Navigating Landmines at Work: Differences Can Create Value

Navigating Landmines at Work: Differences Can Create Value

From New Books in Economic and Business History by New Books Network

June 4, 2026 · 27 min

About this episode

Susan MacKenty Brady discusses the evolving challenges in the workplace and the importance of empathy and understanding in leadership.

Susan MacKenty Brady is a leadership educator, executive coach, bestselling author, and the founding CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership. At Simmons she holds the Deloitte Elen Garbriel Chair for Women and Leadership and has advised executives at over 500 organizations worldwide. She is co-author of All the Difference: Six Leadership Actions to Bridge Perspectives, Strengthen Teams, and Create Value with Stuart D. Kilman and Lt. Gen (Ret) Leslie C. Smith. Uncomfortable stuff, organizational issues that have been “on my heart.” That is how Susan opens this interview, mentioning how everything from the evolving role of women on the job to five generations of employees to the advent of AI is roiling the business world as much as it’s ever been turbulent and, frankly, agitated and anxious. From the call to Know Yourself to Ignite Togetherness and Commit to Action, this episode explores target actions where the biggest interpersonal sin is to dismiss the dignity of the world you’re talking to just because they can pull rank or fail to apply empathy. Emotions “bring the weather,” Susan says, in a discussion that highlights her suggestion that certainty…

People in this episode

Guest: Susan MacKenty Brady

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • organizational issues
  • diversity
  • empathy
  • business change

Keywords

  • leadership
  • empathy
  • organizational issues
  • diversity
  • business change
  • AI
  • generational differences

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, Deloitte

More episodes of New Books in Economic and Business History

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the New Books in Economic and Business History podcast page.