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Institute News
Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership Announces Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award winner, Thasunda Brown Duckett
The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, a global authority on leadership, gender equity, and inclusion, is pleased to announce the 2024 recipient of the Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award winner, Thasunda Brown Duckett.
Duckett is the President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, a Fortune 100 provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions to millions of people working in higher education, healthcare and other mission-driven organizations. The Visionary Leader Award, given in honor of Simmons University’s eighth president, Helen G. Drinan, is awarded annually at the Simmons Leadership Conference to a leader who embodies the Institute’s mission to manifest equity in leadership and create a more inclusive workforce.
“I am delighted that the Institute for Inclusive Leadership is honoring a leader who has excelled in the financial services industry. Having spent twenty years in banking, I know firsthand how challenging it is to break into executive leadership,” said Helen G. Drinan, President Emerita, Simmons University. “Thasunda Brown Duckett makes it possible for women growing up in the industry to see that the top job is within their reach, and that the path to leadership is worth the hard work and sacrifices which come with this level of competition. Brava!”
Duckett is the fourth Black woman to ever lead a Fortune 500 company. She is a leadership luminary and trailblazer in the financial industry who is widely recognized for prioritizing financial inclusion and educational opportunities for underserved populations. Prior to her role at TIAA, she held several executive positions during her career at JP Morgan Chase, including CEO of the Consumer Bank and Auto Finance. Duckett is widely recognized for prioritizing financial inclusion and educational opportunities for underserved populations.
Past award recipients include Indra Nooyi, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Co-Founder and CEO of Proof of Learn and Founder of Care.com, and Sandra Fenwick, Former CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital.
Duckett will accept the award on April 3, 2024, where thousands of leaders will be in attendance in Boston and online from around the world at the 45th Simmons Leadership Conference.
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Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership Welcomes New Executive Board Members from Bain Capital, Dell Technologies, and John Hancock
The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, a global authority on leadership, gender equity, and inclusion, is pleased to announce the appointment of three Strategic Advisory Board members: Paula Connolly, Partner and Co-Chief Technology Officer at Bain Capital; Denise Millard, Chief Partner Officer at Dell Technologies; and Greg Martin, Head of US, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at John Hancock.
“It is with sincere excitement that I welcome three executive leaders to the Strategic Advisory Board,” said Susan MacKenty Brady, CEO of the Institute for Inclusive Leadership. “They each have dedicated effort and commitment in creating workplaces that work for everyone and join a global dream team of change-makers who help guide the direction and impact of the Institute. Simmons is proud to be the catalyst that unites the members, and we are deeply honored for the leadership of its advisory board.”
“We are thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to work with these three leaders as the newest members of the Strategic Advisory Board,” said Simmons University President Lynn Perry Wooten. “Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago and our institution has a vital role to play in educating the next generation of leaders. Our close partnership with the Institute is critical to our mission and I look forward to working with the Advisory Board as we advance our strategic priorities around every day, equitable leadership.”
Partner and Co-Chief Technology Officer at Bain Capital, Paula Connolly
Paula joined Bain Capital in 2011. She is a Partner and Co-Chief Technology Officer. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Paula was a Vice President at Fidelity Investments, where she worked in a variety of technology positions, including production operations, program and project management, disaster recovery management, and technology process and governance. She holds an MBA from Bentley University and a Bachelor of Arts from Clark University. Learn More about Paula.
Chief Partner Officer at Dell Technologies, Denise Millard
Denise’s passion for connecting with customers and enabling sales and partner organizations has been a constant throughout her 20+ year career. She previously held senior executive roles, leading Sales Operations, Professional Services, Channel Sales, Learning and Enablement, Field Marketing and Sales Strategy. Intensely committed to developing the next generation of talent, Denise is a strong believer in mentorship and development. She is a long-standing sponsor and contributor to Dell’s Women In Action (WIA) Resource Group and most recently served as the Executive Sponsor for the New England WIA chapter. She holds an MBA from Clark University and a BS in Business from Bryant University. Learn More about Denise.
US Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at John Hancock, Gregory Martin
Greg is US Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at John Hancock. As US Head of DEI, he leads the development and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that support Manulife/John Hancock’s national and global strategy. As a member of Manulife’s Global DEI leadership team, he is building a DEI framework that cultivates signature programs focused on engagement, career development, community, and business efficiency. Prior to joining John Hancock, Greg served as an Ameriprise Financial Advisor and an Investment Advisor at TD Bank. He has an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership. Learn More about Gregory.
Susan MacKenty Brady discusses how certain labels applied to women can have damaging long-term effects
“Integrated thriving” can fix unhelpful buzz words like “girlboss” and “snail girl”
December 1, 2023
It’s hardly surprising that there’s a growing obsession with labeling women in the workplace. From “girlboss” to “lazy girl” to most recently “snail girl,” women are looking for ways to redefine their professional relationship with themselves so they can lead an integrated life. This isn’t about ambition — the new McKinsey report confirms: Women are as driven as ever.
Nobel prize winner Claudia Goldin’s work proved most glaring gender gaps would diminish if employees had more control over where and when their work got done. No wonder why trends that originate as “a less exhausting paradigm” are catching fire. Perhaps these trends satisfy the many women who are searching for ways to “be” professionally that don’t lead to burnout or backlash. While certain labels can be cathartic for women who feel burned out or consumed by their work, words like “lazy” and “snail” and “bossy” can have damaging long-term effects.
Read the full article on Big Think.
Forbes highlights strategies recommended in the Institute’s Thriving at Work study that leaders can take to help people thrive
How To Lead So People Thrive: 3 Strategies Based On Science
November 19, 2024
As a leader, you have a lot on your plate—from driving results to ensuring you create great experiences that attract, retain, engage and develop people. And leaders have a tremendous impact on people in terms of their mental health, engagement and morale. It’s a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of opportunity.
