Lead Change

Recorded live at the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program in Philadelphia, this episode of the Lead Change Podcast features Dr. Erika Brown, Associate Director of ELAM, Dean of Faculty Affairs at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, and nationally recognized expert in faculty affairs and leadership development.The discussion explores the value of professional networks, and Dr. Brown’s philosophy that leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility. She concludes by sharing powerful insights on leading change through communication, transparency, trust, and consistency, while reminding listeners that leadership ultimately centers on helping others succeed.Key Take-Home Points1. Leadership Often Begins When Others See Potential in YouSponsors and mentors can identify strengths that you may not yet recognize in yourself. Leadership pathways are often discovered through service and engagement. 2. Great Leaders Start by ListeningConducting a "listening tour" helps uncover institutional needs and opportunities. Effective solutions are built from understanding real challenges. 3. Building Systems Creates Lasting ImpactLeadership is about creating structures that enable others to thrive. Sustainable success requires frameworks, not just individual initiatives. 4. Sponsorship Is Different from MentorshipSponsors actively advocate for opportunities and advancement. A sponsor can change the trajectory of a career. 5. Professional Networks Accelerate GrowthRelationships developed through organizations such as ELAM and AAMC provide lasting value. Leadership development is strengthened through community and collaboration. Generous professional networks create opportunities for shared learning. 6. Leadership Is a Privilege, Not a PositionLeadership roles exist to serve and support others. Authority should be viewed as a responsibility rather than a reward. The most effective leaders focus on helping others advance. 7. Leading Change Requires More Than VisionIdentifying problems is easier than implementing solutions. Successful change depends on communication and stakeholder engagement. Transparency builds trust during periods of transformation. 8. Your Best Changes from Day to DayExcellence does not mean perfection. Leaders should recognize and respect their own limits. Sustainable leadership requires self-awareness. 9. Culture Is Shaped by the People Around You"Iron sharpens iron" applies to leadership development. Surround yourself with people who are optimistic, thoughtful, and growth-oriented. Professional and personal relationships influence your development. 10. The Future of Leadership Development Is Continuous LearningLeadership growth does not end with a fellowship or formal program. Ongoing learning and engagement are essential for sustained success. Leadership development should be viewed as a lifelong journey. Memorable Quotes from the Episode"The pie doesn't get bigger. As one slice gets bigger, other slices get smaller." "Iron sharpens iron."

Episode 11: The Power of Presence, Reflection, and PurposeIn this episode of the Lead Change podcast, host Dr. Mary Mulcahey sits down with Janet Foutty, former CEO of Deloitte Consulting and Executive Chair of Deloitte US, and co-author of Arrive and Thrive. Janet reflects on her 33-year career at Deloitte, her leadership philosophy, and her current focus on advancing women’s health through organizations like Women’s Health Access Matters (WAM).The conversation explores Janet’s service-oriented leadership mindset—flipping the traditional leadership pyramid to focus on enabling others—and how lessons from business leadership translate directly to medicine and healthcare. Janet discusses why investing in women’s health research and innovation is both a moral imperative and an economic opportunity, highlighting historic inequities and underinvestment.A major focus of the episode is Arrive and Thrive and its seven leadership practices. Janet emphasizes the importance of investing in your best self through self-awareness and reflection, embracing authenticity with consistency, and redefining concepts like “executive presence” to be inclusive rather than coded or exclusionary. She also shares practical tools, such as Deloitte’s Business Chemistry framework, and reflects on how leadership styles evolve across different career chapters. The episode closes with Janet’s favorite leadership thinkers, quotes, and advice on preparation, focus, and lifelong growth.

