What Americans Can Learn From the U.S. News Best Leaders

Combating the Maternal Health Crisis, with to Allyson Felix

Allyson Felix is a champion on the track and off of it. As the most decorated athlete in track and field history, she's won 31 medals at the Olympics and world championships. But in 2018, during the emergency birth of her daughter, she suffered from severe preeclampsia that nearly cost both her and her daughter their lives. That experience led her to become a fierce advocate for maternal health, spotlighting the disparities that put too many women – especially women of color – at risk. In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, sits down with Allyson Felix to discuss her advocacy, her entrepreneurship and her next chapter. Felix launched the women's athletic shoe company Saysh in 2021, and she co-founded Always Alpha, a management firm focused on women's sports. She retired from competition in 2022 – but shortly after this conversation was recorded, she announced that she's returning to running with her sights set on the 2028 Olympics in her hometown of Los Angeles. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders [https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders]  Allyson Felix’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-allyson-felix [https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-allyson-felix] More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/ [https://www.usnews.com/]

The Fight to Save Science, with Dr. Peter Hotez

At a moment when science is under pressure from so many different directions and bad actors, what does real leadership in medicine look like? In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, sit down with Dr. Peter J. Hotez, Co-Director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital and Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. In his most recent book, "Science Under Siege," co-written with Michael Mann, Dr. Hotez takes on the forces that threaten science and our world. As a result of his work and advocacy, half a billion people across the world have received treatment for diseases, many of which are debilitating and deadly but don't get as much attention or funding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a fixture on TV and on social media, sharing clear-eyed perspectives about his work and the importance of vaccines. In 2022, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on a COVID-19 vaccine. Together, they discuss the rise of anti-science movements, how to lead during a public health crisis, the future of vaccine development, and what young people need to know about building a career in science today. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders Peter Hotez's U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-peter-jay-hotez Peter Hotez's book, "Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/michael-e-mann/science-under-siege/9781541705517/ More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/

Tjada D'Oyen McKenna on Leading Mercy Corps Through Global Crisis

When someone around the world needs help, there's a strong possibility that Mercy Corps is there to answer the call. For more than four decades, the humanitarian organization has helped hundreds of millions of people across the world grapple with economic, political, social and environmental challenges and catastrophes.  In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, sit down with Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps, which works in more than 35 countries and impacts tens of millions of people annually. Before joining Mercy Corps in 2020, McKenna spent time at McKinsey, American Express and General Electric – private-sector experience that has shaped her decision-making and management of the global nonprofit. When the U.S. government shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2025, a significant portion of Mercy Corps' funding disappeared virtually overnight, and McKenna had to lead the organization through extreme uncertainty. Together, they discuss crisis leadership, the value of multi-sector fluency, the future of humanitarian aid and what real leadership looks like when the world is in flux. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders [https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders]  Tjada D'Oyen McKenna’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-tjada-doyen-mckenna More from MercyCorps:  https://www.mercycorps.org/ More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/ [https://www.usnews.com/]

John Hope Bryant on the American Dream, Inclusive Capitalism and Building Hope

As America celebrates 250 years, one of the things that defines this great but imperfect nation is the American dream. Today, that dream is still a very real thing, and you can find countless examples of people living theirs – including today's guest. In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, sit down with John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation Hope and Bryant Group Ventures. Bryant started his first business at age 10 with a small bit of cash from his mother. He recounts how he grew up in one of the toughest ZIP codes in Los Angeles and endured homelessness earlier in life before going on to direct more than $5 billion in economic activity to underserved communities. He has advised presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs and many others following their own American dreams. His new book, "Capitalism for All," lays out his vision for inclusive economics and future-proofing America. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders [https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders]  John Hope Bryant’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-john-hope-bryant [https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-john-hope-bryant] John Hope Bryant’s book, “Capitalism For All: Inclusive Economics and the Future-Proofing of America”:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/capitalism-for-all-john-hope-bryant/1148436216 [https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Capitalism+For+All%3A+Inclusive+Economics+and+the+Future-Proofing+of+America-p-9781394409105] More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/ [https://www.usnews.com/]

Dr. Eric Topol on Longevity, Health and the Future of Medicine

We all want to live longer, healthier lives. But right now, there’s more noise than ever about how to do it. That’s where trusted voices matter, especially those working at the intersection of research, innovation and clinical practice. In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, speak with Eric Topol, M.D., Professor and Executive Vice President at Scripps Research and Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. Topol is a practicing cardiologist and one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine, with more than 1,300 peer-reviewed papers and clinical trials in more than 40 countries. His 2025 book, “Super Agers,” makes the evidence-based case for extending not just lifespan, but health span – the years we are actually healthy. But what earned Topol a place on the U.S. News Best Leaders list is not just his scientific achievements. It is his commitment to living by his motto: “Think big. Act bigger.” Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders [https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders]  Eric Topol’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-eric-topol [https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-eric-topol]  Eric Topol’s book, “Super Agers”:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Super-Agers/Eric-Topol/9781668067666 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Super-Agers/Eric-Topol/9781668067666]  More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/ [https://www.usnews.com/]