BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is closing out his tenure with a final tradition: sharing the books that shaped his year.
Walmart Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon is less than two months from retirement, but his annual habit of posting his favorite reads from over the year continues this year with a final list before his Jan. 31 retirement.
“This will be the last list I share as I retire. I hope you’ve found value in the list over the years,” McMillon said in a LinkedIn post. “I’ve certainly learned a lot from reading and spending time with so many great people over the years.”
This year’s 11 titles cover a range of topics including leadership, technology, global markets, social issues and even basketball — a topic he added in “for fun,” McMillon wrote.
The list includes “How Basketball Can Save the World” by David Hollander, which applies lessons from the sport to global challenges, and “Reinventing the Leader” by Guilherme Loureiro and Carlos Marin, which explores leadership and organizational change.
Other titles focus on corporate culture and technology. Phil Gilbert’s “Irresistible Change” examines IBM’s efforts to reshape its culture, while “Superagency” by Reid Hoffman discusses the use of artificial intelligence for social and business applications. “The Technological Republic” by Alexander Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska critiques technology companies’ approaches to innovation and societal impact.
Three books on global trends and markets are included. “Young China” by Zak Dychtwald examines the influence of China’s post-1990 generation, and “The Future of Global Retail” by Winter Nie, Mark Greeven, Yunfei Feng, and James Wang analyzes China’s role in global retail markets. “How to Make Money in Any Market” by Jim Cramer provides guidance for investors navigating financial markets.
The final titles on the list are: “From Strength to Strength” by Arthur C. Brooks, which discusses personal development later in life; “Every Purchase Matters” by Paul Rice, which focuses on ethical consumerism; and “Pattern Breakers” by Mike Maples Jr. and Peter Ziebelman, which highlights lessons from early-stage startups.
The retailer said in a release that McMillon will remain on the Board of Directors until the next shareholders’ meeting in June 2026. McMillon has been the CEO of Walmart since 2014.
The Walmart Board of Directors elected John Furner to be its new President and Chief Executive Officer.