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21 business bio examples.

Professional Bio Examples

Professional bios come in all shapes and forms. Some are brief and to the point, while others tell lengthy stories. What do you want to tell profile visitors or a potential employer, nd what platform do you want to use? From an entrepreneur Instagram bio to a Twitter bio , you have more options than ever. The following professional bio examples will help you write a business bio that engages readers.

1. Chima Mmeje

2. van jones, 3. lena axelsson.

Many industry professionals know their professional bios are how many clients are introduced to them and their services. In her business bio at Psychology Today, marriage and family therapist Lena Axelsson introduced her practice with a core belief rather than a personal statement. She then explains how that belief impacts her passion for healing sufferers of trauma.

4. Rebecca Bollwitt

5. chris burkard, 6. tim cook.

Apple CEO Tim Cook ‘s professional bio on his company’s website is a great example of a traditional yet still effective business profile. Audiences can put a name to the face thanks to a large profile photo, and the brief bio clearly illustrates the history of Cook’s career.

7. Lisa Quine

Professional bio template.

(NAME) has (ACCOMPLISHMENT1) and (ACCOMPLISHMENT2), among other industry distinctions. (NAME) can help you meet your target goals in the (INDUSTRY TYPE) industry. (NAME) currently resides in (PLACE), where (s)he enjoys (HOBBY) and (INTEREST).

Short Bio Examples

8. audra simpson, 9. corey wainwright, 10. megan gilmore.

When you only have a few characters to compose your professional bio, it’s important to make every word count. Cookbook author Megan Gilmore effectively describes her career in just a few short words on her Instagram profile. She helps communicate ideas using emojis and strategically directs readers to her website, where they can learn more details.

11. Ann Handley

12. sarah haskins, longer bio examples, 13. mark levy.

Consultant Mark Levy lists his own bio twice on his company website, each version highlighting different aspects of his own business and his person. In the first entry, Levy lists his credentials in just a few short paragraphs. The second business bio on Levy’s website tells a more detailed and engaging story of the small business owner’s career, and it even employs elements of humor.

14. Wonbo Woo

Creative business bio examples, 15. dj nexus, 16. pei jung ho.

You might expect a unique and creative professional bio from an artist, and Pei Jung Ho definitely meets that expectation. The professional designer doesn’t simply boast a website with some accomplishments and job description. Ho’s personal website opens with an animated statement in colorful and bold lettering, before transitioning to a more traditional short bio and an engaging photo of the artist.

17. Nancy Twine

18. trinity mouzon, 19. alex bishop, author bio examples.

Authors have been impressing their readers with professional bios centuries before anyone heard of the World Wide Web. Today, it’s not uncommon for authors to have websites and social media profiles promoting their works, complete with creative business bios that might or might not mirror the bios printed in their books.

20. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

21. michael siemsen, what are the essential components of professional bios, how do you make your bio interesting.

How do you make your professional bio more interesting? After all, no one is going to be impressed by yet another series of monotonous bullet points. You can add some extra pizzazz to your bio by including a more personal side, as well.

Should I write a bio in the third person?

If, however, you start your bio by referencing yourself as, “I,” or using first person, then that should remain consistent, as well.

How to Write a Business Bio that Stands Out

Whether you’re a business owner or working for someone else, you find yourself in need a business bio on the regular… .

It’s important to know how to write a business bio that shows who you are, what you do, and what sets you apart in a concise and memorable way. 

You may find yourself needing: 

• A LinkedIn bio
• A bio to be read at workshops and speaking engagements 
• A bio for when you’re a podcast guest 
• A bio for your About Page on your website 
• A way to share about yourself on social media without feeling like you’re just blabbing on about yourself! 

Especially when you’re working to increase your visibility, the time will come when you need to write about yourself.

I know, it’s weird, right? 

This blog will help make it easier for you to write about yourself and show you how to write several versions of a business bio to help you shine as the magical human you are. 

To begin, let’s get into WHY it’s important to remind people of who you are and what you do. We have to talk about yourselves consistently, and in a way that’s clear, understandable, and creates a connection between us and who we’re sharing with. 

I have a connection online, a fellow service provider, who in my mind did one thing and one thing only. 

In my defense, she talks about this one thing often. She has it as her descriptor line on LinkedIn and Instagram. Recently, she reached out to me letting me know that if I came across people looking for XY-Zed, she could deliver. Now, this was actually quite helpful to me because I encounter people often that are looking for XY-Zed and I don’t offer it in a way that works for everyone all the time. I’m often looking for someplace to refer them too and this was helpful information for me. All this time, I THOUGHT she only did XY, I had no idea about the Zed piece. And I told her so. 

She realized she didn’t talk about the Zed piece anywhere online, and others were probably confused and didn’t know either! So, she re-introduced herself and made a commitment to do it more regularly. 

I was in the same boat recently too. Someone I hadn’t seen in awhile asked me what I was doing for a “living” ((I think she was under the illusion that I was only doing my podcast??)) and I had to spell it out for her that I’m a Content Copywriter . Honestly, not even sure my mom knows that, so I cut this friend some slack. But it sparked in ME a reminder to talk about myself and make a post about who I am and what I do . 

This is why it’s so important to talk about ourselves. 

It might feel uncomfortable to you but remember that people are busy and moving fast. They’re not always paying attention. We have to consistently remind them of who we are and what we do. It’s not annoying – it’s clear messaging. 

For some people, this may be their first encounter with us. They truly don’t KNOW us yet and we have to welcome them in and tell them who we are and what we do! 

Places to share a business bio and remind people of what you do: 

• Your About page on your website
• Your LinkedIn, Facebook Page, Instagram, and other social media bios 
• Before you get brought on stage or on Zoom as a speaker
• When you’re introducing yourself in a workshop
• In podcast episodes you do on your own (solocasts)
• In podcast episodes you’re a guest on 
• In person at networking events, family parties, and on the sidelines at soccer games ((we’ll touch on that another time)) 

So how do you write a solid business bio? That talks about YOU in a comfortable way and takes into account who you’re talking to?

The next few sections will give you the basics. If you want to dive in deeper, download my FREE Bio Builder here. ((Note: I threw this together as a resource for YOU. There’s no elaborate optin sequence to follow it and it’s not fancy yet. But I wanted to be sure you had it so you could get pen to paper and start writing your business bio ASAP))

The Number One Key to Writing a Business Bio is to Show You Care. 

Anytime we’re talking about ourselves – whether verbally or writing a business bio, we’re building a bridge. A bridge between who we’re talking to and ourselves. We create a connection when we give them a reason to care and also show that WE care about them too. 

Questions to Ask Before Writing Your Business Bio 

#1) What do you do? 

This seems like the easy part. And for some, this is an easy answer. (ie. “travel agent”, “writer”, “nutrition coach”, “website designer”, “painter”, etc.). Simple. My 8 year old nephew Max could understand and refer you. There are others who are majorly overcomplicating what you do or creating too much vaguery around it. 

Examples I’ve seen: Embodiment Guide, Authenticity Coach, Creative, Time Management Diva, Creator of Fun, Transformational Coach, etc. 

These are slightly hard to understand, because it’s just not that clear. In some instances, we don’t even know what the words mean, or they’re used so frequently they’ve lost their meaning. If what you do comes out along those lines, how can you clarify and simplify it just a tad bit? You can bring in the fun tagline later, but how can you say it in a way that even kid can understand what you do right away.

#2) Who do you work with? 

For this question, I want you to think about not just who you work with, but who you LOVE working with. You don’t need to nail down one single client avatar. ((I know that’s what you hear in many places)), but you can share your love in working for different types of people, at different times and in different ways. So for the purposes of this exercise, I’d list them all out. When you write your business bio, I’d recommend choosing one or two or creatively weaving them together with a common thread. 

For me, here are FOUR I speak to specifically because of common denominators I’ve identified: 

• Interior Designers 
• Website Designers  
• Podcasters 
• Women Entrepreneurs with service-based businesses 

I work with people outside those areas, but those are the four I most often speak to. 

Who do you work with? Who have been your favorite clients and WHY? 

#3) What do you do? 

Again with a caveat, let’s focus on what you most love to do. You don’t have to list all your services and you don’t have to list the ones you don’t particularly want to draw attention to. 

Rather than list out website copy, blog writing, social media content banks, welcome packets, business bios, etc. etc. etc. I often will simply say, “I take the writing in your business off your plate entirely!” or “I guide people in how to create content for themselves with simplicity and ease.” 

Just make sure to include the type of work you REALLY want. 

#4) What makes you unique and different? What sets you apart from others in your industry? 

Don’t let yourself sink into being generic here. Try not to lean too heavily on your extensive educational experience, but really think about what makes you different. 

• Is it your process? 
• Your focus on the numbers? 
• Your strategic brain? 
• Your empathy? 
• Your intution? 
• Your impeccable attention to detail? 

If you struggle to determine what sets you apart, look at what your clients say you they love about you in testimonials. 

Maybe your years of experience are a piece of what set you apart, maybe your education is beyond what others in your industry have, or the specific niche or the specific type of project you offer is something not many others do – weave that in too, but I do recommend looking at the human characteristics that set you apart from the noise. 

Even if you’re a “brand” you have human characteristics. 

#5) What gets you out of bed in the morning? 

Think beyond the coffee pot and too full bladder here. ((you might wanna’ sit with this one)) What really gets you excited for the day ahead? 

Here are some of my answers: 

CONNECTION with others and the natural world around me

The question, “WHAT CAN I LEARN TODAY?” 

My FAMILY and FRIENDS

My fingers twitching because they have no choice but to WRITE and CREATE 

WORD GAMES and puzzles and all the #brainnerdnerdbrainthings

The beautiful routine and JOY of my simple life

And of course, in addition to all of that, a full bladder and coffee.

What is it for you? Your kids? Clients?  

Time to put it together to write your business bio! 

We’ve answered our four questions: 

• What do you do? 
• Who do you work with? 
• What do you like to do most in your business? 
• What sets you apart? 
• What gets you outta’ bed in the morning? 

You can start taking these answers and writing down your business bio messy and sloppy. Make it weird. Just get it down on paper. 

