Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

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 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.

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 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.

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” 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.

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 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.

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 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.