Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

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 authenticity. Together, Susan and Margie explore how fear quietly shapes workplace cultures through avoided conversations, softened feedback, hesitation, and self-protective behaviors that limit trust, connection, and growth. The conversation offers practical insights for leaders navigating pressure, complexity, and change, including how to challenge limiting narratives, regulate your internal state, speak up with greater confidence, and lead from your values rather than your fears. At the heart of the episode is a reminder that leadership is deeply human. As Margie shares, “The world doesn’t need your perfection. It needs your presence. It needs your courage.” This episode is for any leader who wants to lead with greater courage, clarity, connection, and impact in the moments that matter most.

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, and challenged, they contribute more and unlock discretionary effort that fuels stronger individual, team, and organizational results. Andrés encourages leaders to treat talent as a generative asset, not a fixed resource, and to focus less on control and more on creating environments where people can thrive—especially during times of disruption. He also introduces his “Character GPS,” a framework of seven traits—authenticity, purpose, courage, resilience, kindness, humility, and gratitude—that help leaders stay grounded, navigate uncertainty, and lead with humanity.

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 value - and what happens when they don’t. Drawing on decades of experience across business, negotiation, government, and the military, Stu, Les, and Susan unpack how leadership landmines show up in everyday moments and why silence, false alignment, and missed perspectives quietly drain performance. Together, they explore: Why modern leadership is defined by competing perspectives, not just competing priorities What the “landmines of managing difference” look like in real leadership moments Why silence in meetings is often the most expensive signal leaders ignore How strong leaders unintentionally shut down the perspectives they need most The six Target Actions that help leaders convert difference into trust, alignment, and performance Because difference doesn’t create value on its own. Leadership does.

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:Why allyship isn’t just good for women—it makes organizations stronger.How to move past fear and hesitation to take meaningful action.Simple, powerful practices of listening, humility, and courage that all leaders can adopt.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:Lead from your best self by aligning strengths with purposeInvest in mentorship and strategic relationships that expand your impactRecognize the power of mindset in navigating change and career transitionsRemember that true legacy is about how you make people feelWhether 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.