Then, you can tidy it up using these tips: 

• With every version you create, pretend you’re writing your business bio for just one person. Speak to them directly. 
• A few social posts
• A 50-75 word version first person
• A 150 word version first person
• A 50-75 word version third person
• A 150 word version third person
• A “What Sets Me Apart” section with bulleted points 
• Consider a hook, if you want. I’m not a wild fan of hooks, but I’ve seen some that are catchy. If that’s your style, go for it!
• Add in a fun fact or two – what you do in your free time, any pets you have, etc. You can also share a boring fact if you’re life is devoid of fun ones. Something that humanizes you and makes you uniquely you. 
• Be as specific as possible. The more specific you are the better. Don’t say “Everyone who…” or “Anyone who…”. Write in specifics. 

"The more specific we are, the more universal something can become. Life is in the details. If you generalize, it doesn't resonate. The specificity of it is what resonates." - Jacqueline Woodson Tweet

Keep this reminder mind when writing your business bio: 

YOU are a one of a kind human and you work with other one of a kind humans. Writing a great bio and talking about yourself, bridges these two together in the very best of ways. 

More resources on how to write a business bio that helps you stand out: 

Download my FREE Bio Builder 

Get My Bio Spruce Up Service (three versions of your bio for $175 + LinkedIn suggestions) 

Listen to the Content with Character episode How to Write About Yourself where I dive into this even more! 

[email protected]

Emily Aborn is a Content Copywriter for women entrepreneurs, Podcast Host of Content with Character and She Built This. She’s been an entrepreneur since 2014 and has experience in running brick-and-mortar as well as online businesses. She’s worked with over 98 different industries in their marketing and loves helping businesses increase their visibility, connect with their clients, and bring their dreams and visions to life. For fun, Emily enjoys nerdy word games and puzzles, reading, listening to podcasts, and tromping about in the woods with her husband, Jason, and their dog, Clyde.

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• How to Write ____

How To Write a Business Bio

Table of Contents

If you could use three words to explain your personality to someone, which words would you use? Maybe all that popped into your head was “I’m a person” or “Need a job.” If so, you’re in the right place. Writing a bio isn’t easy; it’s always a challenge to define yourself in only a few words. But don’t worry–you can do it! Not only is thinking about who you are a great writing exercise, but it’s also a powerful form of personal development. Here are some tips on how to write a business bio.

How to Write a Short Bio

Think about online bios; what comes to mind? Most people think of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Each of these platforms has a place for a short description of yourself, who you are, and what you do. It’s important to make the most of the few lines you’re afforded! You should keep your social media bios short and sweet, and remember to only include things that you’d want a stranger to know about you. This usually consists of your name, your current role, your ultimate goal, and your biggest achievement.

How to Write a Professional Bio

There are many professional sites out there, including AngelList, LinkedIn, and event sites. Each of these has space for a bio or summary section. What’s important to include in a professional bio is a mid-length description of your current role, professional goals, and noteworthy achievements. On LinkedIn especially, professional bios allow for more detail than social media bios. Here’s what you should include:

• First and last name
• Professional tagline or current role
• Personal brand or company
• Professional goals and aspirations
• A few of your most noteworthy achievements
• One fun fact about you (depending on the website)

What to Include in a Bio for Work

If you’re writing a bio for your company’s website, Slack interface, or HR system, you’ll want to share both your personality and your professional expertise. Allow your coworkers to get a glimpse of who you really are!

Anything you would put into a professional bio is also appropriate in a bio for your company. The difference is that in a bio for your company, you don’t need to shy away from personalization with personal details. You can mention a favorite hobby, the last book you read, or a person you look up to. This way, your coworkers can get a sense of who you are even if they haven’t yet worked with you.

What to Include in a Bio for Your Personal Website

If you’ve ever tried to write the “About” section for your personal website, then you know it can be a hassle. After creating a whole website about yourself, it’s time yet again to write a description of who you are.

But don’t worry; your website bio doesn’t need to be too complex. All it requires is context regarding who you are and what you’ve done. A personal website bio is a larger, open space where you can list several accomplishments and explain exactly why they’re important. It’s also nice to add a brief paragraph mentioning who you are outside of work. With this type of bio, it’s wise to add a contact form or email information so that any prospective collaborators, clients, or employers can easily get in touch. If you do include this, remember to add a clear call to action that will convince readers to contact you.

A Bio Template to Use and Customize

Even now, after reading about various types of bios, it can still be challenging to write a business bio. The words might not be flowing just yet, you might not be sure about where and how your professional bio will be used and displayed, or you may feel completely stuck. In any case, this bio template should be helpful, and variations of it can be used on any site.

• Brand or company
• Current position or function
• Overall goals or values
• Top accomplishments/milestones of your career
• Personality/hobbies outside of work
• Contact information

Bio Example

The informative short bio: heather heying’s twitter.

Heather’s Twitter bio describes her career and hobbies while also promoting her book. It also includes links to her professional websites in case any followers wish to contact her or find additional information.

Four Tips for a Great Bio

We’ve given you lots of info on how to write a bio, but that doesn’t make it easy to write about yourself. Remember, even the most confident people can struggle with self-promotion! Luckily, there are a few tips to keep in mind that should be helpful for your “about me” writing.

1. Don’t think too much.

Most bios follow a formula, and that’s totally fine. In the case of most LinkedIn summaries, professional bios, and speaker bios for events, it’s not really necessary to stray from the norm. Simply including an adjective that gives readers a clue about your personality or mentioning a fascinating achievement can make your bio fun and different. 

2. Know your worth.

Writing a bio on a huge social media platform can be understandably daunting–there is a crazy amount of people and bios out there already! But don’t fall into the comparison trap. Remember this: You’re the only one who gets to tell your story in this way, and you have inherent value. As long as you remain authentic and sincere, there’s no need to be concerned about anyone else!

3. Feel free to borrow.

We’ll admit it: Bios are often tedious and repetitive. If you discover a structure you like that stands out, then feel free to borrow it! Avoid copying someone’s bio–that’s their story, not yours–but you can absolutely mimic its structure. 

4. Get help.

You’re not the only one who is trying to create a bio that stands out from the crowd. Asking friends for feedback or using online grammar software can help you write the perfect business bio and make it one of a kind!

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3 stand-out professional bio examples to inspire your own

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What’s a professional bio?

How to write a professional bio, professional bio examples to inspire your own, promote with pride.

Opportunities to self-promote can arise when you least expect them. Whether you exchange LinkedIn profiles at a networking event , receive an invite to submit a resume , or share your personal website with a potential client, branded materials that effectively describe you are crucial to making a great first impression . 

A professional biography (bio) is more than a simple self-introduction or opportunity to boast — although you should promote your skills and accomplishments with pride . With such little space and so much to say, you may struggle to find the perfect words.

After all, who you are and what you do extends far beyond a couple of sentences. But conciseness is possible — it just requires a little self-reflection and guidance. 

Let’s explore different strategies for writing a bio that's engaging, adaptable, and, most importantly, encapsulates your professional values and identity. With these tips and professional bio examples to guide your process, you’ll learn how to write a bio about yourself that shows off your best side. 

A professional bio is a brief but impactful blurb that introduces who you are and what you do. Ranging from a few sentences to several paragraphs, it sums up your area of expertise, talents, and professional background. 

Think of your professional bio as an opportunity to expand your personal brand statement , which uses marketing strategies like punchy and emotion-provoking language to sell you in a few choice sentences. Your bio includes additional information and personal touches to create a fuller picture of your professional accomplishments and future aspirations . 

You never know who scans your social media profiles, company website, or resume. A thoughtful bio is adaptable and provides consistent messaging regardless of the platform and audience. Whether it’s a recruiter , client, or collaborator checking out your branded materials, your professional bio works around the clock to promote your personal brand . 

Wherever you network, job search , or show off your work are all great places to include a bio. That may include: 

The “About” section on your personal website, YouTube channel, or podcast , giving insight to visitors about the person behind the work

Your LinkedIn profile's summary section , providing a personal touch to the career achievements and skills highlighted in your work experience section

Promotional materials or event programs , like for a workshop, speaking engagement, or training webinar

On the team page of your organization’s website , showcasing your unique role and contributions to your team

In an author bio for blog posts and articles , establishing your trustworthiness and providing context to readers

In the bio sections of social media profiles used to promote your personal brand , adding personality to reflect your professional identity

Within a cover letter , letter of intent , or letter of interest , connecting your unique value to a potential employer’s needs

In a grant or proposal submission , lending credibility when applying for funding or pitching a project

On your online or physical portfolio , helping people connect more deeply with your work as a creative

On a book jacket, author page, or academic journal , highlighting your expertise, background, or focus areas

Adapting your professional bio template to fit different platforms helps you paint a consistent and engaging picture of yourself for varying audiences. You can control the narrative that surrounds your professional identity and reputation.

And clarity across platforms acts as a powerful call to action — the more your target audience understands what you represent, the more likely they’ll want to connect with you. 

A great bio shows off your unique value, reflects your goals, and displays your personality . But, despite its highly personalized nature, you can still use templates or follow frameworks to write your own. Here are a few guidelines for writing different bio types. 

How to write a short bio

A short professional bio offers your reader a quick snapshot, making it best suited for professional situations requiring brevity, like a cover letter or social media platform with character limits.

And a well-written short bio captures attention and entices your audience to follow through, carefully reading an attached resume or scrolling your LinkedIn profile. 

Here are some general guidelines:

• Start with the basics: Explain who you are, what you do, and your current work. Keep it as brief as possible and focus on essential information that reflects your identity and current professional situation. 
• Establish credibility: Share valuable professional triumphs to give readers insights about your unique value and credibility. Descriptors like “Award-winning” or “With 10 years of experience” are concise ways to express the breadth of your experience. 
• Be personal but appropriate: Add personal touches to make your bio feel more authentic and relatable , remembering to consider context. “Adventure-loving mechanical engineer” may suit an Instagram bio, whereas “ Innovation-seeking mechanical engineer” is better suited for a professional portfolio . Each conveys a sense of personality and aligns with the goals of the medium. 

How to write a long bio

A long bio offers your audience a more comprehensive understanding of who you are and what you stand for. They’re best suited for professional situations requiring a more in-depth intro, like an author page, “About Me” section, or funding proposal. 

