She's Got Nerve

Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera
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"She’s Got Nerve" was created to assist women in leadership positions and those who aspire to lead in the future.The podcast explores themes first examined in the hosts’, Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera, book titled “Nerve: Lessons on leadership from two women who went first.” The topics explored in this podcast include differences between the leadership styles of women and men, leading with grit and grace and how to achieve balance (if there even is such a thing!) This podcast aims to help women of all ages and backgrounds with practical advice on how to lead with confidence and resilience. 

  1. 3d ago

    Lisa Castle: Putting People at the Heart of Leadership

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with Lisa Castle, an extraordinary leader who has worked in both Manitoba and British Columbia. Most recently she served as Vice-President of Human Resources at the University of British Columbia, the most senior HR position at the university, assuming responsibility for the Departments of Human Resources at the two campuses in Vancouver and the Okanagan. And prior to joining UBC, Lisa worked in academic staff relations at the University of Manitoba. She has her BA from the University of Winnipeg and her LLB from the University of Manitoba. A true “people person”, Lisa is an exemplary role model as a leader who has made a difference in the institutions where she has worked.    Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  2. Sep 24

    David Young and Kait Weston: Why Boys Need Contribution, Not Competition, to Thrive

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with two individuals who are currently responsible for leading one of Canada’s finest boys’ school, David Young and Kait Weston. David Young, Head of St. Georges School, has a wealth of educational and international experience.  Having spent his early years in Bangladesh, he returned to Scotland when he was eight years old. The first person in his family to attend university, he received his first degree from St Andrews University and then a post-graduate degree from Durham University. After teaching five years in Prague he immigrated to Canada where he held various leadership positions at an ‘all boys’ school, Crescent School, in Toronto. Prior to joining Saints in, he served as Head of a co-educational school, Toronto Montessori School. Kait Weston’s resume as Deputy Head of Saints is equally impressive. A graduate of Cardiff University, Newcastle University and University of Oxford, Kait has held numerous educational administrative positions including Deputy Head Pastoral at a large, independent, co-educational boarding school in the UK. As well she has worked in public and independent schools, single gender and co-educational, where she taught Biology and coached rowing and cross-country running.  Particularly relevant to our conversation today, she has the experience of founding a 13-18 girls’ boarding house. Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  3. Sep 10

    Ena Harrop and Deryn Lavell: Building Confident Young Women

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with two outstanding educators who have spent their careers advancing all-girls’ education and who currently lead the two all-girls’ schools in Vancouver. Ena Harrop who is Head of Crofton House School and Deryn Lavell who is Head of York House School. Both women have vast experience as educators and advocates for all-girls’ education.  Deryn became Head of York House School in 2022. Prior to joining York House, she served as Head of Saltus Grammar School in Bermuda, and before that she spent eight years as the Head of The Bishop Strachan School (BSS), one of Canada’s oldest day and boarding schools for all-girls.  Ena has served as the Head of Crofton House School since 2019 and prior to that was Head of the City of London School for Girls and Executive Head at City of London Primary Academy. Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  4. 11/20/2025

    Mary Sue Coleman: Listen More Than You Speak

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with Mary Sue Coleman, an internationally recognized biochemist who received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Grinnell College and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina. She was on the biochemistry faculty at the University of Kentucky for nineteen years, then served as the 18th President of the University of Iowa from 1995 to 2002.  In 2002 she was appointed 13th President of the University of Michigan—the first and only woman, to date, to serve in that capacity. In January, 2022 she returned to U of M as the interim President replacing Mark Schlissel and remaining in that role until Santa Ono took office on October, 2022.  Time magazine ranked her as one of the ten best American University Presidents in 2009, citing her success in fundraising and her emphasis on research. She is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and along with many other honours and appointments has served as President of the Association of American Universities. It would seem as if Mary Sue Coleman has done it all, making this discussion especially unique and exciting. Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  5. 11/06/2025

    Catherine McCauley: Titles Don’t Matter

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with Catherine McCauley, a remarkable administrator who has worked in both Ontario and British Columbia. She is currently a founding partner of Quinn McCauley Giving Strategies Inc. in Vancouver and is sought after for her expertise in charitable giving, public sector fundraising and foundation management.   A true leader who has demonstrated “nerve” as a sought-after adviser and entrepreneur, Catherine is an exemplary role model as a leader who often works in mysterious ways! Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  6. 10/23/2025

    Lisa Coleman: Patience is a Virtue

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with Lisa Coleman, the first woman and first Black person to be president of Adler University—a private graduate studies university dedicated to graduating practitioners who will lead social change and create a more just society. Founded in Chicago in 1952 to continue the work of Alfred Adler, a physician and psychotherapist who emphasized the individual’s need to engage with community and create positive social impact.  In addition to the Chicago campus, Adler University also has a second campus in Vancouver, making it unique in educating graduate students in both the United States and Canada. Dr. Coleman earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology at Denison University in Ohio and her master’s degree from Ohio State University.  She received a Ph.D. in social and cultural analysis and American studies at New York University. Prior to assuming the presidency, she held administrative positions at Tufts University and Harvard and was the first senior vice president for global inclusion and strategy innovation at NYU. What a treat it is today to be able to have a conversation with Lisa Coleman, a trail blazer and academic leader. Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  7. 10/09/2025

    Nadine Caron: When Opportunity Doesn’t Come Wrapped with a Bow

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with Nadine Caron, the first Canadian female general surgeon of First Nations descent, as well as the first female First Nations student to graduate from the University of British Columbia’s medical school, being the top ranked student. She has also received an MA degree in Public Health from Harvard and completed a postgraduate fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, focused on endocrine surgical oncology.  Nadine currently works as a general and endocrine surgeon in Prince George and leads the Northern Biobank Project, which aims to improve patients’ access to personalized medical research in northern British Columbia. In 2014 she co-founded the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health at UBC and has played numerous roles at the federal, provincial and local levels to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples.  She has received honorary degrees from the University of the Fraser Valley and SFU and is the recipient of the Order of British Columbia. What a treat it is today to be able to have a conversation with Nadine Caron, a trail blazer, a public health advocate and academic leader. Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

  8. 09/25/2025

    Moura Quayle: The Importance of Designed Leadership

    In this episode Martha and Indira have a conversation with a woman leader who has demonstrated “nerve” throughout her entire life.  Moura Quayle a renown strategic design scholar and urban systems designer. Moura has done it all—in both academia and government and community affairs. She has been an academic leader at UBC and has served in various leadership roles including Dean of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, the founding Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and most recently as Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President of Academic Affairs, to name a few.  In addition to her academic roles, Moura served as Deputy Minister of Advanced Education as well as being the B.C. Commissioner of the Pacific Coast Collaborative. Her research focuses on strategic design, especially as it is applied to leadership—authoring a groundbreaking book entitled Designed Leadership where she applies design principles to leadership. What a treat it is today to have a conversation with Moura Quayle, a woman who has truly had the nerve to “re-design” (if we may) leadership. Contact She's Got Nerve Email nervebook2021@gmail.comVisit our website https://nerve2021.com/Follow us on Instagram @nervebook2021 and LinkedIn @she'sgotnerveA special thanks to our team: Marketing Manager & Producer | Orla McErlean Show Manager | Eilis Courtney Thanks for listening to She's Got Nerve!

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About

"She’s Got Nerve" was created to assist women in leadership positions and those who aspire to lead in the future.The podcast explores themes first examined in the hosts’, Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera, book titled “Nerve: Lessons on leadership from two women who went first.” The topics explored in this podcast include differences between the leadership styles of women and men, leading with grit and grace and how to achieve balance (if there even is such a thing!) This podcast aims to help women of all ages and backgrounds with practical advice on how to lead with confidence and resilience. 

Information

  • Creator
    Martha Piper and Indira Samarasekera
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 She's Got Nerve
  • Show Website
    She's Got Nerve

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