Distinctive Gifts For The Modern Business Leader

Holiday time brings the challenge of finding the perfect gift for the important people in your life. Particularly now when people can order what they want instantaneously, finding something that says “you get me” is not getting any easier. Here are a few gifts that will set you apart as a savvy giver.

For The STEM Professional: Inspiration From Icons Of Innovation

The United States Patent Office offers inventor trading cards showcasing icons of science. They feature the likenesses of iconic inventors like Thomas Edison, Temple Grandin and Nicola Tesla. Even Abraham Lincoln, who invented a mechanism to raise a boat stuck in the shallows of a river.

One featured inventor is Audrey Sherman, who holds more than 150 patents for 3M and now innovates for Solventum, 3M’s healthcare-focused spinoff which launched earlier this year. She tells me the cards are particularly popular at inventor camps that introduce kids to the process of inventing.

“Anyone can be an inventor,” said Sherman, which may explain why the cards are hotly traded and that she’s frequently asked to sign them.

This gift is particularly distinctive because it will take some effort to get them. They are free, but you need to find a US Patent Office to pick them up. In major cities, you can often find them at the main library.

For The Emerging Leader: A Guide For Exponential Growth

I say this book is for the emerging leader, but really Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve is for any person who wants to thrive at work or serve as an ally to people who might be facing unconscious bias.

I first connected with author Alison Fragale over a post about paying the babysitter what she’s worth, and quickly identified a kindred spirit in the mission to help women succeed. In this book she outlines actionable steps that women can take to advocate for themselves and still maintain the goodwill that comes with being likeable. One of my favorites is collecting “no’s,” showing the need to practice to become a master of the career journey.

For The Founder: A Way To Capture Ideas

Research shows that taking notes by hand enhances creativity and memory. If you have an idea machine in your sphere, it’s hard to go wrong with a distinctive notebook. The Hatch Notebook for Makers and Entrepreneurs comes with pages to describe your idea and audience, plus break down features and challenges. There’s even a scale to measure your excitement about the idea and assess the degree of difficulty.

Or consider a notebook subscription to keep the great thoughts flowing. I’m a fan of the pocket-size Field Notes, which releases quarterly designs that always sell out, including birds and trees of North America and national parks. Avoid disappointment by becoming a subscriber for automatic shipments of each new series.

For Entrepreneurial You: A Paris Retreat

If you have a business idea that won’t leave you alone, think about getting serious by learning from someone who has experience all the challenges and is uniquely qualified to guide your journey. American Jane Bertch began her Paris-based cooking school with no experience in cooking or navigating the complexities of setting up a business in France and now has 15 years of success under her belt. Now she’ll spend an intensive three days with a small group of women at her business mastermind retreat in March 2025.

Gift giving doesn’t have to be fraught with angst. With some advance thought about how to truly connect with your favorite recipient, any gift will be received with delight.

And when in doubt, a batch of homemade cookies is always welcome.