In this episode of the Lead Change podcast, Dr. Mary Mulcahey welcomes her friend and colleague, Dr. Berte Boe, a consultant orthopedic surgeon at Oslo University Hospital and the first woman to serve in the presidential line of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery, and Arthroscopy (ESSKA). Dr. Boe shares insights from her multifaceted career as a clinician, researcher, and leader.She discusses her dual focus on shoulder and knee surgery, an uncommon combination in Europe, and her evolution from clinician to section head and international leader. She opens up about her path to earning a PhD in orthopedics, how early challenges as a young woman in a male-dominated field motivated her to excel academically, and how she now mentors the next generation of surgeons and researchers.Dr. Boe reflects on her leadership philosophy—grounded in team-building, openness, humility, and inclusivity—and outlines her goals for ESSKA, including advancing the Women in ESSKA initiative and fostering international collaboration. The episode closes with a discussion of her favorite leadership lessons, including managing diverse personalities and keeping ego in check, and her favorite quote:“Believe that you can, and you’re halfway there.”Key TakeawaysLeadership Is About People, Not Position: Dr. Boe emphasizes that a strong team culture—where everyone is encouraged to reach their potential—is essential to sustainable success.Authenticity Over Imitation: She learned from great mentors but discovered she had to lead her own way rather than trying to replicate others.Mentorship Multiplies Impact: By supervising medical students and PhD candidates, she passes on both technical and research skills while promoting academic engagement in orthopedics.Diversity Strengthens Organizations: As the first woman in the ESSKA presidential line, Dr. Boe is passionate about inclusion and mentorship for women in orthopedics through initiatives like Women in ESSKA.Continuous Learning Is Leadership: From earning a PhD to attending leadership courses, Dr. Boe models lifelong learning.Leadership Style: Direct, open, decisive, and team-oriented—balancing firmness with approachability.Managing Different Personalities: Inspired by the book Surrounded by Idiots, she recognizes that effective leadership requires understanding varied personality types.Ego Is the Enemy: Staying grounded, approachable, and engaged with her team is essential to her philosophy.Favorite Quote: “Believe that you can, and you’re halfway there.” — a reminder of confidence and perseverance, especially for women in leadership.

In this special live episode of the Lead Change podcast, recorded at the Inspire Women in Orthopaedics Summit 2025 in Philadelphia, Dr. Mary Mulcahey sits down with Drs. Meghan Bishop and Danielle Ponzio, co-founders and co-chairs of the INSPIRE Summit. Both accomplished orthopaedic surgeons at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Bishop and Ponzio share the origins, growth, and vision behind the conference—a space designed to empower, educate, and connect women in orthopaedics. They reflect on how INSPIRE evolved from an idea to a nationally recognized eventemphasizing leadership, mentorship, authenticity, and collaboration. This year’s summit incorporated fresh perspectives from orthopedic leaders, executive coaches, and professionals outside of medicine, covering topics such as advocacy, work-life integration, leadership development, and finding one’s “why.”Throughout the conversation, the guests discuss lessons learned in leadership, the importance of authenticity, and the transformative power of mentorship. They also share their favorite leadership books and quotes—Dr. Ponzio citing Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, and Dr. Bishop highlighting the athletic mindset from Beyond Grit and her lifelong motto: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”Key TakeawaysPurpose-Driven Leadership: Understanding your “why” helps guide your “what.” Passion and purpose fuel success.Authenticity Matters: Being true to yourself allows you to thrive in your role and find the right environment for growth.Collaboration Across Fields: Including voices from business, coaching, and advocacy enriches leadership and broadens perspective.Mentorship & Representation: Building networks of female leaders strengthens the pipeline and fosters lasting impact.Evolving Together: The INSPIRE Summit continues to grow by adding new topics, diverse speakers, and fresh approaches each year.Leadership Lessons: Listening, inclusion, and confidence are essential leadership skills—especially for women in male-dominated fields.Inspiration in Action: The event embodies the spirit of empowerment andcommunity—encouraging women to lead, lift others, and embrace opportunity.

