Simmons University Leadership Institute

Simmons University Leadership Institute Global authority on the intersection of leadership, equity, and inclusion – with an emphasis on achieving gender parity.

The founding of Simmons University Institute of Inclusive Leadership in 2019 builds on the University’s rich heritage of igniting positive action, fostering everyday leadership and striving for lasting social justice. Our vision is simple: Manifest equity in leadership in our lifetime. We accomplish this by offering leaders groundbreaking inclusivity programs that support underrepresented populati

ons. We design, build, and deliver innovative on-site and online instruction that can be customized for any organization’s leadership journey.

What if the differences between us aren’t obstacles to overcome, but one of our greatest sources of leadership potential...
08/20/2026

What if the differences between us aren’t obstacles to overcome, but one of our greatest sources of leadership potential?

That’s the question at the heart of All the Difference, the new co-authored book by our CEO, Susan MacKenty Brady, Stuart Kliman, and Lieutenant General Leslie C. Smith, U.S. Army (Retired).

In our August edition of Leadership Insights, we’re exploring the ideas behind the book and what we’re learning as we put them into practice.

Inside, you’ll find:

→ A conversation with Lynn Perry Wooten on the leaders and practices that make a difference
→ Reflections on Difference Intelligence™ since the book’s launch
→ A timely look at why AI is making human leadership more valuable from Jennifer Martin

Read now: https://ow.ly/kNaa50ZBXgR

Who are the leaders who make all the difference in our lives?Often, they’re the people who see our potential before we s...
08/12/2026

Who are the leaders who make all the difference in our lives?

Often, they’re the people who see our potential before we see it ourselves.

Susan MacKenty Brady recently sat down with Lynn Perry Wooten, president of Simmons University, to explore the leaders, experiences, and practices that shape who we become.

They talk about lifelong learning, the power of reflection, leading across differences, and the influence of Lynn’s mentor, Laurita Thomas.

A thoughtful conversation about what it means to become a better leader and help others thrive.

👉 Read: https://ow.ly/5TWL50ZyWcq

AI isn’t making human leadership less important. It’s making it more valuable.As AI takes on more technical and analytic...
08/11/2026

AI isn’t making human leadership less important. It’s making it more valuable.

As AI takes on more technical and analytical work, distinctly human capabilities like judgment, empathy, trust, adaptability, and connection matter more than ever.

In this blog, Jennifer Martin, Director of Workforce Readiness at Cisco, and Susan MacKenty Brady explore what AI means for leaders and organizations, and why investing in human capability is essential in an AI-enabled world.

👉 Read more: https://ow.ly/2aMp50ZyaxV

Today’s Thrive365 Connected Conversations was a wonderful reminder of the power of coming together as a community.Thank ...
07/21/2026

Today’s Thrive365 Connected Conversations was a wonderful reminder of the power of coming together as a community.

Thank you to Samantha Tan for guiding us through an inspiring conversation on the power of presence in leadership, and to everyone who showed up with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Together, we explored three ways to make our presence count:

✨ Presence with yourself. What grounds you? What brings you joy? As Samantha shared, enjoyment is a strategy for cultivating resilience.

✨ Presence with others. How do people experience themselves when they're in the room with you? What becomes possible when people feel truly seen?

✨ Presence in the world. How do you show up so that something larger can come through you?

The heart of the session was the conversation. In small groups, leaders shared personal stories, reflected on moments when their presence made a difference, and considered one small shift they can make to show up with even greater intention.

Thank you to every member of the Thrive365 community who made today's conversation so thoughtful, generous, and engaging. This is what Connected Conversations is all about: creating space to connect, reflect, and grow together.

What makes a leader effective when the future feels uncertain?It's a question many leaders are asking as they navigate c...
07/16/2026

What makes a leader effective when the future feels uncertain?

It's a question many leaders are asking as they navigate change, build trust, and help their teams thrive.

Those are the themes at the heart of All the Difference, the new book by Susan MacKenty Brady, Stuart Kliman, and U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith. To celebrate the book's release, we've published a new blog exploring its central ideas and the authors' recent Fortune article, which examines why the pressure to project certainty can actually undermine leadership and team performance.

If you're thinking about how to lead with greater trust, inclusion, and purpose, we invite you to read our latest blog and join the conversation.

Read the blog: https://ow.ly/2IGj50ZnyZU

What if the greatest opportunity for leaders isn't finding more common ground, but learning how to lead across differenc...
07/14/2026

What if the greatest opportunity for leaders isn't finding more common ground, but learning how to lead across difference?

