Research & Insights
Thriving Through Impact: Recognizing the Leaders of Change
We are proud that this year marks the 125th anniversary of Simmons University, an institution founded for equality and dedicated to furthering social justice and economic mobility. We are also celebrating 46 years of The Simmons Leadership Conference, an annual gathering that has a rich history of bringing together some of the most accomplished women leaders from all sectors to focus on driving change in the workforce – and in the world. We are excited to take the stage soon to address our in-person audience here in Boston and thousands of attendees tuning in virtually from around the world.
This gathering represents an important moment reminding us that those around us can play a critical role in our journey to thriving as leaders. When we were working on our book Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership with Janet Foutty, our fondest memories were interviewing leaders and hearing their individual stories of learning and growth. We asked top executives to identify which of the seven practices impacted their success the most. Reflecting back, one theme has become abundantly clear: we are surrounded by women leaders who are inspiring change-makers–and their insights can have an important influence on us. It is their legacy that reminds each of us to consider what’s possible and take the next step toward creating a different future.
We are pausing to celebrate remarkable leaders from the Simmons University community whose steadfast commitment to equity are leaving an indelible impact, shaping a different world for the leaders of today and tomorrow. Today, we honor two such leaders who, without a doubt, have helped other women thrive.
Joyce Kulhawik
Emmy-award winning Broadcast Journalist
I learned about LEADERSHIP from my mother who was fearless speaking truth to power. She was propelled by her own sense of justice and forged ahead to bring about change. I saw her do this on many occasions public and private. She never let being a woman stand in her way, worked full time outside the home before most women in her generation did, and had a husband, my father, who was proud of my mother’s outspokenness, drive, and gumption. She believed in me before I believed in me, and I discovered I could do the hard things she thought I could.”
Joyce Kulhawik, Emmy-award winning Broadcast Journalist, CBS NEWS, GBH News “The Culture Show,” President Boston Theater Critics Association, covered major events like the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Grammys. As the first arts reporter in the U.S. to appear nightly as part of a local TV news team, she elevated arts journalism and strengthened her station’s community service. Now President of The Boston Theater Critics Association, Kulhawik is also a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and hosts GBH Radio’s The Culture Show. A 3-time cancer survivor, she’s deeply involved in cancer advocacy, having chaired Massachusetts’ fundraising campaign for 25 years and helped launch the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge.
Kulhawik holds numerous awards, including an Honorary Doctorate from Simmons University, a National Bronze Medal from the ACS, and an induction into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She is currently President of The Boston Theater Critics Association, a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics, and has hosted nationally syndicated movie review programs with Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin. Joyce can be heard on Boston’s Local NPR station GBH radio (89.7) THE CULTURE SHOW. Find her reviews online at JoycesChoices.com.
Dr. Sheila Davis
CEO, Partners in Health
Driving change requires tremendous courage in any role, especially in leadership. In my experience, courage as a leader looks like: listening to all perspectives, including those that differ from your own; forging new paths, knowing the only certainty is that you’ll learn along the way; and, most importantly, staying true to yourself, your beliefs, and your values through it all.”
Dr. Sheila Davis is the CEO of Partners In Health (PIH), where she previously led clinical operations and nursing efforts, and played a key role in PIH’s Ebola response during the West Africa epidemic. With a career rooted in global health, she co-founded an NGO focused on health projects in South Africa and Boston, and has been a leader in HIV/AIDS care and nursing advocacy.
Dr. Davis is a frequent national speaker, holds advanced degrees in nursing and global health, and has been recognized as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She has also served as adjunct faculty at UCSF School of Nursing and was part of the inaugural Carl Wilkens Fellowship for anti-genocide work.
Inspiring a World of Thrivers
True leadership combines communication, accountability, respect, and connection—and it is essential for building environments where people can truly thrive. This month, as we honor the incredible achievements of Ann, Joyce, and Sheila, I invite you to consider what kind of leader you want to be. Let’s embrace a leadership paradigm that celebrates human potential, fosters inclusivity, and drives sustainable success.
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Susan MacKenty Brady
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