Episodes

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. Drawing from her bestselling book The Courage Gap, Margie shares why courageous leadership is not about eliminating fear, but about learning to lead through it with greater intention, emotional awareness, and ...

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 Understanding Podcast, Susan MacKenty Brady sits down with her All the Difference co-authors, Stuart Kliman and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith, to explore why leaders struggle to turn difference into v...

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. Th...

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...

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 we...

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, accountabilit...