A well-crafted long bio doesn’t just illuminate key experiences and skills. It humanizes you, showing off professional goals and personal interests that capture reader attention and build trust . 

Here are some general tips: 

Introduce yourself: Just like you do in a short bio, the first sentence should clearly establish who you are and the work that’s most important to you. Consider mentioning your current position and clarifying your responsibilities . 

Go in-depth on your values: In a long bio, you can elaborate beyond short descriptors and action verbs . Depending on the medium, tell a fuller story that adds depth to your personal values and professional pursuits.  

Mixing the personal with the professional, like mentioning your alma mater and describing your first roles, adds nuance and richness to your character representation. This creates a sense of closeness and understanding with your reader. 

Detail your professional journey: While the focus should be on your current job title and area of expertise, readers can build a deeper connection when they learn more about your professional story.

Consider highlighting career milestones, including certifications, notable successes, and work experience. But describe yourself with humility . Bragging about your skills and accomplishments may come off as arrogant instead of confident , a misunderstanding that might put the reader off.

General guidelines

Regardless of format, a successful professional bio follows a few basic rules, like: 

Keep it fresh: Your career is never stagnant, and your personal bio shouldn’t be, either. Regularly update your bio to include new achievements, professional skills , and shifts in your career focus. 

Keeping your LinkedIn bio, portfolio website, and other materials current ensures that potential employers and collaborators have access to the most relevant information about you, avoiding misunderstandings and missed opportunities. 

Provide a call-to-action: You’ve captured your target audience's attention — now what? Invite readers to connect, engage, and start a conversation . Clarity can help direct the kind of engagement you want. 

Something like “For consulting inquiries or collaborations, contact me at [email]. For copyright requests, contact my publisher at [email].” is appropriately clear and direct. 

Proofread for consistency: Like any professional communication, always double-check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Hiring managers and clients may interpret poor writing skills as a lack of clear thinking or attention to detail , discouraging them from following up with you. 

And choose a point of view (first person “I” or third person full name), staying consistent to ensure a better reading experience. You want your reader to focus on the content without bad mechanics distracting them. 

Now that you have the basic rules down, here are some bio examples to help you write yours. Pay attention to flow and content, and edit them to meet your needs. 

Short bio examples

Here’s a short bio for an events brochure for a graphic designer leading a workshop:

[name] is a speaker, graphic designer, and UX engineer who builds performant branding strategies with an eye for accessibility. [name] helps brands of all sorts, from startups to multinationals, transform how they tell stories through visual design and cutting-edge technologies that focus on sustainable, inclusive engagement. 

And here’s a data analyst’s work bio example for LinkedIn: 

I’m a certified data analyst with a natural curiosity for transforming complex data into action. With more than 10 years of experience, I’ve developed expertise in statistical modeling and predictive analysis.

Currently, I’m a project manager at TechBiz focused on enhancing business strategies through data optimization. I’ve been instrumental in driving growth for several Fortune 500 companies and was recognized in 2022 as one of “America’s Innovators” by Women in Data. 

Why they work: Both bios concisely illustrate current job roles, career focus, and unique character traits. Small details like “eye for accessibility” and “natural curiosity” show personality and professional values, illustrating what they’ll be like to work with. 

Long bio example

Here’s a freelance writer example for their portfolio website: 

I’m a Mexico City-based freelance writer by way of Louisville, Kentucky. My weekly newsletter on sustainability, policy, and culture — Sustainability Now — has been mentioned by the LA Times, The Nation, and Vogue London and has over 20,000 subscribers.

My work recently appeared in Foreign Policy, the New York Times, and Mother Jones, where I’ve written about sustainability in cities, business, and consumption. And I’ve also contributed to Politico and Dissent and won an award for my story on the history of natural wine for MOLD. 

I’m a firm believer that positive environmental change is powered by conscientious consumption. Since 2018, I’ve consulted content marketing teams of startups and branding agencies to transform how their businesses and consumers engage with our planet through storytelling. 

I have a bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a minor in journalism from Boston University. I also have completed Google’s SEO Fundamentals and UC Davis’ Content Marketing Strategy course. 

In my spare time, you can find me hiking through the national parks surrounding CDMX with my dog, Mole, when we aren’t looking for the city’s perfect vegan taco.

For business consulting, please contact me at [name]@gmail.com. For editorial inquiries and media work, please contact my agent at [name]@talentcorp.com. 

Why it works: This bio is comprehensive and focused on professional goals while listing key achievements, recognitions, and core principles to establish credibility and align the reader with her values.

And personal details and a touch of humor add warmth and authenticity that resonate and illustrate a well-rounded individual. 

A successful professional bio covers all the bases, letting your reader know what you’re about and what it’d be like to work with you. Clarity and conciseness require nuance and careful curation, but the extra work pays off.

With these tips, professional bio examples, and a little self-reflection about your accomplishments and aspirations, you’ll soon write a bio like a natural wordsmith.

Understand Yourself Better:

Big 5 Personality Test

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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How to write a business bio: expert steps and tips

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Business bios are key. They are the king in a deck of cards and the queen on a chessboard. They. Are. Key. That’s why you need to think about what you say about yourself — it is crucial to make the right impression when you write a business bio.

People — employers, clients and networking contacts — are all increasingly looking at your online profile. That’s why it is important for you to think of your bio like it’s the new first impression.

So whether it’s on your own website, your company website, or something like your LinkedIn profile… when it comes to your bio, don’t just dash one off like it’s a chore you want to get rid of. Think of how you can write a really good one that will knock people’s socks off and make them  want  to meet you.

Tips to write a business bio that impresses

1. start with your name and role.

Starting your bio with your name and role is the best way to tell people who you are and what you do. It sounds like a given, but you’d be surprised how many people start with something else — that loses the reader on the first sentence.

2. Identify your purpose

Identifying your purpose — what kind of person you are and what your priorities are– is important. It is a statement about what your career goals are and how you see yourself.

Plus, it is one of the best ways potential headhunters, clients and new contacts can get a sense of your professional profile.

3. Tell a story

In your bio, you want to convey who you are, what you do—in your free time and professionally— and what you have done, all mixed in with a bit of personality (yours … don’t fake it). To do this well, don’t make it sound like your resume where it’s just a list of your education, work experience and skills.

A good bio tells a story about you and should go into more detail about your career and business history, projects you’ve worked on, how you learned your skills and have applied them for achieve success in jobs and projects.

4. Keep the focus on yourself

Yes, this one may make you seem self-absorbed, but then that’s what bios are about. Focusing your bio on yourself is not a bad thing because it is expected, should tell people about you and, to be honest, everyone does it.

5. Outline your most important accomplishments

This shows others what you are capable of and what you consider to be the highlights of your career. Doing this can also be a great predictor of the kind of work you can do in the future and how you’ll apply your skills and knowledge in new positions and on future projects.

6. Don’t say what you think people want to hear

Bios shouldn’t be boring. They should be interesting, full of zest and not full of stock standard answers about what you think people want to hear.

They are, after all, about you and what you’ve done in your career— and people want to hear about it. So don’t shy away from letting them know what you did, how you did it and who you are.

7. Write for the real audience

You should always write your bio for your  real  audience. And if you’re wondering who that should be, I’ll tell you. They are the people you want to work for, the people you want as clients and the people you want to make contact with.

So before you write your bio, think about who you need to impress and get the attention of.

8. Keep your bio up-to-date

Keeping your bio up-to-date is as important as making it a good one. If you keep using an outdated one, no one will know what you’re up to and will think you haven’t accomplished anything or have no ambition.

So when you write a business bio, think of creating it and updating it like it’s an old school Twitter — in that it tells readers what you are up to and all the new, great things you are doing.

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A detailed description of an individual's life, professional background, education history, achievements, and skill set

What is a Bio?

A bio is a detailed description of someone’s life, professional background, education history, achievements, and skill set. Unlike a curriculum vitae , a bio presents a person’s life by highlighting important aspects such as their unique skill set, details of their professional experience, notable projects they are involved in, and an analysis of their personality.

The bio should be authoritative, and it should reflect a person’s level of professional experience and achievements. The information should be written in the third person instead of the first person so that it is useful to the intended audience.

A bio can range from a few words to a page, depending on the intended purpose. For example, when you are scheduled to speak at a professional conference, the event organizer may request a short bio that can range from a few words to a paragraph. It acts as a reference when you are being introduced to the audience.

A bio can also range from a single paragraph to a page – especially in professional social networking sites, such as LinkedIn . LinkedIn allows professionals to include as much information in their bio so that it captures all of their professional attributes, such as an introduction of who they are, professional credentials, work experience, list of projects they’ve been involved in, and their professional goals.

• A bio is a summary of a person’s professional background, competency, and expertise in their specific fields.
• A bio is used to show a person’s level of professional experience, accomplishments, and skill set.
• It is used on social media profiles, college applications, job applications, company team pages, or on personal websites.

How to Write a Professional Bio

A professional bio serves as an opportunity for a person to showcase their professional background, competencies , aspirations, and areas of expertise. Professional bios are more detailed than social media bios, which allow users to write a short description of who they are and what they do in one to two lines.

Follow the steps below to write an impactful professional bio:

1. Know your audience

Before writing your bio, you should identify the target audience and the purpose of the bio. The bio serves as the first point of contact with your audience, and you should use it to let the audience know who you are, your competencies, and what you do.

Depending on the target audience, the bio can be formal, personalized, or funny. For example, a bio for a college application should be formal since the intended audience is formal. In contrast, a social media bio can be funny and personal.

2. Write in the third person

When written in the third person, the bio appears objective since it is written from a third-person point of view. The third person is required in a formal setting when you do not need to use a personal tone.

For example, a bio written in the third person should be written as “Smith is a credit analyst in New York” rather than “I am a credit analyst in New York.” Personal bios for an online profile can be written in the first person to create a more personalized tone.

3. Mention your first and last name

When writing a bio, you should assume that the audience does not know anything about you. Your first and last name should be the first two words of the bio to allow your audience to easily identify and associate with you. Mention your preferred official names but avoid nicknames and unofficial names. For example, the names should be indicated as follows:

John Smith – John Smith is a senior credit analyst at ABC Bank in New York.

4. State your current position

The bio should provide information about your current position, whether you are employed or if you are the CEO of your company. You should mention the primary responsibilities associated with your current position.