In this episode of Lead Change, Dr. Mary Mulcahey interviews Dr. Ellen Casey, attending physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. A former collegiate gymnast, Dr. Casey has built her career around sports medicine, research, and leadership. She shares insights from her journey—ranging from her early days as a gymnast and team captain, to her current role directing research at HSS Physiatry and serving as team physician for USA Gymnastics.Dr. Casey emphasizes the importance of individualized leadership, collaboration, and adaptability. She discusses her role in reshaping residency leadership structures, her perspective on balancing clinical care with research, and her philosophy of leading with authenticity and vulnerability. She also reflects on challenges of prioritization, the myth of a perfect system, and the need to embrace change throughout a medical career. Influenced by mentors and leadership resources like Deep Work, Simon Sinek, and Brene Brown, Dr. Casey models mission-driven leadership rooted in teamwork, continuous learning, and service.Key TakeawaysIndividualized Leadership: Lessons from gymnastics and residency leadership show the value of supporting people’s unique strengths rather than forcing uniformity.Redefining Systems: Dr. Casey helped restructure residency leadership into a three-chief model, creating lasting positive change.Mission-Driven Practice: Clear purpose and “knowing the why” are central to her leadership style.Balancing Roles: Time management, deep work, and strict prioritization are essential to balancing clinical, research, and leadership responsibilities.Authenticity and Vulnerability: Being open, reflective, and authentic fosters trust, growth, and stronger mentorship.Adaptability in Career: Change—whether geographic, institutional, or personal—can lead to unexpected growth and opportunities.Team-Based Leadership: Collaboration across disciplines and perspectives strengthens patient care, research, and organizational culture.Continuous Learning: Books, podcasts, and mentors fuel ongoing leadership development; even popular culture (e.g., Ted Lasso) can offer leadership lessons.Core Values: Service, community, and the courage to “lead change” shape her leadership philosophy.

Episode SummaryThis episode of the Lead Change podcast features Dr. David Parker, an internationally recognized knee surgeon from Sydney, Australia, and past president of ISAKOS and APKASS. Dr. Parker shares insights from his career in knee surgery, leadership experiences in international orthopedic societies, and his commitment to evidence-based practice. He discusses ISAKOS’s global educational initiatives, including cadaveric labs and programs supporting female surgeons, the importance of mentorship, and lessons learned about diplomacy and consensus-building in leadership. Dr. Parker emphasizes persistence, credibility among peers, and respect as keys to success, while acknowledging the role of self-criticism in driving improvement. He also reflects on how leadership can be both challenging and deeply rewarding, especially when it fosters diversity and inspires the next generation.Key TakeawaysEvidence-Driven Care: Building a strong research foundation—over 20,000 patients dataset—allows for data-backed clinical decision-making and advances in patient outcomes.Global Collaboration: Exposure to diverse perspectives through organizations like ISAKOS and APKASS fosters innovation and better patient care worldwide.Leadership Challenges: Leading an international organization requires diplomacy, the ability to synthesize diverse viewpoints, and the skill to maintain unity while making strategic decisions.Power of Mentorship: Early mentors can inspire confidence and open doors to leadership opportunities that might otherwise seem unattainable.Diversity Matters: Promoting women in leadership enriches organizations, broadens perspectives, and removes barriers to contribution.Self-Criticism as a Driver: Being one’s own toughest critic can fuel improvement but requires balance to avoid burnout.Persistence as a Strength: Endurance—likened to running a marathon—is key to sustaining high performance and achieving long-term goals.Respect Over Recognition: True career success lies in earning and keeping the respect of one’s peers.Implementation Over Theory: Leadership principles are most valuable when actively applied, not just understood.Life Philosophy: Quotes from his swimming coach—"Plenty of time for rest when you’re dead" and "What time is it? It’s the best time of your life, enjoy it"—capture his approach to work and life.

In this episode, Dr. Antonia Chen, Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern, talks about her leadership journey, career pivots, and vision for the future of orthopaedics. Dr. Chen shares insights from her evolution as a clinician, researcher, and leader, including her transition into high-level administrative roles. She discusses her use of robotic technologies in arthroplasty, the power of inclusive leadership, and her mission to elevate women and underrepresented voices in orthopaedics. Her story illustrates how intentional listening, adaptability, and purpose-driven change can shape a meaningful leadership path.