Susan Packard – Media Pioneer and Leadership Speaker

Susan Packard has played a defining role in shaping some of the most recognizable media brands of the modern era. She worked at the ground level of influential networks such as HBO, CNBC, and HGTV, gaining a reputation as a builder of ideas, teams, and platforms that resonate with audiences.

Her most defining chapter began when she joined HGTV as its second employee and co-founder. From those early days, Susan helped guide the network’s development, eventually serving as Chief Operating Officer. Under her leadership and alongside many talented colleagues, HGTV grew into a powerhouse brand that helped form the foundation of Scripps Networks Interactive.

Through strategic brand building and the creation of new platforms and networks, Susan and her team helped grow Scripps Networks Interactive to a market value exceeding $15 billion. Her career offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how bold ideas become global brands.

Today, audiences booking Susan Packard for events gain insights from someone who has truly built businesses from the ground up.

From Media Executive to Author and Leadership Voice

After decades in the corporate media world, Susan Packard shifted her focus toward writing, mentoring, and speaking. Her work now centers on leadership development, emotional fitness, and the personal courage required to thrive in demanding environments.

Her first book, New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in the Workplace, published by Penguin Random House in 2015, shares practical guidance for women navigating professional life and leadership. The book draws on Susan’s experiences in highly competitive industries and provides strategies for building confidence, influence, and resilience.

She continued this work with Fully Human: Three Steps to Grow Your Emotional Fitness in Work, Leadership and Life in 2019. The book explores how emotional fitness strengthens decision-making, leadership, and relationships in both career and personal life.

Susan later captured the stories of young adults navigating recovery in The Little Book of College Sobriety: Living Happy, Healthy and Free. Her most recent book, Brilliantly Brave: Women’s Stories of Grit and Grace, celebrates the courage and resilience of women who face challenges with strength and determination.

Across these works, Susan emphasizes the importance of emotional awareness, personal responsibility, and supportive communities in building meaningful lives.

Emotional Fitness and Courage in Leadership

A central theme in Susan Packard’s work is emotional fitness. She believes that leadership success grows from the ability to understand emotions, communicate honestly, and remain resilient through uncertainty.

Her widely viewed TEDx talk at UCLA explores this concept and offers audiences practical ways to strengthen emotional fitness in professional and personal settings. Organizations and universities frequently invite Susan to speak about these ideas, including Stanford Business School and Carnegie Mellon University.

Susan’s presentations blend storytelling, leadership insights, and deeply human experiences. Audiences walk away with tools to navigate pressure, strengthen teams, and develop the courage required to grow as leaders.

Breaking Barriers and Building Influence

Throughout her career, Susan Packard has opened doors in industries where leadership roles were often limited for women. She became the first woman elected to the board of directors of Churchill Downs, Inc., the company that owns and manages the Kentucky Derby.

Her leadership journey reflects persistence, innovation, and the willingness to challenge expectations. These experiences form a powerful foundation for her speaking engagements, where she shares lessons on leadership, opportunity, and the value of building strong teams.

Susan’s talks resonate with executives, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders who want to create cultures that encourage growth, creativity, and accountability.

Courage, Recovery, and Authentic Leadership

Susan often describes the most courageous moment of her life as asking for help for a substance use disorder. That decision reshaped her understanding of leadership, vulnerability, and personal strength.

In 2019, she shared part of this journey during the Commencement address at Michigan State University, her alma mater. Speaking to more than 5,000 graduates and their families, Susan discussed recovery, resilience, and the importance of seeking support when life becomes difficult. During the ceremony, she received an Honorary Degree of Doctor in Humanities.

Today, Susan also works with college students navigating recovery, continuing her commitment to supporting young adults who are building healthier futures.

Book Susan Packard for Your Event

Susan Packard delivers keynotes that combine media innovation, leadership insight, and deeply personal storytelling. Her experience building global brands, writing influential books, and speaking at leading universities allows her to connect with audiences across industries.

Event organizers who book Susan Packard gain a speaker who understands both the strategic and human sides of leadership. Her talks inspire audiences to develop emotional fitness, lead with courage, and build careers grounded in purpose.

Away from the stage, Susan enjoys time with her husband Bill, their son Andrew, and their two cats, Diva and Dart. She divides her time between Knoxville, Tennessee, and Waterford, Michigan, where she enjoys writing and spending summer days by the lake.