The Leaders Who Make All the Difference: A Conversation with Lynn Perry Wooten

What makes a lasting difference in a leader’s life? Sometimes it is a pivotal experience or a moment that changes how we see ourselves. Often, it is another person: a mentor who sees something in us before we see it in ourselves, challenges us to grow, and shows us what leadership can look like in practice.

That idea comes to life in All the Difference, where Lynn Perry Wooten, president of Simmons University, shares the story of her mentor, Laurita Thomas, and the profound influence she had on Lynn’s leadership. In this conversation, Susan and Lynn build on themes from Arrive & Thrive and Lynn’s contributions to All the Difference, exploring what it means to continually become our best selves, learn through reflection, value different perspectives, and use our unique strengths to make a difference.

Leadership Is Never a Finished Product

Susan MacKenty Brady:
Lynn, one of the throughlines between Arrive & Thrive and All the Difference is the idea that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about continually becoming our best selves. As you reflect on your own leadership journey, how has your understanding of leadership evolved, and what practices help you continue growing as a leader?

Lynn Perry Wooten:
My understanding of leadership continues to evolve. Every new experience, challenge, and relationship offers an opportunity to learn something—about myself, about others, and about how I can lead more effectively. Over time, I’ve become even more convinced that the strongest leaders are lifelong learners. They remain curious, seek out perspectives different from their own, reflect on what their experiences are teaching them, and are willing to grow and adapt.

For me, becoming my best self as a leader is an ongoing practice. It means continuing to deepen my self-awareness, being intentional about learning from people and experiences, and staying connected to the skills, talents, and passions I can bring to my work. Leadership is never a finished product, and I believe some of our greatest opportunities for impact come when we embrace listening and learning.

The Power of Pausing to Lead Better

Susan:
In Arrive & Thrive, we introduced your concept of reflective sense-making, the discipline of pausing to learn from experience before moving to action. Reflection also plays an important role throughout All the Difference and is an essential activity for leaders who especially are looking to create value from difference and bridge perspectives to strengthen teams. Why do you believe reflection is such an essential leadership practice, especially as leaders navigate increasing complexity and change?

Lynn:
Reflection gives us the opportunity to turn experience into learning. That is at the heart of what I call reflective sense-making: creating the space to understand what we have experienced, what it is teaching us, and how that learning should inform what we do next. In a world that often rewards speed and action, reflection can sometimes feel counterintuitive. But when leaders move from one challenge to the next without taking the time to reflect on that experience, they miss an opportunity for growth.

Reflection becomes even more important when we are working across differences. We must examine not only what we think, but why we think it, and remain curious about what someone else might see that we do not. As complexity increases, leaders cannot rely on a single perspective or assume they have all the answers. Reflective sense-making helps us learn from our own experiences while making room for the experiences and perspectives of others—and that is often the foundation of stronger teams and better decisions.

The Mentor Who Taught Her to See People Fully

Susan:
One of my favorite stories in All the Difference is the one you share about your mentor, Laurita Thomas, and the profound impact she had on your leadership. Looking back, what did she teach you about seeing people, valuing different perspectives, and leading with humanity that continues to influence you today?

Lynn:
Laurita Thomas has taught me so much about what it means to truly see people. She has an extraordinary ability to recognize the strengths and potential in others, sometimes before they fully recognize those qualities in themselves. There is also such humanity in the way she leads. Laurita knows that great leadership begins with paying attention—to people, to what matters to them, and to what they can contribute.

She embraces the unique experiences, talents, perspectives, and aspirations people bring to their work. She understands that our differences are not obstacles to overcome and does not ask people to leave those differences at the door. Instead, Laurita recognizes them as important sources of learning, creativity, and strength. That lesson has stayed with me and continues to shape how I lead today: see people fully, remain curious about what they can teach you, and create opportunities for them to thrive.

Invest in Who You Are Becoming

Susan:
Across both books, we’ve explored the idea that the quality of our leadership is deeply connected to the work we do on ourselves. What does “investing in your best self” mean to you today, and what advice would you offer leaders who want to continue growing, not just in what they do, but in who they become?

Lynn:
Investing in your best self means making a lifelong commitment to learning and growth. It means understanding your strengths and values while also recognizing that nobody is perfect. We continue to evolve through our experiences, the people we encounter, the questions we ask, and our willingness to reflect. Just as important is knowing when to pause. Especially in moments of constant change and competing demands, investing in yourself means recognizing when you need time to step away, recharge, and create the space to return with renewed energy and perspective.

I also believe this is where everyday leadership becomes so powerful. Each of us has a unique combination of skills, talents, passions, and lived experiences that we can put to work in service of others. My advice is to keep learning, stay curious, and give yourself permission to pause when you need it. Then, look for opportunities—large and small—to use what is uniquely yours to make the world better. That is an investment not only in your best self, but in the people and communities your leadership can impact.

Leadership Begins With How We Show Up

Lynn’s reflections offer a reminder that leadership is not something we master once and move on from. It is shaped in the everyday moments when we choose to stay curious, pause and reflect, listen to perspectives different from our own, and make space for others to bring their full selves to the work.

And perhaps that is where we can all make a difference. We do not need to have all the answers or wait for the perfect opportunity to lead. We can start with the people around us: paying attention, learning from others, recognizing potential, and using what is uniquely ours to help others thrive.

In the end, becoming our best selves as leaders is not just about who we become. It is about the difference we make for the people we lead and the communities we are part of.