Research & Insights

Institute Publications

Arrive & Thrive

 

The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership is a global authority on leadership, gender equity and inclusion. Our experts have created a vast library of research and insights that ignite positive action and empower women to realize their leadership potential. Our publications include the Wall Street Journal best-seller Arrive & Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership, Thriving at Work Index and the Inclusive Leader Playbook.

 

Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership

Co-authored by Susan MacKenty Brady, Janet Foutty and Lynn Perry Wooten.

Thrive in a senior leadership role as your best self. Inspire excellence in your team by channeling your own well-being. Lead a highly fulfilled life. This best-selling practical guide shows you how.

Arrive and Thrive Authors

Meet the Authors

Susan Makenty Brady

Susan MacKenty Brady

CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

A globally renowned expert on inclusion, best self leadership, and women’s leadership.

Susan Makenty Brady

Susan MacKenty Brady

CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

Susan Makenty Brady
A globally renowned expert on inclusion, best self leadership, and women’s leadership.

Susan MacKenty Brady is the Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership at Simmons University and the Chief Executive Officer of The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership. As a relationship expert, leadership well-being coach, author and speaker, Susan educates leaders and executives globally on fostering self-awareness for optimal leadership. Susan advises executive teams on how to work together effectively and create inclusion and gender parity in organizations. A highly sought authority on emotionally intelligent leadership, Susan has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America and has keynoted or consulted at over 500 organizations worldwide.

 

Janet Foutty

Executive Chair of the Board of Deloitte US

Committed to purposeful leadership and advancing equity.

Janet Foutty

Executive Chair of the Board of Deloitte US

Committed to purposeful leadership and advancing equity.

Janet is the Executive Chair of the Board of Deloitte US. She previously served as chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Janet is committed to purposeful leadership and recognizes that business can and should make a broader societal impact that matters.

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten

President of Simmons University

A respected academic leader and expert on organizational development and transformation.

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten

President of Simmons University

Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten
A respected academic leader and expert on organizational development and transformation.

Lynn Perry Wooten is the first African American President of Simmons University. Prior to Simmons, she served as the David J. Nolan Dean and professor of Management and Organizations at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. With leadership at the core of Lynn’s work, her research has ranged from an NIH-funded investigation of how leadership can alleviate health disparities to leading in a crisis and managing workforce diversity. Lynn also has a robust clinical practice, providing leadership development training for a wide variety of organizations.

Author Keynotes: Action-Oriented Designed to Scale Impact

The path to creating gender equity in your organization begins with creating a culture where women leaders thrive. Bring an Institute expert into your organization for a keynote designed to achieve widespread alignment and adoption of the core principles necessary to move this important work forward. Keynotes are tailored to address your unique organizational objectives and can be delivered in person or virtually. Our authors are available as keynote speakers for your next in-person or virtual event. Keynotes can be delivered standalone or incorporated as a kick-off at your next leadership conference.

Praise for Arrive and Thrive

Indra Nooyi

Former Chairperson & CEO, Pepisco

Indra Nooyi
I can confidently say the themes explored in this book, when viewed in combination, wield immense power in helping anyone thrive in a leadership position.

John Donohoe

CEO, Nike

John Donahoe
This book captures insightful and practical lessons that all aspiring leaders can learn from.

Dorie Clark

Wall Street Journalbestselling author of The Long Game, Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out

Dorie Clark
This book will inspire and empower women – and their allies – at all levels of leadership tthink bigger and intentionally about their professional impact and possibilities

Cathy Engelbert

WNBA Commissioner

Cathy Engelbert
Arrive and Thrive is rooted in real world experience and incredible life lessons. The seven impactful practices have proven true throughout my leadership journey and reflect lessons that I learned both on the court and in the boardroom. In an era where so many of us think we are just surviving in this complex business world, this book will inspire you to move from survive to thrive.

Molly Fletcher

Speaker, Author, Former Sports Agent

Molly Fletcher
If you are contemplating stepping up and steppin, even more, the 7 Impactful Practices in this book – and the wisdom of the three authors and experts they highlight – will show you how.

Julia Gillard

27th Prime Minister of Australia, Chair of Global Institute for WOmen’s Leadership, King’s College London and Australian National University

Julia Gillard
Women fighting for gender equity have to upend so many barriers; a world of work built for men and outdated stereotypes. It can be exhausting but there is energy to be found in learning from the insights of Arrive and Thrive.

Arrive and Thrive FAQs

What is this book about?

This book is about thriving as a formidable woman leader while combating the systemic barriers that add to the complex challenges you already face. How do you flourish in a senior leadership role as your best self, inspire excellence in your team, while channeling your own well-being and, at the same time, lead a highly fulfilled life? This leadership book shares practices you can put into place today. Buy a copy for yourself and your team!

Who is this book for?

This book is for 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.

Can I book the authors to speak at my company?

The authors have over two decades of experience working with leaders at organizations globally and are available to speak to your workforce in person or virtually to accommodate your geographically dispersed population. Learn more.

The Inclusive Leader’s Playbook

This easy-to-use guide offers a wealth of tips and techniques for fostering a mindset of inclusion and creating a culture of equity in your organization. It will help you increase engagement, foster creativity and innovation, and benefit from all of the talent in your organization.

Learn essential diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts:

  • Master 6 actions of The Work of the Inclusive LeaderTM
  • Take steps to be a more inclusive leader with the help of reflection questions, exercises and suggested action
Inclusive Leader's Playbook collage

RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS

Thriving at Work

Are you thriving at work? What does it mean to thrive and why is it important? 

Last year, we surveyed over 5,000 leaders at our Simmons Leadership Conference for our Thriving At Work research study. Respondents shared what the impact is when they feel like they are thriving at work.

Here’s what they told us:

  • Women who are thriving feel more confident, more engaged, and happier. They also report feeling more inspired and feeling better about themselves.
  • When thriving, respondents are more productive and more likely to go “above and beyond.” They also report being more effective and empowered to do their best work.

In 2024, we are publishing the Thriving at Work Index, which will spotlight new trends shifting in our workforce and impacting our ability to thrive at work.

Thriving at Work

Mastering Your Inner Critic and 7 Other High Hurdles to Advancement

Also from Susan MacKenty Brady

It’s time to stop questioning yourself and start taking control of your success.

How many times did your inner critic pop up and talk you down today? Or, tell you someone else wasn’t good enough?

Mastering Your Inner Critic offers first-hand hard-won advice for scaling the hurdles that prevent us from controlling the voice inside our head that reminds us that we are better than or not enough. It’s time to counter those nagging questions that torment us with positive solutions that empower us.

Mastering your Inner Critic