And helping people thrive is worth the focus, because when people flourish, it’s good for them, and it also has powerful impacts on business performance.
The good news is research suggests three straightforward ways to lead so people are more likely to feel fulfilled, energized and rewarded in their work.
Read the full article on Forbes.com.
Institute experts interviewed by Forbes
Forbes.com
October 4, 2023
Why The ‘Lazy Girl Job’ Trend Is Harmful To Women — And How To Flip The Script
In May 2023, the hashtag #lazygirljob went viral. Young women began promoting jobs with benefits that include working from home with a laidback boss, lax deadlines and few pressures, but also decent pay. Examples include digital marketing executive, marketing associate, and account manager. According to the Wall Street Journal, within two months the slang term had generated over 18 million views on TikTok and attracted widespread media attention.
Months later, the meme is still going strong. Some people say it’s a natural pushback against unrealistic work expectations — another version of “quiet quitting.” They argue that it empowers women. According to two experts in gender equity and inclusion, however, the “lazy girl job” narrative can be damaging to women, undermining hard-won respect in the workplace.
“The ‘lazy girl job’ meme implies that women are not ambitious,” said Elisa van Dam and Susan MacKenty Brady of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership in an exclusive interview with me. “In reality, most women are ambitious — and also are looking for their basic needs to be met. This includes realistic deadlines and workloads, reasonable hours, good managers, meaningful work, and so forth.”
Read the full interview with Forbes.
Elisa van Dam discusses the Institute’s Thriving at Work study
Stylist.com
September 26, 2023
Women say an ‘unmanageable workload’ is the number one thing holding them back at work
How can workplaces enable women to thrive? This new study explores just that.
What’s holding you back at work? Too many pointless meetings? A fear of success? Or is it simply that you have too much to do and not enough time in which to do it?
It’s OK if the answer is all of the above, and you’re certainly not alone. A new study asked women in different industries what obstacles they face to thrive at work. The number one answer? An unmanageable workload.
The study, from the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, aimed to look at how workplaces can better equip women to thrive, ie they feel like they’re doing good, meaningful work; they have opportunities to grow and develop; and they feel truly valued and recognised. As part of this, they quizzed women about what prevented them from reaching this state of being, and found that having too much to do came up over and over again. Read the full interview with Stylist.
Yahoo! Finance covers Thriving at Work study
Yahoo! Finance
September 20, 2023
New Study Reveals: Work That Matters, Not Perks or Vacation Time, Is What Inspires Women to Be At Their Best
BOSTON, Sept. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Companies are stepping up their commitment to help their women employees thrive, but many have struggled to put it into practice. A new study has the solution. The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership announced today survey findings about what women say causes them to thrive at work: It’s not vacations or perks, but making meaningful contributions.
In practice, what does thriving look like? A survey of participants from the Simmons Leadership Conference in March 2023, which included women in the age range of under 25 to over 75, defined thriving as making positive contributions, learning, and being valued and recognized. For managers, the study findings reveal the importance of delegating projects that have a significant impact, providing opportunities for formal and informal learning, and taking time to recognize women employees in the way that is most meaningful to them. Read the full article on Yahoo! Finance.
Meet our new Strategic Advisory Board members
August 17, 2023
The Institute for Inclusive Leadership Welcomes New Executive Board Members from Boston Children’s Hospital, Point32Health, RTX, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership recently appointed four new Strategic Advisory Board members: Peter Church, chief people officer at Point32Health; Shanda Hinton, chief diversity officer at RTX; Lori Spicer Robertson, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and Valerie L. Ward, MD, MPH, senior vice president and chief equity and inclusion officer at Boston Children’s Hospital.
“I am honored to welcome these four incredible, mission-driven leaders to the Strategic Advisory Board,” said Susan MacKenty Brady, CEO of the Institute for Inclusive Leadership. “They each bring a diverse set of skills and expertise and share a deep desire to foster equity, inclusion, and gender parity in organizational leadership. They join a global dream team of change-makers who help guide the direction and impact of the Institute, and our Institute is proud to be the catalyst that unites the members.”
Two of our experts weigh in on local controversy
Institute Thought Leaders in the News as Authorities on DEI
April 6, 2023
Thought leaders at the Institute for Inclusive Leadership were recently interviewed by Boston media outlets about the use of the word “ladies” after the Easthampton, Mass., school committee rescinded the job offer of a superintendent candidate reportedly for using the word in an email exchange with two women.
Elisa van Dam, Vice President of Allyship and Inclusion at the Institute, shared her thoughts in a Boston Globe article that pondered if “ladies” can be considered a microaggression.
“It’s tone deaf.* It seems that he hasn’t been paying attention to the way language use has been evolving and how we are talking about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging,” she said. “He’s operating on a very old paradigm.”
Institute CEO recognized by Marietta College
Susan MacKenty Brady Honored by Her Alma Mater
October 15, 2022
Susan MacKenty Brady, CEO of the Institute for Inclusive Leadership and the Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership at Simmons University, has been named the recipient of the 2022 Marietta College Distinguished Alumna Award. The award was presented on October 15, 2022, during the school’s homecoming festivities.
“I’m thrilled—and honored—to be recognized by Marietta, and I can’t wait to travel back to campus to accept the award and reconnect with old friends,” Susan said. “I have so many fond memories from my time at Marietta.”
Susan graduated from Marietta in 1994 with a BA in Business Communications.
“We are excited about this year’s award winners, and we are pleased to honor them in this special way,” said Dr. Erika Cornelius Smith, Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement.