U.S. News Best Leaders

U.S. News & World Report
  • 5.0 (1)
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  • Updated Weekly

Americans are losing trust in their leaders. In a 2025 U.S. News & World Report survey, 73% of respondents said they were disappointed in healthcare leaders, 72% don’t have faith in business leaders, and two-thirds are frustrated with those in education. But there are still leaders worth believing in. And on this podcast, we will introduce you to a few of them. Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News & World Report, hosts the Best Leaders podcast, sponsored by the NobleReach Foundation. New episodes every Wednesday. Learn more at www.usnews.com/leaders

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Tjada D'Oyen McKenna on Leading Mercy Corps Through Global Crisis

    When someone around the world needs help, there's a strong possibility that Mercy Corps is there to answer the call. For more than four decades, the humanitarian organization has helped hundreds of millions of people across the world grapple with economic, political, social and environmental challenges and catastrophes.  In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, sit down with Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps, which works in more than 35 countries and impacts tens of millions of people annually. Before joining Mercy Corps in 2020, McKenna spent time at McKinsey, American Express and General Electric – private-sector experience that has shaped her decision-making and management of the global nonprofit. When the U.S. government shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2025, a significant portion of Mercy Corps' funding disappeared virtually overnight, and McKenna had to lead the organization through extreme uncertainty. Together, they discuss crisis leadership, the value of multi-sector fluency, the future of humanitarian aid and what real leadership looks like when the world is in flux. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders  Tjada D'Oyen McKenna’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-tjada-doyen-mckenna More from MercyCorps:  https://www.mercycorps.org/ More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/

    44 min

  2. May 27

    John Hope Bryant on the American Dream, Inclusive Capitalism and Building Hope

    As America celebrates 250 years, one of the things that defines this great but imperfect nation is the American dream. Today, that dream is still a very real thing, and you can find countless examples of people living theirs – including today's guest. In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, sit down with John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation Hope and Bryant Group Ventures. Bryant started his first business at age 10 with a small bit of cash from his mother. He recounts how he grew up in one of the toughest ZIP codes in Los Angeles and endured homelessness earlier in life before going on to direct more than $5 billion in economic activity to underserved communities. He has advised presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs and many others following their own American dreams. His new book, "Capitalism for All," lays out his vision for inclusive economics and future-proofing America. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders  John Hope Bryant’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-john-hope-bryant John Hope Bryant’s book, “Capitalism For All: Inclusive Economics and the Future-Proofing of America”:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/capitalism-for-all-john-hope-bryant/1148436216 More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/

    59 min

  3. May 20

    Dr. Eric Topol on Longevity, Health and the Future of Medicine

    We all want to live longer, healthier lives. But right now, there’s more noise than ever about how to do it. That’s where trusted voices matter, especially those working at the intersection of research, innovation and clinical practice. In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, speak with Eric Topol, M.D., Professor and Executive Vice President at Scripps Research and Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. Topol is a practicing cardiologist and one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine, with more than 1,300 peer-reviewed papers and clinical trials in more than 40 countries. His 2025 book, “Super Agers,” makes the evidence-based case for extending not just lifespan, but health span – the years we are actually healthy. But what earned Topol a place on the U.S. News Best Leaders list is not just his scientific achievements. It is his commitment to living by his motto: “Think big. Act bigger.” Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders  Eric Topol’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-eric-topol  Eric Topol’s book, “Super Agers”:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Super-Agers/Eric-Topol/9781668067666  More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/

    1h 1m

  4. May 20

    What Americans Can Learn From the U.S. News Best Leaders

    Americans are losing trust in their leaders. Across public service, healthcare, business and education, many people say they are disappointed in the institutions and individuals meant to guide them through a period of rapid change. In the first episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, sits down with Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, to introduce the series and the question at its center: Who is actually getting leadership right? Together, they discuss why trust, honesty, humility, empathy and collaboration matter in leadership today, how the U.S. News Best Leaders list was developed, and why this series will go deeper into the stories, challenges and lessons of leaders across health, education, business and public service. Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders NobleReach Foundation: https://noblereach.org/ Arun Gupta’s book, “The Mission Generation”: https://www.themissiongeneration.com/ More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/

    32 min

  5. May 18

    Trailer: U.S. News Best Leaders

    From the state house to the courthouse, in the emergency room and the classroom, Americans are losing trust in their leaders. In a 2025 U.S. News & World Report survey, 85% of Americans said government leaders care more about their own power than the people they serve. 73% of respondents are disappointed in healthcare leaders, 72% don’t have faith in business leaders, and two-thirds are frustrated with those in education. But there are still leaders worth believing in. And on this podcast, we will introduce you to a few of them. Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News & World Report, hosts the Best Leaders podcast, sponsored by the NobleReach Foundation. Each year, U.S. News recognizes extraordinary individuals across public service, business, healthcare and education whose work is making a real difference. On this show, we're going deeper into their stories, their challenges, and their lessons in leadership.

    1 min

Trailer

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About

Americans are losing trust in their leaders. In a 2025 U.S. News & World Report survey, 73% of respondents said they were disappointed in healthcare leaders, 72% don’t have faith in business leaders, and two-thirds are frustrated with those in education. But there are still leaders worth believing in. And on this podcast, we will introduce you to a few of them. Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News & World Report, hosts the Best Leaders podcast, sponsored by the NobleReach Foundation. New episodes every Wednesday. Learn more at www.usnews.com/leaders

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  • Creator
    U.S. News & World Report
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5

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