Today, we're proud to celebrate the launch of All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value by our CEO, Susan MacKenty Brady, co-authored with Stuart D. Kliman and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith.

At a time when leaders are navigating increasing complexity, change, and diverse perspectives, this book offers six practical actions for building trust, strengthening teams, and turning difference into a source of connection and value.

These ideas are at the heart of what we believe at the Institute and the work we do every day.

We're incredibly proud to share this resource with leaders everywhere.

📘 Order your copy: https://ow.ly/of1j50ZlAFM

What if difference isn't something to overcome, but an opportunity to create stronger teams, better ideas, and greater i...
06/22/2026

What if difference isn't something to overcome, but an opportunity to create stronger teams, better ideas, and greater impact?

Last month, more than 150 leaders joined us in Boston for our first Thrive365 in-person event, where we explored the power of leading through difference alongside Susan MacKenty Brady, Stuart Kliman, and Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, co-authors of the forthcoming book, All the Difference.

The conversations reinforced an important truth: leadership growth happens when we challenge assumptions, seek diverse perspectives, and stay open to learning from one another.

This month, we're sharing some of the key insights from that event, along with a new Better Understanding Podcast episode featuring bestselling author Margie Warrell on leading with courage, presence, and purpose.

Whether you're navigating change, building stronger relationships, or looking to make a greater impact, we hope these resources inspire your leadership journey.

Explore the key leadership insights, event highlights, and podcast conversation here: https://ow.ly/H8oV50Zflv5

What would you do if fear wasn't in the driver's seat?In the latest episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Susan M...
06/18/2026

What would you do if fear wasn't in the driver's seat?

In the latest episode of the Better Understanding Podcast, Susan MacKenty Brady sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert Dr. Margie Warrell to explore why courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the decision to act despite it.

Their conversation examines the courage gap, the power of presence, and how leaders can build the confidence to navigate uncertainty, make difficult decisions, and create greater impact.

One of our favorite takeaways: Courage isn't something you're born with. It's something you practice.

If you're leading through change, facing tough decisions, or looking to show up with greater intention, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now: https://ow.ly/OfJ450ZcTvo

What if difference isn't the problem?What if it's the opportunity?That was the big idea at the heart of our first-ever i...
06/08/2026

What if difference isn't the problem?

What if it's the opportunity?

That was the big idea at the heart of our first-ever in-person Thrive365 gathering in Boston, where 150+ leaders came together to explore one of the most important leadership challenges of our time: how to create value from difference.

Hosted by our partner Loomis Sayles, the evening featured a conversation with All the Difference co-authors Susan MacKenty Brady, Stuart Kliman, and Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, alongside Loomis Sayles leaders Kevin Charleston and Pramila Agrawal.

One idea seemed to resonate throughout the room:

Difference is dormant capital.

Whether differences show up through perspectives, experiences, communication styles, generations, or approaches to risk, every organization is filled with untapped opportunities. Leadership determines whether that value is unlocked or lost.

A few takeaways:

✔️ Poorly managed difference drains value. Well-managed difference creates value.

✔️ Curiosity is often more valuable than certainty.

✔️ The future belongs to leaders who can build trust, bridge perspectives, and create value from difference.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this evening so memorable.

Read the recap: https://ow.ly/emZb50Z8V9w

📍 Boston.👥 150+ leaders.✨ One unforgettable evening of leadership, connection, and community.Last night, the Thrive365 c...
06/03/2026

📍 Boston.

👥 150+ leaders.

✨ One unforgettable evening of leadership, connection, and community.

Last night, the Thrive365 community came together for its first-ever in-person networking event, bringing leaders from across the region together to learn, connect, and grow.

A huge thank you to our gracious host, Loomis Sayles, as they celebrate an extraordinary milestone: their 100th anniversary.

Special thanks to Kevin Charleston, Tricia Keefe, and Pramila Agrawal for helping make the evening so memorable.

The conversation around leading through difference could not have been more timely. We were honored to welcome All the Difference co-authors Susan MacKenty Brady, Stuart Kliman, and Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith for a practical discussion on navigating complexity, building trust, and leading with courage and connection.

What stood out most was the energy in the room. The conversations, the networking, and the willingness of leaders to learn from one another and invest in community.

As Thrive365 continues to grow, evenings like this remind us why this community matters.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We can't wait for what's ahead.

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Wednesday 9am - 5pm
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