PODCAST · business
Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady
by Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
Explore new ways to live, lead, and collaborate more effectively with Susan MacKenty Brady.
Episodes
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Courage Starts Within: Leading With Presence, Purpose, and Impact
In this timely episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, host Susan MacKenty Brady sits down with globally recognized leadership expert and bestselling author Dr. Margie Warrell for a powerful conversation about courage, presence, and what leadership requires in today’s uncertain world.…
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Your People Aren’t Resources - They’re Your Greatest Return
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Susan MacKenty Brady sits down with leadership strategist and author Andrés Tapia to challenge leaders to rethink how they lead in a rapidly changing world. His core idea: inclusive leadership drives performance. When people feel seen, valued,...
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Leading Through All The Difference
Difference is everywhere in today’s workplace - competing priorities, different interpretations of data, generational expectations, risk tolerance, speed versus caution. The real leadership challenge isn’t understanding differences. It’s leading through it. In this episode of The Better...
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Decades in the Making: Leadership Lessons from Women’s Sports
Women’s sports are no longer a niche story — they’re a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and authentic growth. In this episode, Susan MacKenty Brady welcomes Simmons Professor of Practice Justine Pouravelis and former NHL executive Bryant McBride to explore what leaders in every industry can...
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The Power of Purpose-Driven Leadership with Sandi Fenwick
Leadership that transforms organizations and communities is both visionary and deeply human — and Sandi Fenwick exemplifies it. As the first female CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital, Sandi led a $2.8B global healthcare and research enterprise through growth, innovation, and unprecedented...
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Less Is the New More: Leading with Clarity in an Overloaded World
In this episode of The Better Understanding, leadership expert Juliet Funt shares a simple but powerful idea: doing less can help you achieve more. Today’s leaders are ambitious and hardworking, but constant busyness can drain energy, creativity, and focus. Juliet explains why the “always-on”...
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Breaking Barriers at the Top of the Game: A Conversation with Kim Davis
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, host Susan MacKenty Brady sits down with Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of the National Hockey League and the 2026 Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award recipient. Kim reflects on a career shaped by disruption—from navigating…
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Beyond Good Intentions: How Men Can Be True Allies for Women at Work
Too often, men want to support women in the workplace—but don’t know how. In this episode, Brad Johnson and David Smith break down the myths, fears, and missed opportunities that hold men back from being effective allies. They share data-driven insights and real stories about what women say makes...
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Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: A Conversation with JoAnne Bass
As the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, JoAnne Bass made history as the first woman and the first person of Asian American descent to serve as the highest-ranking noncommissioned officer in any U.S. military branch. In this powerful conversation, she shares the lessons that…
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S3, Ep 9: Making Strategy Stick: Why Talent and Teams Matter Most
In this candid conversation, Susan MacKenty Brady sits down with Mark Servodidio—CEO, cofounder of PGP Solutions, and former global CHRO and Fortune 300 President—to explore how real transformation happens when leaders double down on people. From building community through teams to creating...
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S3, Ep. 8 From Purpose to Power: Leading Authentically in Uncertain Times
What does it really take to lead with impact in a world full of change? In this episode, Tamla Oates-Forney—change-maker, people-centered executive, and advocate for inclusive leadership—joins Susan MacKenty Brady for a candid conversation about leading from your Best Self, even in uncertain…
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Leading with Calm: Finding Your Best Self in Chaos
In this episode of the Better Understanding podcast, change maker Lori Spicer Robertson invites us to live in our vision, not our circumstances. She shares how returning to your Best Self—especially during times of uncertainty—is a daily practice rooted in calmness, curiosity, and joy. From...
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Astrid Sheil | May You Be Your Best Self
Dr. Astrid Sheil, Dean of the Simmons University School of Business and former Fortune 500 executive, shares how leading from your Best Self means embracing humility, learning from mistakes, and building trust. In this short episode, she reflects on personal growth, leadership challenges, and…
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Leading Through Change: Building Culture with Purpose and Empathy
In this episode of the Better Understanding podcast, Susan MacKenty Brady interviews Pete Church, a driving force behind the culture at Point32Health. Their conversation dives deep into what it means to lead inclusively and authentically in today’s workforce—especially in a complex, ever-evolving...