Also, mention your current employer to help paint a picture of your industry experience. If you are currently out of work, list your previous position with your former employer or your current area of expertise.

5. State at least one professional accomplishment

If you’ve earned awards or professional achievements that are relevant to your field, indicate them in the bio. It lets your audience know your achievements and your impact on other people in the industry. An example of a professional accomplishment can be indicated in the bio as follows:

Smith won the prestigious award for innovation for his monthly column in the Insider Times Magazine.

6. Decide whether to include personal details

When writing a professional bio, it is not mandatory to include personal details, such as hobbies, personal history, favorite TV shows, and unique interests. However, including personal details can help paint you as a well-rounded person and will more likely allow your audience to establish a more personal connection with you. Don’t include personal details that are potentially embarrassing to you or your audience. An example of personal details is as follows:

During the weekends, Smith spends his time tending to his garden or hiking with his wife and two daughters.

Bio Example

John Smith is a senior credit analyst at ABC Bank with over a decade of experience in risk analysis for banks and other lending institutions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the State University of California. Smith is credited with creating a unit in ABC Bank to counteract cyber fraud in the credit department.

He is the organizer of the Annual Credit Risk Trends conference in New York, which brings together professionals from across the United States to discuss credit risk analysis, using technology to manage risk, and how banks can better position themselves to deal with emerging credit risk issues.

At work, Smith developed an internal stress management guide to help employees manage stress and work pressure effectively. During the weekend, he likes to go hunting with his dog Bingo or preparing grilled delicacies in his backyard.

Related Readings

CFI is the official provider of the global Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)™ certification program, designed to help anyone become a world-class financial analyst. To keep advancing your career, the additional CFI resources below will be useful:

• Curriculum Vitae vs. Resume
• Internship Cover Letter
• Free Resume Templates
• Interactive Career Map
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How to Write a Professional Bio for Any Situation—Without the Stress

How many times have you sat in front of a blank screen staring at the pesky cursor, wondering why it’s so hard to write about yourself? I’ll bet it’s more than once. Contemplating who you are as a human being is an exercise in mental (or existential?) gymnastics. And if you’re trying to write a professional bio, you’re trying to distill who you are and what you do in a way that’s compelling to recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues, potential clients, and other contacts all at once—so it can feel ramped up to Simone-Biles-floor-routine-difficulty levels.

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Your professional bio is, arguably, the most important text you’ll ever write about yourself. It’s the first introduction to who you are, what you do, and what you’re interested in—whether it’s for a social media platform, a personal website , or company team page. What you choose to highlight may play a role in others deciding to follow you, call you in for an interview, or invite you to participate in an event. It’s an opportunity for you to—in a few lines—showcase your work, competence, and areas of expertise. So you’d better stick the landing.

But don’t worry too much: You don’t have to be the Simone Biles of LinkedIn to write a professional bio. We’ve gathered the steps, template, examples, and bonus tips you’ll need to write a bio for any occasion.

How to get started on your professional bio

We’ll get to the good stuff shortly (read: the template and examples), but before you put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, there are a few things you should know—about yourself.

Your bio shouldn’t be a laundry list of accomplishments, but a window into the person behind the accolades. You’re more than your most recent position (especially if you have a trendy startup title; I’m looking at you, ninjas and rock stars), so think about the strengths that make you good at what you do and the qualities that make you unique. These are what you want the person reading your bio to come away knowing.

If you’re drawing a blank, try to answer these questions before you start writing:

• How have you personally helped your company, department, or clients?
• Which of your accomplishments would be most impressive to your entry-level self?
• What makes you most valuable in your role?
• What’s one thing not in your job description that relates to why you’re so successful? Maybe you want to include a line about volunteering, about writing in your free time, or about a previous role.
• Why do you do what you do? What do you believe about your field that drives you to do the work you do each day?

Once you’ve got all that down, you’re ready to get it into your professional bio.

Professional bio template

The template below is designed to help you write a “master” professional bio that you can then tweak for different situations. This template is meant to offer you a general framework only—if you find that you need to add an extra couple of sentences or determine that a section we’ve included doesn’t feel relevant to how you wish to present yourself, feel free to tweak it.

[Name] is a [role] who [how you help clients, customers, or your employer] by [something unique about your process or output]. [First name] [knows/believes] [what you know/believe about the work you do].

[First name] has [landed/secured/garnered/worked at/supported/mastered] [insert your most compelling experiences, accomplishments, and skills]. Currently [he/she/they] is/are [working toward/studying/planning to] [your next professional goal or some way you’re developing as a professional].

[First name] is [trained/certified/awarded] in [relevant trainings, awards, honors, etc]. [First name] holds a [ degree] in [area of study] from [University].

When [he/she/they] is not [brief phrase that describes what you do], [First Name] [can be found/enjoys] [brief description of compelling interests or hobbies you’d like to share].

Here’s an example of how this template could look filled in:

Matthew Chang is a social media manager who excels at creating campaigns and posts for nonprofits that make followers take action by combining strong writing and design with insights about the org’s  audience. Matthew believes that the right post, seen at the right time, can inspire people who believe in a nonprofit’s mission to help the causes they care about and ultimately allow that org to make a bigger impact.

Matthew has driven more than 10,000 social-influenced donations to three different nonprofits, with over $200,000 raised for important causes. Currently they’re working with GoodBoyGirl dog rescue to inspire not only donations, but also pet adoptions through Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok posts. (Matthew is always happy to share pictures of dogs they’ve helped find forever homes!)

Matthew holds a HubSpot Social Media Certification, and has taken several graphic design courses through The New School. They hold a bachelor’s degree from UCLA where they double majored in marketing and English.

When they’re not crafting social media campaigns, Matthew can be found biking around the city with their chihuahua Kyra on their back (don’t worry, the pup has a tiny helmet!) or taking in a Broadway show.

How to adapt your bio for different situations

Now that you have your “master professional bio,” you’ll want to tweak it for different situations.

For each iteration of your bio, imagine a specific reader and what they’d want to know about you, and then write for them. For instance, let’s say you’re on an alumni panel for your college. Student attendees will want to know what they should be doing now to get the career you have. In this case, your bio should reflect less of your day-to-day work responsibilities and more of the past campus activities, classes, and early-career internships and jobs that led you to where you are.

We’ve outlined specific advice for some of the most common scenarios where you’ll need to write a professional bio below—along with examples.

1. Your LinkedIn summary

Start by identifying how you use—or would like to use— LinkedIn . Are you content with your job, but looking to expand your network? Are you trying to attract recruiters?

Whatever you’re seeking, your LinkedIn summary should support your activity on the site; a profile focused on networking within the industry will read differently than that of someone aggressively hunting for a new job. Once you’ve identified your purpose, it will be much easier to tweak the above template for your LinkedIn summary. You’ll still want to lead with your position and other info from the first paragraph of the bio template. Then move onto whatever skills or accomplishments are most relevant to your LinkedIn goals. Last, share those goals.

Here’s an example of a LinkedIn summary that follows this strategy:

As a field sales manager with over eight years of experience driving market share growth in designated territories, I have mastered the ins and outs of pharmaceutical sales and territorial prospecting. After honing and executing these specialties to reach numerous company goals, I was honored with an invitation to join the National Marketing Council. Now, I spend the majority of my time brainstorming sales strategies and connecting with other industry professionals who are interested in talking shop.

You can always add supporting content on either side of this skeleton paragraph, such as a personal anecdote, previous positions, or a mission statement. If you need a bit more inspiration, look to your recommendations for outside opinions on what makes you special.

Read More: 5 Templates That’ll Make Writing the Perfect LinkedIn Summary a Total Breeze

2. Your Twitter bio

Even a snappy, 160-character bio can help set you apart. To write a great bio for social media, grab the first two sentences of the bio we just drafted. We’ve crammed a lot of great info in there: who you are, what you do, who you do it for, how you do it, and what you believe about the work you do. Then make sure you’re stating it as succinctly as possible. Finally, squeeze in your pizazz. Key word: squeeze. Don’t focus on unrelated quirks or superfluous details.

For example:

Software engineering whiz @Belly spreading nuggets of coding gold related to mobile applications. 8-year member of @IEEEorg, aspiring member of The Avengers.

If you’re looking to create a more serious social presence, though, you may choose to leave out the pizazz while including all the same important info:

Proud 8-year member of @IEEEorg and lead software engineer @Belly. Passionate about innovations in coding and mobile applications.

3. Your company website blurb

A bio for your company website (like on a team or staff page) is where you can opt out of some standard details, such as your title, in favor of things that distinguish you as a pro (or a person). After all, anyone reading this knows where you work and your job title will likely be listed by default. So you can use the second and third paragraph of the template to craft a bio focused on what makes you unique.

Margot has exceeded every Clarabridge sales goal by at least 84%, which landed her in the top CEM-seller spot and prepared her for the challenging position of strategizing sales tactics for the National Association of Sales Professionals. Her keen and innovative insights in the areas of forecasting and sales force development have enabled Clarabridge to emerge as a national leader, with a sharp and qualified team in tow to maintain the standard she helped set.

If that’s too formal for the culture of your office, and all your colleagues mention their favorite food trucks, you can aim for a 50-50 split between the professional and personal—or whatever balance suits the company’s brand.

Margot tops the sales charts at Clarabridge. In fact, she’s beat every goal by at least 84% without ever missing a practice as the coach of her son’s (undefeated) soccer team. Fueled by loaded nachos, she landed the top CEM-seller spot and took on a position brainstorming sales tactics for the National Association of Sales Professionals. Not only is she a pro when it comes to forecasting and sales force development, but she can also advise a team on where to find the best free events in the city on any given weekend.

4. Your personal website or portfolio “About Me” page

Here’s where you want to lay it all on your audience. You can use as much of the bio you wrote from the template above as you see fit and feel free to expand on whatever sections you’d like. Craft your “About Me” page so potential partners or employers understand what you can do for them and why you’re the person they should hire .

Chad Wilborn takes complex technical ideas and distills them into user-friendly visuals to improve digital marketing campaigns for companies along the West Coast. He has an education in traditional advertising and a background loaded with marketing and graphic design projects, centered around modernizing the consumer experience. Chad’s portfolio demonstrates his ability to capitalize on every pixel for the overall benefit of startups or established enterprises trying to reach consumers. His services have won multiple design and branding awards, and he is excited to help add your company to his list of successes.

