape the products and systems we use every day.
“The Battle for Wall Street: Behind the Lines in the Struggle That Pushed an Industry into Turmoil”
Richard Goldberg, Lecturer, Enterprise Risk Management and Technology Management
Wiley, January 2009
Goldberg traces the power struggle between two camps that have reshaped modern finance: the sellers — traditional commercial and investment banks — and the buyers — upstart hedge funds, private equity firms, and other new entrants. The book explains how the information age changed the dynamics on Wall Street and offers a lens that applies just as well to today’s contests between incumbent platforms and AI-native challengers.
About the Program
The Master of Science in Technology Management at Columbia University prepares graduates to lead digital transformation, and align technology and business strategy with an ethical lens. Through experiential learning, industry partnerships, and Columbia-supported research, students gain fluency in digital platforms and emerging technologies, and learn to design human-centered solutions that drive innovation and sustainable impact.
The program is available for part-time or full-time enrollment online or on campus in NYC. Learn more about the program here.
