Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

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 learn from the explosive rise of women’s sports — from the structural impact of Title IX to the visibility revolution fueled by social media, to the WNBA’s bold embrace of authenticity and community. This conversation goes beyond metrics and KPIs. It’s about humility. Humanity. The long game. And the magic that happens when a collective truly has each other’s backs. Together, they unpack: Why sports are one of the most powerful real-time leadership laboratories The difference between good teams and great teams — and the role of selfless accountability How trust breaks down (and how to rebuild it) Why resilience — the ability to get back up — matters more than talent What businesses can learn from the WNBA’s deep connection to its fanbase Why joy may be the most underrated leadership advantage of all If you’ve ever asked how to build teams that last, create cultures of trust, or lead with both performance and purpose — this episode is your playbook.

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 challenges, including the pandemic. In this episode of Better Understanding, Sandi shares the lessons that guided her journey: the power of preparation, courage, and character; how to cultivate teams that thrive; and the importance of leading from your best self. She reflects on building cultures of dignity and connection, investing in relationships that matter, and navigating high-stakes decisions with clarity and care. Listeners will come away inspired to: Lead with passion, courage, and morality in complex organizations Create environments where teams feel valued, empowered, and connected Approach leadership as a journey of significance, balancing impact with personal growth. Sandi’s story is a masterclass in purposeful leadership, showing how intentional, human-centered decision-making elevates both people and performance.

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” mindset - made even more intense by AI and nonstop communication - keeps many leaders stuck in reactive mode. She offers practical ways to reclaim your time and headspace, including: Building white space wedges—small pauses between meetings to reflect, process, and plan. Cutting out tasks, meetings, and obligations that aren’t adding value. Simple strategies for managing email, meetings, and endless to-dos. Tips for leaders at every stage—from those just starting out to senior executives under heavy pressure. Juliet shows how giving yourself even a few minutes of margin each day can boost clarity, creativity, and influence. This episode is packed with actionable insights for any leader who wants to work smarter, not just harder.

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 mergers early in financial services to leading large-scale cultural change in professional sports. She shares how learning to operate amid ambiguity prepared her to balance results and humanity, accountability and connection. Throughout the conversation, Kim offers practical leadership wisdom, including her “Three P’s” framework—Preparation, Passion, and Purpose, her distinction between mentors and sponsors, and her conviction that inclusion is not charitable—it is a growth strategy. She speaks candidly about patience, resilience, and protecting personal energy, as well as what it means to lead authentically as a woman of color in traditionally homogeneous executive spaces. This episode is a masterclass in values-based leadership—illustrating how trust is built through vulnerability, how influence compounds over time, and why connection is not a soft skill, but a core leadership capability tied directly to performance.

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 the difference, and how mentorship and sponsorship can open doors that change careers—and cultures. 3 Takeaways You’ll Learn: This conversation is a call to action for leaders everywhere: to listen with humility, lead with courage, and actively create workplaces where women can thrive.

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 helped her rise to the top — from embracing every season as preparation for the next, to leading with humility and character, to building teams that thrive on trust and accountability. You’ll walk away inspired to: Whether you’re charting your next leadership move or simply looking for the motivation to keep going, JoAnne’s story offers both wisdom and encouragement for every modern leader.

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 cultures of trust and accountability, Mark shares powerful lessons from his leadership journey—where humility meets high performance and purpose drives results.

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 times. Tamla shares how a personal health scare transformed her outlook, deepening her commitment to joy, purpose, and people. She opens up about how leaders can rediscover themselves, show up more authentically, and build workplaces rooted in empathy, trust, and belonging.

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 redefining emotional expression in leadership to building intentional work tribes and setting personal boundaries, Lori offers practical wisdom on how to lead with authenticity, create inclusive environments, and source joy even in the toughest moments.

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 what it takes to inspire others while staying grounded in your values.

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 healthcare landscape. Pete shares powerful reflections from his own leadership journey, drawing from 30 years of experience creating work cultures where employees feel seen, valued, and heard. From supporting caregivers to navigating burn out, Pete reminds us that thriving teams are built through intention, empathy, and a shared sense of purpose.

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, fundraising, crisis communication, and negotiation and bargaining. Astrid discusses the importance of leading from your "best self," drawing on her experiences of both wins and setbacks. She emphasizes the value of humility and trust in leadership while encouraging others to own their mistakes and learn from them. Astrid offers practical insights on fostering a collaborative, value-driven environment, especially in academic settings. Tune in for wisdom on leadership, personal growth, and how to ignite passion in those you lead.

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, highlighting challenges while sharing success stories. Throughout the conversation, Sophia provides actionable insights and inspiration for young people passionate about climate activism and leadership.

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 our daily lives. Nadya challenges us to quiet our minds, stay flexible, and identify adaptations to excel in every area of life by focusing on what energizes us and our teams, and celebrating every win as a way to lead more effectively in volatile times.

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 transformation. She shares stories from her journey, including challenges faced while developing innovative solutions and lessons learned from overcoming obstacles. Through candid discussions on topics like imposter syndrome, leading through uncertainty, and the importance of radical transparency, Jessica encourages listeners to take bold action, believe in their abilities, and create lasting impact by continuously innovating in all aspects of life.

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 opens up about her journey of courageous leadership, sharing how she has led authentically during one of the most challenging times in her career and personal life. She reflects on leading by example from a place of humanity, embracing vulnerability, and the importance of celebrating both wins and our shared human experiences. In this episode, Lindsey opens up about her journey of courageous leadership, sharing how she has led authentically during one of the most challenging times in her career and personal life. She reflects on leading by example from a place of humanity, embracing vulnerability, and the importance of celebrating both wins and our shared human experiences.

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 and make them feel valued, how to boldly inspire a vision, and what it means to thrive. Don't miss Tiffany's epiphanies!

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 and host Susan MacKenty Brady discuss leadership challenges in new normal of the peri-pandemic world and how leaders need to be curious and imaginative as they work to build inclusive relationships, teams, and workplaces and navigate the intricacies of language. Sally is the author of the internationally best-selling How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job and her recent follow up, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace.

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 well-being culture in their organization.

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 courage that has propelled her to success in every aspect of her multifaceted career.