But don’t forget your brand ! If you want to showcase yourself in a more unique or quirky light, opt for a first-person version with more light-hearted language.

I am a modern magician, except I transform complicated technical ideas into user-friendly images before the eyes of your company’s customers. I believe in telling relatable stories through graphics, so I studied the basics of traditional advertising before working my magic on corporate marketing projects for companies along the West Coast. My portfolio showcases a lineup of my most recent tricks, which range from visual startup campaigns to Fortune 500 projects—each of which have won design and branding awards. I’m always ready for new design opportunities and have plenty of room up my sleeve for a few more award-winning performances.

A few more tips

Keep these in mind as you write your professional bio, no matter where it’s going to end up:

• Know your limits: Just as your resume is best when it fits on one or two pages, your bio likely also requires a certain length. Whether it’s two sentences, two paragraphs, or 160 characters, respect the limit or risk it being arbitrarily chopped down.
• Avoid jargon and buzzwords: When you spend nearly a third of your life at work, it’s easy to forget that the rest of the world doesn’t speak your industry’s (or company’s) language. Use your bio to share facts and impact in terms everyone will understand.
• Use your own voice: Write about what you know best and write the way that you talk. If your bio readers ever meet you in person, they should feel as if they already know you.
• Write more than one draft: Don’t just throw something together and send it off. Write it, sleep on it, then come back to it and ask: “Would I want to meet me?” Or better yet: “Would I want to hire or work with me?”
• Don’t forget to update your bio: Your bio should evolve as you do. If you start looking for jobs in different industries, have a new and exciting accomplishment to note, or just feel ready for a refresh, go for it. Now that you’ve got this draft down, it’ll be easy to rework your professional bio.

Alex Honeysett , Adrian J. Hopkins , and Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

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How to Write an Awesome Executive Bio

• April 12, 2022
• Brand development

Last Updated on June 25, 2024

If you know that it’s important to have an executive bio but are unsure of how to write it, keep reading to find out how to write a corporate biography, with a few examples included.

In this article, executives and CEOs can learn how to write an executive biography, with examples included. 

What is an Executive Bio?  

An executive bio or professional bio is a one-page document outlining your achievements, skills, core competencies, and results as a leadership professional. Essentially, it’s a sales document for you to pitch yourself to companies!

Be careful, though, because your executive profile is not the same thing as your resume. Writing your executive bio with the mindset of writing a resume is an easy trap to fall into. Your resume is a chronological document stating your work experience and relevant skills for a certain position, whereas your executive bio looks one layer further out.

Why Writing an Executive Biography is More Important Than Your Resume

In terms of the reputation of a CEO , an executive bio sets the tone for any prospective business partner or company’s first impression of you. The executive profile serves as an example of what someone might expect if they were to bring you onto their team.

Essential Parts of an Executive Biography

Here’s what to include when writing an executive bio:

• Written in third person (no “I” or “you”).
• Engaging content, think: photos, videos.
• Structure—the most important information should be at the top as you work your way down.
• A strong introduction to hook readers.
• Your unique value proposition.
• Detailed job descriptions.
• Skills, core values, and priorities/results with data to back it.
• Awards and achievements.
• News mentions/publications.
• Education experience.
• Volunteer work.
• Passion projects.
• Contact information  (email address and links to social media profiles).

How to Write an Executive Bio Best Practices

If you’re still unsure about how to write a corporate biography, don’t worry. We’ve listed some best practices below that you can use as guidelines while writing your executive bio.

Don’t stress too much about your first draft. Once you get all your ideas down on paper, it will be much easier to refine and format how you want it to look and feel.

Tips for writing an executive bio:

• Keep your executive bio concise
• Showcase your skills
• Add photos and videos
• Show off your personality
• Know your target audience
• Don’t include your objective summary
• Don’t use strictly chronological information
• Avoid using any data or statistics that you cannot explain

Keep your executive bio to include relevant information and the following key elements. 

Do: Keep your executive bio concise

If you’re a CEO, a short bio with hyper-relevant details will set you apart from the rest of C-suite-level executives. Why? Because you’re painting a picture that shows your most relatable skills and achievements to the project at hand.

Especially for CEOs, short bios are best. Aim to make your biography one page, maximum. You don’t want to make the mistake of copying your resume, so try and focus your bio on showing only the most relevant, concise, and poignant information.

Do: Showcase your skills and achievements first

The main difference between your professional bio and your resume is that in your resume, you likely list your employment history and responsibilities in chronological order. With your professional biography, you want to instead focus on your skills and achievements throughout the document.

This will highlight the unique leadership qualities that set you apart from other leaders. Remember, your bio is your personal marketing material, so take advantage of marketing yourself how you want to be seen and remembered.

Do: Add photos and videos if possible

One of the biggest distinctions between your bio and your resume is that your bio can also show some creative flair. If you have multimedia assets, say, your professional headshot, an interview with a publication, or other marketing assets, you should definitely include them in your biography.

Video is one of the most engaging content types, making it ideal for your biography. Keep in mind the length of your videos, though, and aim for them to be less than five minutes long if possible.

Do: Show off your personality

Your bio is your chance to showcase your business philosophy, leadership style, and your vision for the future. If you have an unorthodox policy that you believe boosts workspace morale or productivity, share it in your biography and explain your rationale.

Don’t: Include an objective summary in your bio

Remember that your executive bio isn’t your resume, and generally speaking some people choose to include a unique objective summary on their resumes that is tailored to each job they apply for.

Because you’re using your executive bio as your own professional marketing material, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to include an objective summary, since the document is already about you. It’s best to avoid objective summaries when possible.

Don’t: Use strictly chronological information

Your CV and resume may include information in a strictly chronological pattern based on your work history, which is to be expected. When writing your professional bio, however, you don’t necessarily need to follow that same structure.

Instead, start with your contact information and highlight achievements or accolades that you’d like everyone to know about.

Don’t: Use any data or statistics that you cannot explain

Including quantitative data in your executive bio is great for showing off your results…except for when you can’t explain how you got it. Be strategic with how you use data and statistics when writing your biography, because someone reading it may ask you to explain yourself.

Don’t: Include vague or irrelevant information

You’re limited to one page of space for your bio, so don’t waste it with irrelevant information! Depending on how far into your career you are, it may be difficult to discern what information is pertinent and what information can be left off. 

It may be a good idea to consult a C-suite or leadership level HR professional to help navigate what to include and what not to include in your executive bio.

Examples of Well-Written Executive Bios

You can find plenty of executive bio templates on creative, artisan marketplaces like Etsy.com, or create your own template. It might be a good idea to create or use an executive team bio template if you’re trying to showcase the profiles of an entire leadership team for shareholder purposes.

Once you create or find a few templates that you like, pick one that you believe suits you and the industry you work in the best. Having examples of good executive bios will ensure you present yourself in the best light possible.

Example 1: CEO Biography Sample

This CEO bio example is for businessman Mark Cuban.

As you can see, the biography starts with an attention-getting headline that draws the reader in for more. It’s then followed by:

• education experience
• the most important information in the first paragraph
• detailed job experiences

Example 2: Executive Bio for a CPA

Here’s what a professional executive bio example might look like for a CPA.

Wrapping Up: How to Write an Awesome Executive Bio

Be decisive on what you’d like to be known for and how you’d like to stand out from the crowd of other professionals. Include your passions and how you’ve worked them into your professional career. Try to revisit your bio and make updates as your career progresses, and always keep your contact information up to date and in line with your personal brand.

CEOs should think of your executive bio as your own marketing materials that complement your CV and resume. It may contain some of the same information but portray it in a way that tells the story of you and your leadership qualities. Don’t forget to update your executive LinkedIn profile as well!

We hope this article and the examples included informs and inspire you to create and revamp your own executive summary.

At Reputation911, we provide both personal reputation management , and career reputation management for executives and CEOs across many industries to help in you job search.

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William DiAntonio is the Founder & CEO of Reputation911, a reputation management firm he founded in 2010 that has earned the trust of its clients for over a decade by helping individuals, businesses and brands control their online search results.

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Biodata Questionnaire Test Preparation

Many employers use biodata questionnaires to find the best candidate for the job. JobTestPrep provides information and sample questions on biodata questionnaire tests to prepare you for the hiring process. Our personality practice pack includes a thorough guide on how to make your way through biodata tests. Start practicing today with our biodata test and guide so you can get a competitive edge and get the job.

What Is a Biodata Test?

A biodata test, life experience questionnaire, or a biographical inventory test, is a tool used during the hiring process to measure a candidate's behavioral consistency. By measuring a person's behavior, a company can see how that candidate will act in the future. Biodata questions include items about past events as well as behaviors reflecting personality attributes, attitudes, experiences, interests, skills, and abilities. The results of the test can also shed insight into a candidate's future performance.

Biodata questionnaires take a more scientific approach to hiring. The scoring depends on who created the items and the trends the company is looking for in a specific position. Companies use biodata questionnaires to assess a variety of characteristics and traits their employees or applicants possess, such as teamwork, past experiences, and accomplishments.

When completing a biodata questionnaire, take your time answering the questions.

Examples of Biodata Questions

Biodata questions are similar to personality test questions. Just like a personality test, there are different kinds of questions on a biographical questionnaire.

• Multiple-choice
• Not familiar – Very familiar
• Agree – Disagree
• Almost always – Almost never

Most questions use scale-based answer choices to make it easier to score. The results are always measured against characteristics and traits that are most desired by employers for a specific position.

Unlike job personality tests , the questions themselves ask you about work or learning experiences, how familiar you are with certain systems (i.e. Microsoft Word and Excel), terms that apply to the position, and how you handle situations. Although it may not seem like it, these questions measure personality related traits and not only work experience.

The questions ask about your past and your understanding of terms to get an idea of who you are and how you may act, since your past actions are likely to predict how you will behave in the future.

How quickly do you adapt to new things?

• I adapt almost instantly.
• I adapt, but it takes a little time.
• I take my time to adapt.
• I am not quick at adapting to new things.
• I have not had to adapt to any new things.

