Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

About Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

Explore new ways to live, lead, and collaborate more effectively with Susan MacKenty Brady.

Publisher

Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Category

business · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Mar 2021

Latest episode

16 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

43 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Jun 2026

   Courage Starts Within: Leading With Presence, Purpose, and Impact

   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.

2. 

   13 Apr 2026

   Your People Aren’t Resources - They’re Your Greatest Return

   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.

3. 

   9 Mar 2026

   Leading Through All The Differences

   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 performanceBecause difference doesn’t create value on its own.Leadership does.

Who has been a guest on Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mark Servodidio
• Tamla Oates-Forney
• Lori Spicer Robertson
• Astrid Sheil
• Pete Church

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

17

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Better Understanding with Susan MacKenty Brady

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.