Susan Brady

Chief Executive Officer, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

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Biography

Susan Brady is the author and co-author of four books: Wall Street Journal bestseller Arrive & Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership (McGraw-Hill, April 2022), which sold 11,000 copies within nine days; The Inclusive Leader’s Playbook: The Work of the Inclusive Leader (Simmons University, 2021), Mastering Your Inner Critic and 7 Other High Hurdles to Advancement: How the Best Women Leaders Practice Self-Awareness to Change What Really Matters (McGraw-Hill, November 2018), and The 30-Second Guide to Coaching Your Inner Critic (Linkage, 2014). Read More >

A celebrated speaker and executive coach, Brady educates and ignites leaders globally on fostering a mindset of inclusion and self-awareness. As an expert and author on leading from your best self, Brady, who has been featured on Good Morning America and in Forbes and Inc, is a highly sought-after speaker on fostering emotionally intelligent and empathy-first leadership. Susan has advised executives at 500+ organizations worldwide on how to master self and create equity in leadership. She specializes in working with highly accomplished professionals in ways that help them be successful leading themselves and leading others.

Prior to joining Simmons University, Brady founded the Women in Leadership Institute™ and launched a global consulting practice for Linkage, Inc. (now SHRM) on Advancing Women Leaders where she led the field research behind the 7 Leadership Hurdles Women Leaders Face in the Workforce™. Dedicated to inspiring women of all identities to realize their full potential, Brady built and chairs the esteemed Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership Strategic Advisory Board and serves as emeritus board member of the not-for-profit Strong Women, Strong Girls. Brady lives in the Boston area with her two daughters and two Portuguese water dogs. Read Less ^

Speaker Videos

Susan Brady | On Women's Leadership & Emotional Intelligence

Linkage’s #MasteringHurdles: Susan MacKenty Brady on Your Inner Critic

Susan Brady, Cultivating Your Best Self Through Inclusivity

Understanding Self: a message for women leaders from Susan Brady

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Speech Topics

Leading with Respect: Fostering Cultures of Accountability & Overcoming “Nice” to Respectfully Get Result

Navigating constructive feedback these days feels like walking on eggshells. Say one wrong word and you could be cancelled, make one wrong move and your culture will go from togetherness to tension. When done poorly, the result is broken trust, poor decisions, and lower engagement with your people. Avoiding what needs to be said perpetuates cultures lacking in accountability and often desired business results. Read More >

So, what is the answer? How do leaders overcome avoidance or “nice” (they are often the same thing) and foster accountability? In this engaging, informative and inspiring keynote, leadership expert Susan MacKenty Brady shares what every leader can do to build a culture that is resistant to antagonism and rich with productive harmony. Read Less ^

Creating Value in an Uncertain, Complex World: What Every Leader Must Know to Attract, Engage & Retain the Best

When your words and actions intentionally show respect for yourself and the people with whom you work, trust, action, and growth follow. Getting right how you show up can skyrocket your culture’s value, strengthen its cohesion and mobilize it forward so the best people want to join, stay and fully engage. Read More >

In this engaging, informative and inspiring keynote, Susan MacKenty Brady shares a proven system any leader can apply in the moment that will transform their influence and inclusivity, and will empower themselves and their people to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Read Less ^

Conquer Your Critical Imposter with Your Inner Champion

What is that voice inside your head saying about you and about others? Research shows that self-destructive voices inside our head make us feel not good enough, superior to others or both at the same time. The result is broken trust, poor decisions, and lower engagement with our people – and lost opportunity for us. Read More >

Bestselling author and leadership expert Susan MacKenty Brady helps us drown out our Inner Critical Imposter with our Inner Champion. With her guidance, leaders will get out of their own heads to unleash their optimal impact on themselves AND others. Read Less ^

Thriving as a Leader: Breaking Barriers with Courage

Have you ever wondered how to flourish in a senior leadership role as your best self, inspire excellence in your team channeling your own wellbeing and, at the same time, lead a highly fulfilled life? Read More >

In this engaging, informative and inspiring keynote, leadership expert Susan MacKenty Brady brings to life seven impactful practices and 7 Questions to Courageous Action™ that will help you leverage your uniqueness to powerfully thrive in leadership.

Powered by her latest book, Arrive & Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership, Susan inspires women in leadership and allies of inclusivity who have made the brave choice to go for it—to strive for a top job, to make an even bigger impact, and to lead by example with courage and purpose. Read Less ^

Testimonials

"Susan masterfully translates her hard-won experience into profound advice and practical action. Her compassion, humor and understanding helps people reframe how they perceive themselves and their situation. She is very authentic and her wisdom stays with you long after you hear it. I love what she is doing to change the game for women leaders globally!”

- CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, ST. JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITA

"Susan's authenticity, care, and expertise shines through. She has such a beautiful way of encouraging leaders to be brave and bold in their approach while also honoring the importance of human connection.”

- VP, PROJECT MGMT NATIXIS INVESTMENT MGRS

"As a leadership wellbeing expert, Susan specializes in turning complex interpersonal concepts (like managing conflict, relational and emotional intelligence, and fostering psychological safety, leading inclusively, to name a few) into clear, helpful and operational advice.”

- PROFESSOR EMERITUS, U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT

"Susan has been studying, researching and practicing human development for nearly three decades and, as a result, has tremendous clarity about what it takes to communicate and connect as a high-impact leader.”

- CHIEF DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION OFFICER, ELECTRONIC ARTS

"Susan’s greatest gift is her faith that we are all capable of living more meaningful, impactful, authentic, and compassionate lives. Second only is the fact that she can teach us how.”

- GLOBAL HEAD OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, MOET-HENNESSEY

"Susan is high energy and high impact! Not afraid to challenge, she skillfully brings people along on a journey of self-discovery. You leave any time spent with Susan feeling inspired to do more and be even better.”

- CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURERS