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Malala Yousafzai – The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

I love its emotional impact and themes of injustice

Pakistani education activist and film producer

• Establishing the Malala Fund: An organization that invests in local education activists and advocates for 12 years of free, safe, quality education for girls.
• Book: I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban
• Latest project: Malala Yousafzai is actively expanding her advocacy through the Malala Fund, focusing on education for girls in countries like Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Her recent projects include a new initiative called “Recess” with her husband, Asser, and promoting her recent memoir, Finding My Way. She also continues her work in film production and advocacy against systemic gender inequality
  

Michelle Obama – Song of Solomon – Toni Morrison

It’s one I’ve often found myself turning back to over the years

American attorney and former First Lady of the United States

• Let’s Move! (Childhood Health): Launched in 2010, this initiative aimed to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation by promoting healthier food in schools, increased physical activity, and clearer food labeling
• Book: Becoming
• Latest project: Michelle Obama is focused on nurturing new leaders, pursuing joyful projects, and navigating her 60s with increased freedom. She hosts a podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson, is involved with the Obama Foundation, and is pivoting her production company, Higher Ground, to an independent operation after a successful Netflix partnership

Margot Robbie – The Rules of Attraction – Bret Easton Ellis

This was a formative novel for me. It shaped my understanding of character psychology and dark satire

Australian actress and producer

• Producing via LuckyChap Entertainment – Founded in 2014 with Tom Ackerley, Sophia Kerr, and Josey McNamara, LuckyChap is her primary focus for fostering female-driven narratives.
  Key Produced Projects: I, Tonya (2017), Promising Young Woman (2020), Birds of Prey (2020), Barbie (2023), Saltburn (2023), and My Old Ass (2024).
  Goal: To act as an “author” rather than just an actor, creating roles that challenge convention and supporting female directors and writers.
  Upcoming Focus: She is shifting toward directing and producing projects she does not act in, such as a Christmas comedy by Olivia Wilde
• Book: Barbie™: The World Tour
• Latest project: producing and starring in a 1960s-set Ocean’s Eleven prequel, slated for release on June 25, 2027, which will follow Danny Ocean’s parents pulling off a heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. Bradley Cooper is set to write, direct, and star alongside her. She is also working on a Wuthering Heights adaptation and a Barbie sequel

Naomi Osaka – The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison

This book influenced me about race and identity issues

Japanese professional tennis player

• Play Academy with Naomi Osaka: A non-profit initiative launched to provide grants and training to community sports organizations, with an emphasis on gender inclusivity and positive play experiences for young girls in Haiti, Japan, and the US.
• Book: The Way Champs Play (2022): Illustrated by Kamala Nair, this children’s book encourages children to believe in themselves through play, teamwork, and mindfulness
• Latest project: Documentary: Naomi Osaka: The Second Set (2025): Released in August 2025 on Tubi, this documentary, produced by her own media company Hana Kuma and Nike, chronicles her journey returning to professional tennis after giving birth to her daughter, Shai

SZA – Ask the Dust – John Fante

This is a favorite book, especially from when first read it in my twenties

American singer-songwriter

Latest project: SOS Deluxe: Lana, released on December 20, 2024. Originally conceived as a deluxe edition of her 2022 album SOS, it evolved into a 15-track project featuring new music, including a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the song “30 for 30”. The album explores themes of heartbreak and healing

Sustainable Fashion & Environmentalism: In 2019, SZA launched a sustainable clothing line called Ctrl Fishing Co.. The brand focuses on protecting the oceans and uses pre-loved clothing, promoting eco-conscious manufacturing

Book: “Becoming SZA: Biography of Solána Imani Rowe” by Mary Kincaid [2024] – This biography covers the triumphs, vulnerability, and resilience that shaped the Grammy-winning artist. It delves into her upbringing in St. Louis, her creative process, and her rise to fame