Spotify Wrapped is out, and like the rest of us, CEOs are recapping their year in songs.
These 14 business leaders have all previously told Business Insider how their daily routines look — now, they’re telling us how they sound.
From getting hyped up before important meetings to getting energized at the beginning of the day, these 14 leaders shared their go-to pump-up songs and why the tracks motivate them.
Listen to the complete playlist on Business Insider’s Spotify.
Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban‘s life has been good.
The Cost Plus Drugs founder and “Shark Tank” personality said his go-to song is Joe Walsh’s rock anthem “Life’s Been Good,” in which the singer details a rock star life, from hotel adventures and wild parties to Maseratis and hit records.
Jamie Siminoff, founder of Ring
Ring’s founder and former CEO, and Amazon VP, Jamie Siminoff, listens to “Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay — which has been a favorite of his for a while — to boost his energy for the day.
Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal
For Signal president Meredith Whittaker, “Wish I Didn’t Miss You (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Mix)” by Angie Stone is the song that gets her energy going.
“Because it’s a certified banger. Period,” she told Business Insider over email.
Ben Goodwin, CEO of Olipop
Ben Goodwin, the CEO of prebiotic soda company Olipop, said he has five favorite tracks when he needs to amp himself up:
- “This Feeling – Extended” by Sentre and Of Norway
- “Fearless” by Joseph Ashworth
- “By Ya Side” by Daniel Bortz and Nils Corben
- “I Can Feel That” by Pascal F.E.O.S.
- “It Sounds Like a Dream” by Nuage
“A good pump-up song should generally be high energy and have an uplifting vibe,” he told Business Insider. “It’s ideal if it’s on the edge of cheesy but well enough executed that you don’t mind, and it actually helps you turn off your analytic mind a bit.”
Bryan Myers, CEO of Solidcore
The CEO of Solidcore also has a list of go-to pump-up songs:
- The EDM remix of “Suavemente” by Elvis Crespo and Juacko
- “No Problem” by Chance the Rapper.
- “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé
Of Beyoncé’s track, he said, “The iconic intro is the party starter anthem that always puts a smile on my face.”
Shannon Hennessy, CEO of Habit Burger
Shannon Hennessy opts for “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac.
“It reminds me to be brave and listen to my gut,” she said.
Hennessy added she has a known weakness for Disney songs and numbers from Broadway musicals, especially Wicked’s “Defying Gravity.”
Krishna Kaliannan, founder of Catalina Crunch
Krishna Kaliannan, who founded cereal brand Catalina Crunch, listens to a 1998 German pop banger by Blümchen to get his energy up for the day. The song’s title, “Heut’ ist mein Tag,” translates to “today is my day.”
“It’s a great reminder that YOU are in control of your day. Your attitude determines how your day turns out,” the founder told Business Insider over email.
He also listens to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” before high-stakes moments.
“[It’s a] great pump-up song right before a big meeting or presentation,” he said. “The song dares you to seize the moment or lose it. Go big or go home.”
Jessica Hoppe, CEO of The World Residences at Sea
Jessica Hoppe also hypes up with “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
“I’m from Michigan, so there’s something about Eminem that feels like home — authentic, gritty, and unapologetically driven,” Hoppe said in an email.
“‘Lose Yourself’ has that perfect mix of edge, rhythm, and storytelling,” she said. “It’s all about pushing through fear, betting on yourself, and rising to the moment. It reminds me that the biggest opportunities come when you’re willing to take a deep breath, trust your preparation, and step fully into the spotlight.”
Tori Dunlap, CEO of Her First $100K
Tori Dunlap listens to “12 to 12” by Sombr when she wants to feel energized.
“I first discovered it on a trip to New York, and since then, it just hypes me up with that city energy,” Dunlap said.
Jesse Itzler, entrepreneur
Jesse Itzler, an author, cofounder of Marquis Jet, and partner of ZICO Coconut Water, said his go-to song is “Step into a World” by KRS-One.
“It makes me feel like I’m about to get into a bar fight,” he told Business Insider over email. “I don’t like bar fights. But I like adrenaline. It’s my adrenaline shock for the day.”
Niki Leondakis, CEO of CorePower Yoga
Niki Leondakis said her go-to song is the Grateful Dead’s “Bertha.”
“It shakes loose whatever I’m holding, lifts my energy, and sets the tone for a day centered on forward motion and possibility,” she said. “I also played it for the last mile of every race I ever ran.”
Tracey Halama, CEO of Supergut
Tracey Halama said that she listens to “Good as Hell” by Lizzo when she needs to get energized, in part because it’s “performed by an empowered woman that takes no prisoners!”
David Barnett, founder of PopSockets
David Barnett, the founder and former CEO of PopSockets, said he listens to “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2.
“It reminds me of the excitement I felt watching professional cycling races in person when I was a teenager,” he said.
Emily Fontaine, head of VC at IBM
Emily Fontaine, IBM’s head of VC, said she loves pretty much any pump-up song from the ’60s or ’70s, and that Paul Simon’s “Late in the Evening” was a top hit on her Spotify Wrapped.
“It’s a track that immediately lifts me up and puts me in the right headspace to tackle the day, whatever it may bring,” she said.
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