When answering a question like the one above, you should try to avoid being extreme, as the question only rates one personality trait. At times, an extreme answer is appropriate, but it must be easily believable so that it is not considered too extreme.

When answering questions, always remember to keep in mind what the employer is really asking of you and how your answer can effect your candidacy in the hiring process.

Prepare for the Biodata Questionnaire

Familiarizing yourself with the types of questions found on a biodata questionnaire will help you prepare for the test. When answering questions, be honest and show the company that you are a good fit for the position.

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Thought Leaders: 7 Business Biographies That Will Actually Teach You Something

Business biographies are a fascinating niche. Part how to, part battle against the odds, they can provide a helpful jolt of inspiration and motivation when we need it most.

That’s not to say by reading Richard Branson’s autobiography you’re suddenly on course to set up a luxury space travel business, but there’s certainly tidbits of transferable knowledge in there that might help you in a variety of circumstances.

Here’s our pick of the most informative, inspiring, entertaining and motivating business biographies.

Losing My Virginity – Richard Branson

“You will either go to prison or be a millionaire.” So said Richard Branson’s former headmaster, a line which Branson enjoys recounting in his autobiography, Losing My Virginity. As far as entrepreneurial autobiographies go it’s unmissable reading, chronicling the life of a man who along with Elon Musk is currently giving NASA a run for their money on the space travel front.

With ample sections dedicated to business and pleasure, adventure and bravado, it’s a rip-roaring business yarn chronicling an extraordinary life.

Key Takeaway: Taking risk. Business is full of them and of course risk does not always equal reward but from being brave enough to rival BA to the Tubular Bells punt that bankrolled his music label, gut-driven risk-taking has paid off handsomely for Branson.

Buy now at Amazon

That Will Never Work – Marc Randolph

Mark Randolph’s That Will Never Work acts a trip down memory lane for the entrepreneur as he talks readers through the early years of a little company he co-founded called Netflix. Rising from the ashes of a dead industry it was the power of algorithms that sparked real momentum when recommendations for niche and non-blockbusters allowed the company to save money licensing popular titles.

Two buy-out attempts, by Amazon and Blockbuster, were batted away before the company went public in 2002.

Key Takeaway: Don’t sit around waiting for a eureka moment. Randolph stresses this in the book and debunks the myth that it was consistent late fees on a rental copy of Apollo 13 that inspired Netflix. Instead, it’s the constant back and forth and refinement of ideas that leads to success.

Banking On It – Anne Boden

Anne Boden has said in interviews that Banking On It is not a memoir as there’s still so much to come, but despite this, Boden’s retelling of the Starling Bank story and its revolutionary entrance onto the post-2008 banking scene is part business book, part financial tell-all.

From the much reported Monzo coup to the remarkable almost miss of the message that secured funding, the Starling Bank story is a blue chip epic that will no doubt one day lend itself handsomely to the big screen.

Key Takeaway: Be the revolution you wish to see in the industry. So you, a 5ft Welsh woman in your fifties, want to challenge the most monolithic, exclusive industry on earth, do you? Pull the other one. But that’s exactly what Boden did. No mountain is too high.

Buy now at WHSmith

Let My People Go Surfing – Yvon Chouinard

The name Yvon Chouinard probably won’t ring as many bells in the UK as it does in the United States, but after the rising popularity of outdoor and technical wear , his brand Patagonia certainly will.

Chouinard’s book tells the story of an outdoors enthusiast who reluctantly fell into business creating the clothes he himself wished to go on adventures in. His company soon skyrocketed but his morals and convictions remained the same and as a result he’s steered his company towards being one of the most sustainable and forward-thinking on earth.

Key Takeaway: You don’t have to be a dick. It might sound simple, but you can run a multimillion pound business and not be a money-hungry bastard, hell-bent on world destruction in the pursuit of profits. Innovation can go hand-in-hand with conservation.

Buy now at Blackwells

Shoe Dog – Phil Knight

Starting with the company’s inception in 1960 and finishing with the debut public offering in the 1980s, Shoe Dog is the memoir from Nike Founder Phil ‘Buck’ Knight.

It’s difficult to compile any list of business biographies without it and needless to say it’s a fountain of intriguing insight and transferable lessons. From picking a logo and name to the importance of overcoming setbacks, Shoe Dog is a monumental piece of writing from one of the most notable businessmen of the 21st century.

Key Takeaway: Growth can be low and slow. Knight’s account of Nike in the book starts in 1962, but there’s a whole decade of low-key trials and tribulations and gradual but not particularly dramatic progress until genuine recognition in 1972 when his consistent appearances at track and running events are rewarded with uptake of the brand. Be patient.

Zero To One – Peter Thiel

Transforming online payments forever, and making a fortune whilst doing so, Paypal founder Peter Thiel is one of Silicon Valley’s most recognised icons. Zero To One compiles his thoughts and the lessons learned building one of the most successful start ups ever out of what has been the modern California gold rush.

Tinged with Thiel’s trademark outspoken manner, Zero To One covers everything one needs to consider when running a tech business, from teams to monopolies.

Key Takeaway: Be unique. Simple enough, huh? Yet Thiel has some good points to make: it’s not enough for your idea to be unique, it has to be equally valuable. However, if it’s both of those, you save yourself a lot of competition and you can swap the hassle of marketing wars for time spent focusing on development.

How I Built This – Guy Raz

The last entry on our list isn’t a biography or memoir per say, but along with its namesake NPR podcast, How I Built This is a must for those interested in business, entrepreneurialism and how some of the world’s most notable brands came to be.

Pulling together the lessons learned from interviews with company founders spanning the likes of Patagonia, Headspace and Dell, to name but a few, the book is the perfect written companion to the award-winning podcast and bursting with insight and human experience.

Key Takeaway: Resilience is key. The stories businesspeople recount to Raz are as much about riding through hard times as they are of smart, innovative ideas. With world-challenging ideas often comes equally large problems and setbacks. The the most successful people batten down the hatches and hold on for dear life until the storm is over.

Buy now at Waterstones

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Biographical Data (Biodata) Tests

Table of contents.

• Assessment Method Considerations
• Accomplishment Records
• Assessment Centers
• Cognitive Ability
• Emotional Intelligence
• Integrity/Honesty Tests
• Job Knowledge Tests
• Personality Tests
• Reference Checking
• Situational Judgment Test
• Structured Interviews
• Training and Experience
• Work Samples

Related Methods

• Background Evaluation/Investigation
• Job Fit Measures
• Physical Ability Tests
• Realistic Job Previews

Related Information

• See an example of a biodata item.

Biodata measures are based on the measurement principle of behavioral consistency , that is, past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. Biodata measures include items about past events and behaviors reflecting personality attributes, attitudes, experiences, interests, skills and abilities validated as predictors of overall performance for a given occupation.

Often, biodata test items are developed through behavioral examples provided by subject matter experts (SMEs). These items specify situations likely to have occurred in a person's life, and ask about the person's typical behavior in the situation. In addition, biodata items reflect external actions that may have involved, or were observable by, others and are objective in the sense there is a factual basis for responding to each item. An item might ask "How many books have you read in the last 6 months?" or "How often have you put aside tasks to complete another, more difficult assignment?" Test takers choose one of several predetermined alternatives to best match their past behavior and experiences.

A response to a single biodata item is of little value. Rather, it is the pattern of responses across several different situations that give biographical data the power to predict future behavior on the job. For this reason, biodata measures often contain between 10 and 30 items and some wide-ranging instruments may contain a hundred or more items. Response options commonly use a 5-point scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). Once a group of biodata items is pre-tested on a sample of applicants, the responses are used to group the items into categories or scales. Biodata items grouped in this way are used to assess how effectively applicants performed in the past in competency areas closely matched to those required by the job.

A more recent development is targeted biodata instruments. In contrast to traditional biodata measures developed to predict overall job performance, targeted biodata measures are developed to predict individual differences in specific job-related behaviors of interest. Similar to the developmental process used for traditional biodata, the content of a targeted biodata measure is often driven by SME-generated behavioral examples relevant to the specific behavior(s) of interest.

An example of a targeted biodata measure is a job compatibility measure (sometimes referred to as a suitability measure) which focuses on the prediction of counterproductive or deviant behaviors. Counterproductive behavior is often defined as on-the-job behavior that is (a) harmful to the mission of the organization, (b) does not stem from a lack of intelligence, and (c) is willful or so seriously careless it takes on the character of being willful. Previous criminal misconduct (e.g., theft), employment misconduct (e.g., sexual harassment, offensiveness to customers, and disclosure of confidential material), fraud, substance abuse, or efforts to overthrow the Government are some major factors that may be relevant to suitability determinations. A job compatibility index is typically used to screen out applicants who are more likely to engage in counterproductive behavior if they are hired. Job compatibility measures are less costly to implement than other procedures typically used to detect counterproductive behaviors (e.g., interviews, polygraphs) and are beneficial for positions requiring employees to interact frequently with others or handle sensitive information or valuable materials.

Considerations

• Validity - Biodata measures have been shown to be effective predictors of job success (i.e., they have a moderate degree of criterion-related validity ) in numerous settings and for a wide range of criterion types (e.g., overall performance, customer service, team work); Biodata measures also appear to add validity (i.e., incremental validity ) to selection systems employing traditional ability measures
• Face Validity/Applicant Reactions - Because some biodata items may not appear to be job related (i.e., low face validity) applicants may react to biodata tests as being unfair and invasive
• Administration Method - Administered individually but can be administered to large numbers of applicants via paper and pencil or electronically at one time
• Subgroup Differences - Typically have less adverse impact on minority groups than do many other types of selection measures; Items should be carefully written to avoid stereotyping and should be based on experiences under a person's control (i.e., what a person did rather than what was done to the person)
• Development Costs - The development of biodata items, scoring strategies, and validation procedures is a difficult and time-consuming task requiring considerable expertise; Large samples of applicants are needed to develop as well as validate the scoring strategy and additional samples may be needed to monitor the validity of the items for future applicants
• Administration Costs - Can be cost effective to administer and generally not time consuming to score if an automated scoring system is implemented
• Utility/ROI - High predictive ability can allow for the identification and selection of top performers; Benefits (e.g., savings in training, high productivity, decreased turnover) can outweigh developmental and administrative costs
• Common Uses - Commonly used in addition to cognitive ability tests to increase validity and lower adverse impact

(See Section VI for a summary of each article)

Elkins, T., & Phillips, J. (2000). Job context, selection decision outcome, and the perceived fairness of selection tests: Biodata as an illustrative case. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85 (3), 479-484.

