S4, Ep. 3 | Decades in the Making: Leadership Lessons from Women’s Sports

Women’s sports are no longer a niche story — they’re a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and authentic growth.

In this episode, Susan MacKenty Brady welcomes Simmons University Professor of Practice Justine Pouravelis and former NHL executive Bryant McBride to explore what leaders in every industry can learn from the explosive rise of women’s sports, from the structural impact of Title IX to the visibility revolution fueled by social media, to the WNBA’s bold embrace of authenticity and community.

This conversation goes beyond metrics and KPIs. It’s about humility. Humanity. The long game. And the magic that happens when a collective truly has each other’s backs.

Together, they unpack:

• Why sports are one of the most powerful real-time leadership laboratories
• The difference between good teams and great teams — and the role of selfless accountability
• How trust breaks down (and how to rebuild it)
• Why resilience and the ability to get back up matters more than talent
• What businesses can learn from the WNBA’s deep connection to its fanbase
• Why joy may be the most underrated leadership advantage of all

If you’ve ever asked how to build teams that last, create cultures of trust, or lead with both performance and purpose — this episode is your playbook.

Justine Pouravelis and Bryant McBride will be speaking at the 2026 Simmons Leadership Conference (#SLC47) in Leading the Game: Connected Leadership in Business & Sports. This curated track brings together leaders from professional sports and global business to explore what Connected Leadership looks like in practice.

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