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Igniting Passion and Growth: Leadership Lessons from Dr. Astrid Sheil
Susan MacKenty Brady welcomes Dr. Astrid Sheil, Dean of the School of Management at Simmons University. A former Fortune 500 executive and government affairs specialist, Dean Sheil has expertise in corporate communication, corporate social responsibility, strategic planning, board development,...
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S3, Ep. 4 | From Climate Cardinals to Global Change
Sophia Kianni, founder of Climate Cardinals and the youngest UN advisor in U.S. history, shares her journey in climate activism, offering insights into her work and leadership approach. She discusses Climate Cardinals, which focuses on making climate education accessible across languages,...
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Season 3: Reinventing Yourself: Embracing Change to Thrive
We were born for this. In this episode, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, "The Reinvention Guru," shows us why reinvention is the key to thriving in today’s constantly changing world. She explains that by adopting an adaptation mindset, tools, and skills, we can navigate both big and small disruptions in…
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S3, Ep. 2: Living a Life of Innovation: Finding your Fight and Shaping the Future
In S3, Ep. 2, innovator and social entrepreneur Jessica O. Matthews, the self proclaimed "love child" of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Beyoncé, explores the power of innovation as a lifestyle, emphasizing how embracing creativity and a growth mindset can lead to personal and professional...
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Season 3: Living + Leading with Courage with Lindsey Otradovec
Our featured guest, Lindsey Otradovec, is an esteemed leader making a significant impact at Intuitive, a leading robotic surgery and biotechnology company. As the Regional Vice President of Sales, she leads a $3 billion business with a diverse team of over 500 employees. In this episode, Lindsey...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Tiffany Dufu
In the final episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, Tiffany Dufu, founder and CEO of The Cru and the author of the best-selling Drop the Ball, joins host Susan MacKenty Brady for a compelling conversation about what employers need to do to retain women in their organization…
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Sally Helgesen
In the 11th episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, Sally Helgesen, a renowned expert on women’s leadership, shares insights on how the landscape for women leaders has changed since the 1990 publication of her seminal book, The Female Advantage: Women’s Ways of Leadership. She...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Dr. Richard Safeer
Dr. Richard Safeer, Chief Medical Director, Employee Health and Well-being, at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and the author of A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Healthier, Happier, and More Resilient Workforce, shares his six building blocks that help leaders create a...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Amy Purdy
Amy Purdy is a 3-time Paralympic medalist and trailblazer in Paralympic Snowboarding, a New York Times best-selling author, and the host of a critically-acclaimed podcast about resilience called “Bouncing Forward.” She and host Susan MacKenty Brady discuss her remarkable journey, grit, and…
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Masih Alinejad
Masih Alinejad, the Iranian-born activist, journalist, and author, shares her extraordinary story of advocating for women’s rights, freedom, and political change in Iran—at great personal risk.
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Dorie Clark
In the seventh episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal best-selling author and expert at self-reinvention, and host Susan MacKenty Brady discuss how thriving in leadership shifted during the pandemic — and in the post-pandemic world. Dorie...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Whitney Johnson
Whitney Johnson shares how she made the leap from surviving in leadership to thriving — with resilience and support. She also brilliantly explains how the S Curve of learning allows people to continually experience personal growth. Learning, she says, is the "oxygen of human growth," and if…
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Natalie Martinez
In the fifth episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, guest Natalie Martinez, CEO of Strong Women, Strong Girls, a non-profit organization that champions the next generation of female leaders through innovative, multi-generational mentoring programs, shares how she defines...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith
In the fourth episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, guest Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, the 66th Inspector General of the U.S. Army, explains why it's critical for leaders to build trust within their team. Trust, he says, is the bedrock of any organization and is key to success. How...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Molly Fletcher
In the third episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, guest Molly Fletcher, renowned speaker, author, and former sports agent, reflects on how she built her muscles of courage from a young age and shares with host Susan MacKenty Brady tips on how to manage demands placed on us…
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Carla Harris
In the second episode of season two of the Better Understanding podcast, host Susan MacKenty Brady and Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, discuss Carla’s new book, Lead to Win: How to Be a Powerful, Impactful, Influential Leader in any Environment, and her “pearls” of...
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Season Two: Arriving and Thriving with Lynn Perry Wooten and Janet Foutty
In the first episode of season 2 of the Better Understanding podcast, Arrive and Thrive authors Lynn Perry Wooten and Janet Foutty reunite with Susan MacKenty Brady to discuss how their best-selling book and its 7 Impactful Practices have emerged as a timeless framework for women leaders on their...
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A Conversation with Tom Kolditz
In the 11th episode of the Better Understanding podcast, I get to talk to retired Brigadier General Tom Kolditz. Tom is the Founding Director of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University and one of the top leadership experts in the world.
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A Conversation with Dani Monroe
In the 10th episode of the Better Understanding podcast, I get to talk with DEI legend Dani Monroe. Dani serves as a trusted advisor and thought leader to chief diversity officers and senior executives, including leaders at MetLife, Novartis, Pfizer, and even the CIA. Dani believes in and...
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A Conversation with Sonya Jacobs
In the 9th episode of the Better Understanding podcast, I'll introduce you to Sonya Jacobs. Sonya is the Chief Organizational Learning Officer for the University of Michigan and the Senior Director for Faculty and Leadership Development at Michigan Medicine. She is also Special Advisor to the...
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A Conversation with Stuart Kliman
In this episode of the Better Understanding podcast, I'll introduce you to Stuart Kliman, a Partner at Building Industry Partners, which is a leading private equity investment firm. Stuart talks about inclusion as both an objectively good end and also as a necessary means to better business...
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A Conversation with Dawn Frazier-Bohnert
In this episode of the Better Understanding podcast, Liberty Mutual Executive Vice President of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dawn Frazier-Bohnert acknowledges that as adults we’re often rewarded for what we know versus our willingness to be open to learning. She shares that being open…
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A Conversation with Terri Cooper
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Deloitte’s Vice Chair of External DEI, and member of Deloitte’s Management Committee Terri Cooper asks listeners to take inventory of the people in our inner circles and to reflect on how we can embrace more diversity within our personal and...
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A Conversation with Kim Cerda
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Chief Human Resources Officer and Organizational Change and Culture practice lead for Hudson-Lake Kim Cerda asks listeners to be willing to hold up the mirror. This, at the end of the day, is what it takes to lead inclusively.
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A Conversation with Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Simmons University President Lynn Perry Wooten shares how the power of stories and agility might just be the secret sauce to leading inclusively.
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A Conversation with Greg Morley
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Moet Hennessy‘s Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Regional Director of Human Resources Asia Greg Morley suggests it’s ok to get it wrong – and – curious conversations are essential to developing a culture of inclusion.
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A Conversation with Asha George
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Dell Technologies Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion Asha George shares her passion about changing hearts & minds at scale and how getting comfortable being uncomfortable might just lead to a better place for all. Download Episode Transcript
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A Conversation with Darlene Slaughter
In this episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, March of Dimes Chief People Officer and Chief Diversity Officer Darlene Slaughter shares the “place” we need to come from to create learning and ultimately shared understanding. Download Episode Transcript
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Introducing Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady
TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP It all begins with understanding ourselves and understanding others. This weekly podcast, hosted by Susan MacKenty Brady, is an invitation—a gentle and open-hearted extended hand—to increase our ability to work and live more effectively. Together…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Explore new ways to live, lead, and collaborate more effectively with Susan MacKenty Brady.
HOSTED BY
Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady have?
Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady about?
Explore new ways to live, lead, and collaborate more effectively with Susan MacKenty Brady.
How often does Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady release new episodes?
Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady?
Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady is created and hosted by Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership.
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