Hough, L. M., & Oswald, F. L. (2000). Personnel selection: Looking toward the future - Remembering the past. Annual Review of Psychology, 51 , 631-664.

Mount, M. K., Witt, L. A., & Barrick, M. R. (2000). Incremental validity of empirically keyed biodata scales over GMA and the five factor personality constructs. Personnel Psychology, 53 (2), 299-323.

Rothstein, H. R., Schmidt, F. L., Erwin, F. W., Owens, W. A., & Sparks, C. P. (1990). Biographical data in employment selection: Can validities be made generalizable? Journal of Applied Psychology, 75 (2), 175-184.

Schmitt, N., Cortina, J. M., Ingerick, M. J., & Wiechmann, D. (2003). Personnel selection and employee performance. Handbook of Psychology: Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 12 , 77-105. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) website contains information on Biographical Data Tests.

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18 Best Business Biographies to Read

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: October 21, 2021

You found our list of top business biographies .

Business biographies are narratives that tell the stories of entrepreneurs and the birth and growth of influential companies. These works deal with topics such as childhood influences, education and early career, business founding, and the evolution of entrepreneurial empires. The purpose of these books is to provide further context and insight into the personal factors that contributed to the creation of companies, and to inspire and educate current and future entrepreneurs.

These works are a subset of business books and are similar to entrepreneur books and CEO books .

This list includes:

• autobiographies of business founders
• biographies of business leaders
• entrepreneur biographies
• business biographies about women

Here we go!

List of business biographies

Here is a list of biographies of business leaders that shed light on how to launch and nurture legacies and empires.

1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Shoe Dog is one of the most popular autobiographies of business founders of all time. This memoir has received endorsements from the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

In his own words, Nike founder Phil Knight recounts the journey of founding the sneaker company and its ascent into a top athletic wear brand. Knight gives a peek into his early life and influences, as well as insights into his leadership and business philosophy. Shoe Dog is a masterful illustration of tenacity, vision, and the business lifestyle.

Notable Quote: “Beating the competition is relatively easy. Beating yourself is a never-ending commitment.”

Read Shoe Dog .

2. Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad Stone

Amazon Unbound is Brad Stone’s followup to the bestselling book, The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon. This latest biography about the founder of Amazon charts the company’s rise to global titan status and chronicles Bezos’ evolution as a leader within the past decade. The work includes the company’s development of cloud technology, Alexa, and Prime Video, as well as acquisitions of Whole Foods and The Washington Post . The book continues the narrative of the story of Amazon and its founder and lays forth the next chapter in the saga of the e-commerce giant.

Notable Quote: “Jeff is master of ‘this isn’t working today, but could work tomorrow.’ If customers like it, he’s got the cash flow to fund it.”

Read Amazon Unbound .

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3. Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca

Iacocca: An Autobiography is a firsthand account of the life of the legendary auto executive. Lee Iacocca’s life is a prime example of the American dream– raised by immigrants, he rises up the ranks in corporate America and dominates the auto world. In the course of this journey, Lee Iacocca revolutionized the automobile industry and earned icon status. The autobiography traces the highlights of Iacocca’s illustrious career, from his part in creating the Mustang and ascent to president of Ford, to saving the Chrysler brand, and defeating hurdles along the way. Iacocca: An Autobiography is a motivational read and a rallying call for resilience.

Notable Quote: “In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product, and profits. People come first. Unless you’ve got a good team, you can’t do much with the other two.”

Read Iacocca: An Autobiography .

4. Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow

Titan  traces the life of legendary businessman John D Rockefeller. This biography aims to examine Rockefeller through a new lens. Many other accounts either overly-glorify Rockefeller as a hero or condemn him based on The Standard Oil Company’s later scandals. Ron Chernow angles to lift the veil on and gain insight into the notoriously private Rockefeller by compiling a comprehensive account of his full life. The book follows John Rockefeller Sr from his childhood to death. In doing so, the author not only recounts the moves and deals that helped build a business and charity empire, but also shares stories and quotes that more thoroughly flesh out the figure behind the great deeds.

Notable Quote: “Rockefeller equated silence with strength: Weak men had loose tongues and blabbed to reporters, while prudent businessmen kept their own counsel.”

Read Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

5. The Man Who Solved the Market: How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution by Gregory Zuckerman

The Man Who Solved the Market is a bestselling book about Jim Simons, the mathematician who pioneered an algorithm-driven approach to investing that achieved unheard-of market returns. The book unpacks Simon’s backstory by tracing the codebreaker’s early adolescence, education at MIT, early career, and finally the late-life acclaim and founding of Renaissance Technologies. Gregory Zuckerman connects Simons’ story to the broader current climate and notes the influences the discovery had on the wider world. The Man Who Solved the Market also holds lessons about teamwork and professional collaboration.

Notable Quote: “Scientists and mathematicians are trained to dig below the surface of the chaotic, natural world to search for unexpected simplicity, structure, and even beauty”

Read The Man Who Solved the Market .

6. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big is equal parts amusing and profound. In this book, Dilbert comic creator Scott Adams traces his career, paying special attention to the flops, setbacks, and disappointments. By focusing on failure, Adams explains how he was able to transform losses into lessons and eventual opportunities. The author’s signature wry sense of humor elevates the underdog narrative beyond motivational fluff and into actionable advice.

While telling his own tale, Adams drops tidbits such as:

• Goals are for losers. Systems are for winners.
• The most important metric is to track your personal energy.
• Conquer shyness by being a huge phony (in a good way.)

While this book is structured more like a self-help guide than a traditional biography, it is full of personal anecdotes that provide a much more rounded picture of the famous cartoonist.

Notable Quote: “Failure always brings something valuable with it. I don’t let it leave until I extract that value.”

Read ​​ How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big .

7. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

The Snowball provides a personal portrait of the Oracle of Omaha. In this exclusive biography, Warren Buffet allows Alice Schroeder and the readers intimate access into his inner life by way of years of one-on-one interviews with the author. The book reveals previously non-public details about Buffet’s childhood, career, and relationships, and sheds light on the investor’s inner-drivers, values, and areas of personal growth. The Snowball shows Warren Buffet’s human side and gives extra context to the magnate’s extraordinary accomplishments.

Notable Quote: “Intensity is the price of excellence.”

Read The Snowball .

8. Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last by Wright Thompson

Pappyland is a tale of familial entrepreneurial duty and legacy preservation. The book tells the tale of Julian Van Winkle III’s battle to save his father and grandfather’s lifework and the reputation of the family whiskey business. The work chronicles Van Winkle’s early struggles to keep the business afloat in leaner years to the eventual rise to several-hundred-dollar-a-bottle prestige, and the resulting need for innovation and reinvention that stayed true to the company’s roots. Few entrepreneur biographies touch so heavily on themes of family devotion and obligation, making Pappyland a moving and relatable read as well as a practical business study.

Notable Quote: “That’s the work of adulthood. Sorting out the good and bad within.”

Read Pappyland .

9. The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger

The Ride of a Lifetime is a self-penned profile of Disney executive Robert Iger. The book recounts Iger’s rise from entry-level employee at ABC to head of the most powerful media company in the world. Iger reflects on the industry changes that he saw and had a hand in during his long and lucrative career, and highlights the keys to his professional success. While the book is not strictly a memoir, Iger structures this guide with personal details that give context to his business behaviors. The Ride of a Lifetime provides a direct look at the philosophies of the man behind the mouse.

Notable Quote: “Ask the questions you need to ask, admit without apology what you don’t understand, and do the work to learn what you need to learn as quickly as you can.”

Read The Ride of a Lifetime .

10. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson’s official profile on Steve Jobs ranks as one of the best biographies of business leaders. Drawing on over 40 interviews with Jobs and hundreds more with family and friends, colleagues, and rivals, Isaccson weaves a thrilling account of the icon’s life. The result is a comprehensive collection of life events that shaped the subject told from multiple perspectives. From childhood to college, inventions and product launches, collaborations and clashes, career setbacks and redemptions, and roller-coaster relationships, Steve Jobs paints an appropriately complex portrait of a larger than life figure with undeniable human flaws.

Notable Quote: “One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.”

Read Steve Jobs .

11. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance

Ashlee Vance’s Elon Musk is a profile of a monumental current businessman. This biography retells Musk’s extraordinary story of overcoming childhood adversity in South Africa only to become one of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley and modern industry. The book touches on Musk’s early pursuits in PayPal, the founding of Tesla, as well as the eventual decision to set sights on space and enter the aerospace frontier. The book is an exploration of Musk’s character and vision, charting his life through his innovations and ideas.

Notable Quote: “Good ideas are always crazy until they’re not.”

Read Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future .

12. Sam Walton: Made In America by Sam Walton

Sam Walton: Made in America is the story of Walmart and the man who made Walmart the behemoth that it is today. This autobiography reveals how Walton grew a single dime store into a retail giant. The book explores how Walton built his foundations, structured his business, grew the company, bounced back from missteps, and kept control over his mission even as his empire expanded around the country and the world. Sam Walton: Made in America is a book about big business world ambition paired with small-town values, and is a distinctly American tale of commercial success and the achievement of a distinct vision.

Notable Quote: “Great ideas come from everywhere if you just listen and look for them. You never know who’s going to have a great idea.”

Read Sam Walton: Made In America .

13. Empire State of Mind: How Jay Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office by Zack O’Malley Greenburg

Empire State of Mind is a love letter to Jay Z’s business acumen. This biography recounts the rapper’s meteoric rise from ghettos to boardrooms. The book highlights some of the key points in Carter’s career, including the inception of Roc-a-Fella records, marriage to Beyoncé, birth of Roc Nation, and expansion into the streetwear, alcohol, and streaming spaces. Viewing Jay-Z as a businessman above all and hailing his hustler mindset, Empire State of Mind spins a tale of entrepreneurship, self-creation, and re-invention.

Notable Quote: “One of the main reasons for this success is Jay-Z’s ability to build and leverage his personal brand. As much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle.”

