Sheila Boyington, CEO of Thinking Media in Chattanooga, shares her recommended reads

Photography by Doug Strickland / Thinking Media CEO Sheila Boyington

Sheila Boyington is CEO of Thinking Media, which she co-founded with her husband, Dane. The company landed on the INC. 5000 list of the country's fastest growing companies in 2021, with a 40% three-year growth rate. Thinking Media developed Learning Blade, a computerized curriculum for middle school students to learn about the opportunities in Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. The program is being offered statewide to middle school students in Mississippi, Louisiana and Idaho after early success in Tennessee, Arkansas and other states. Boyington holds a master's degree in civil/environmental engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida. She is vice chair of the Erlanger Health System Board of Trustees.

What books have you read that have influenced your career and leadership style?

Anyone that actually knows me knows that I'm always trying to do too many things to stop long enough to read an entire book. However, in the early days of our company, I did take some cues from "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Both of these books have great lessons about getting the "right people on the bus" and reaching "the right time" for our company.

I do love to read the newspaper every single morning to see what is going on in my own town, and I always want to know more about those in my community. My leadership style has certainly been influenced by my relationships with people. That is probably my strongest leadership skill as well as a big component of my success.

What books have you recently read for pleasure that you're recommending to others?

If I do find myself with an opportunity to read, I really prefer to read books that are funny and have personal meaning. I particularly have enjoyed fellow Indian Mindy Kaling's recent humorous book, "Nothing Like I imagined." I also recommend the biography of a dear friend (who delivered our youngest child), Chattanooga's own Dr. Phyllis Miller! The book, "Climbing Mountains: Dr. Phyllis Miller's Upward Journey," was written by local author Lynelle Mason. Dr. Miller's path as a strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) woman is definitely something I could relate to.

Of course, my children continually try to make me a better reader and have provided me copies of some of the best books, which I start with the best intentions and usually get the main point and then move on to cooking, entertaining and dreaming up new things for our company.

What books are on your to-read list?

One day, when we "retire," I hope I will slow down to enjoy reading for pleasure! In the meantime I will continue to try to learn from traveling the world around me and make it a better place. Of course, once the Times Free Press stops printing a physical paper I may need to adjust.