Read Empire State of Mind .

14. Authentic: A Memoir by the Founder of Vans by Paul Van Doren

Authenti c is one of the final projects of Vans founder Paul Van Doren. The memoir tells the tale of how a high school dropout went on to helm one of the most beloved shoewear brands in the world. This autobiographical account charts Van Doren’s journey of working in a rubber factory as a teenager to creating the renowned skateboard shoe company, to preserving the legacy throughout the decades. The book examines the decisions that made the foundations of the empire and the elements that rocketed the company to fame. The story also deals with the personal and professional obstacles that threatened and informed the work. Authentic is a parable for following passions and staying true to style and vision even in the face of change.

Notable Quote: “What I’ve accomplished comes down to one thing: my knack for identifying and then solving problems. What I do better than anything else is cut out distractions. If a system isn’t working efficiently, I can see where it’s jammed, eliminate the problem, and find a way to keep everything moving forward.”

Read Authentic: A Memoir by the Founder of Vans .

15. Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable by Jamie Kern Lima

Believe IT tells the life story of Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics and waitress-turned-entrepreneur who overcame the odds to build a company worth a billion dollars and to become the first female CEO of a L’Oreal brand. The book lays out defining events such as Lima learning of her adoption in early adulthood, and shows how the authors’ life hardships prepared her to face the adversity of a beauty industry that constantly told her she would not succeed. Believe IT is part manifesto and part memoir, and full-throttle motivational read.

Notable Quote: “How we react to times of uncertainty, and whether we make decisions based in love or fear, can change the course of our life. Champions aren’t made when the game is easy. In any area of life.”

Read Believe It: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable .

16. The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J Mazzeo

The Widow Clicquot is a historical business biography, and is one of the most fascinating business biographies about women. The book tells the tale of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, a businesswoman who gained control of her family’s business and revolutionized champagne. The biography describes how Clicquot Ponsardin turned misfortune into fortune and made a mark on the world at a time when opportunities for women were limited. The Widow Clicquot is an empowerment message and fascinating historical story wrapped into one riveting account.

Notable Quote: “Widowed at the age of twenty-seven, with no formal business training and no firsthand experience, Barbe-Nicole transformed a well-funded but struggling and small-time family wine brokerage into arguably the most important champagne house of the nineteenth century in just over a decade.”

Read The Widow Clicquot .

17. Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson

Losing My Virginity is billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson’s first autobiography. The book pinpoints the most essential events and influences in Branson’s life. As most business biographies do, the work starts with the executive’s upbringing and moves through his life chronologically. Branson’s many adventures include professional forays into the music and airline industries, as well as personal exploits such as trying to circle the globe in a hot air balloon. Alongside his colorful stories, the businessman shares his personal and professional philosophies, chiefly the belief of working hard yet having passions and wins beyond work. Losing My Virginity advocates for living a full and rounded life and taking control in both personal and business spheres.

Notable Quote: “I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive then I believe you are better off not doing it. A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”

Read Losing My Virginity .

18. Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark

Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built is a striking profile of the founder of one of the most expansive eCommerce companies in China and the world at large. The book highlights Ma’s humble beginnings as an English teacher as well as his late start to the world of entrepreneurship, and explores how the businessman rapidly climbed from running a company out of an apartment to securing a record-setting multi-billion dollar IPO. Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built provides a comprehensive history of Jack Ma’s life and professional journey and Alibaba’s evolution.

Notable Quote: “Today is brutal, tomorrow is more brutal, but the day after tomorrow is beautiful. However, the majority of people will die tomorrow night.”

Read Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built .

Founders, CEOs, and industry leaders are so often mythologized and painted as larger-than-life, that it can be easy to forget that these figures are humans with backstories and deeply personal lives. Business biographies provide perspective and additional insight into the motivations and influences of these legends and help flesh out more fully-formed profiles of these grand personas. These memoirs also portray the history of major companies and can paint fuller portraits of organizations’ origins and growth. By reading biographies on business leaders, professionals can be more mindful and in-control of their own work aspirations.

For more reading recommendations, check out this list of books on leadership or these business books by women .

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FAQ: Business biographies

Here are answers to common questions about business biographies.

What are business biographies?

Business biographies are narrative nonfiction works that follow the lives of industry leaders and chart the launch and growth of important organizations. These books often draw from interviews and mix facts and history with philosophy.

What are the best business biographies?

The best business biographies include Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, The Snowball by Alice Schroeder, and Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com.

Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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20 Biographies Of Influential Business Leaders You Should Not Miss

There are a lot of influential business leaders out there, too many to mention in one article, so some of the best and most popular ones have been chosen. They range from people that that started with nothing, to people that had everything and turn it into billions. This is my Top 20 biographies of business leaders that inspire and motivate to move on and try something new. The list is in no particular order.

1.  King Icahn: The Biography of a Renegade Capitalist

By Mark Stevens

“In life and business, there are two cardinal sins. The first is to act precipitously without thought and the second is to not act at all.”

Here is an investment and renegade capitalist that became one of the richest men in America.

2.  Wild Company: The Untold Story of Banana Republic

By Mel and Patricia Ziegler

“The only asset we had was our own oblivion.”

This is a book about two people who created the Banana Republic. It explains how they had no business training and how they used military surplus clothing to produce their designs that founded the Banana Republic stores.

3. Start Something That Matters

By Blake Mycoskie

“You don’t have to have a lot of money, a complicated business plan, or a great deal of experience to start something.”

This is the story of how TOMs was created, which is a process by which people buy shoes and eventually give them away to needy children. It is a lesson in resourcefulness.

4.  The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth

By Andrew Carnegie

“There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else.”

This is a man that was laughed out of the boardroom when he said he can drive down the price of steel from $170 per ton to $20 per ton, and he is the reason America is the superpower it is today.

5. Be my Guest

By Conrad Hilton

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

This is the story of a guy and his friends and how they made an empire out of hotels.

6.  The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Grow, or Manage a Business

by Martha Stewart

“Build your business success around something that you love.”

This is the same lady that did some insider trading, so there are some dirty deals that are missing from her book, but otherwise it lays out how a person turns what they love into their personal fortune.

7.  Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

By Robert T. Kiyosaki

“Failure defeats losers, failure inspires winners.”

This is a book that tries to teach people the things that rich people teach their kids. He claims that middle and lower class people do not teach their kids these lessons, which makes them have it harder in life.

8. Steve Jobs

By Walter Isaacson

“There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

This is a book based on 40 interviews with Steve Jobs and helps to expose the life of a man that was fired by a failing giant only to come back and give it new legs. Learn how he survived and had fun and how he helped change the face of mobile technology forever.

9.  Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All

By Russell Simmons

“I want to fight poverty and ignorance and give opportunity to those people who are locked out.”

A book about a man that built his fortune and become a bestselling author of “Do you.”

10.  Conscious Capitalism, With a New Preface by the Authors: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business

By John Mackey

“Whole Foods is dedicated to helping people be healthier and live lives with more vitality and greater sense of well being.”

This is the Whole Foods CEO that basically founded the whole foods market in America in a big way.

11.  Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons that Will Change Your Life

By Kathy Ireland

“I have to say I’ve made many mistakes, and been humbled many, many times. But you know what? It’s never too late to learn.”

She proved a woman can be sexy and successful in business, too. She struck a blow for feminism and now has several books you may enjoy.

12.  Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft

By Paul Allen

“ Any crusade requires optimism and the ambition to aim high.”  

This is a book about a 21-year-old that became a co-founder of Microsoft. This is a great story about the beginning of Microsoft, which is already a great story, so it is good to hear it from another angle.

13.  Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

by Tony Hseih

“We wanted to run our own business, and be in control of our own destiny.”

This is about a guy that made $265 million at the age of 24 by selling an advertising platform to Microsoft. Even if you read the bunk of a man such as this you are still going to learn something.

14.  Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business

By Barbara Corcoran

“I borrowed $1,000 from a friend.”

This is a story about turning one thousand dollars into a billion. It is about a woman that couldn’t find a job she liked and did create the Corcoran Group that is worth $6 billion.

15.  Alwaleed: Businessman, Billionaire, Prince

By Riz Khan

“If I’m going to do something, I do it spectacularly or I don’t do it at all.”

This is the story of one of the richest men in the world who has an amazing investing style that keeps him rich. He is part of the Saudi Royal family and has amassed a fortune larger than many countries tax budgets (and debts).

16.  Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

By Richard Branson

“Most ‘necessary evils’ are far more evil than necessary.”

This is one of Richard Branson’s books and it is amazing to see how your childhood affects the person you are. He also gives clues to getting rich that are very similar to the clues in the book, “The millionaire next door.” He is a very clever man that has a way of seeming like a big-headed nobody you shouldn’t fear. Maybe that is the way he has managed to build up such a big empire.

17.  Walt Disney: An American Original

By Bob Thomas

“ Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly.”

Here is a man that built a massive empire that has affected every country in the world at some point in the past. Here is a man that took a cartoon mouse and built an empire with it that still stands today.

18.  Built from Scratch: How a Couple of Regular Guys Grew The Home Depot from Nothing to $30 Billion

By Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus

“ Take two Jews who have just been fired, add an Irishman that walked away from a bankruptcy and an Italian with a no-name investment banking firm and you have the recipe for success.”  

This is a book about the man that turned Home Depot into a $30 Billion business. This is a nice book for showing you that even if you are fired you can still have a future if you are willing to build one.

19. Business leaders Michael Dell

By Lauri S. Friedman

“ Twenty years and $40 billion. They seem like good round numbers.”  

This is the guy that helped to found the Dell computer organization and made millions as a result.

20.  By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop

By Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson

“On that first day we sensed something revolutionary was happening.”

This is about a pair of rich friends that became richer when they turned their fashion business into a $1 billion enterprise. It is not only inspirational, but it is interesting to see how they did it.

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Biography Quiz On Business Magnate Richard Branson! Trivia Facts

Popular Business Magnate, Richard Branson, is a famous philanthropist and investor known to lead several business groups. He is a well-known British personality known for his investments, philanthropy, and business. What do you know about business magnate? Let our quiz help you discover everything you may know about this man.

What age did Richard form his first business?

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What year did Richard set up a mail-order record store?

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