What happens when good intentions don’t lead to good outcomes?
In the latest episode of the Impact x Intersection Podcast, Dori Pap, managing director of the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact (ILSI), sits down with Susan Davis, ILSI’s Practitioner in Residence, to discuss her new book, Bullshit without Borders.
Drawing on three decades of experience in international development, Davis takes an honest, and often hilarious, look at the assumptions, habits, and approaches that can get in the way of creating meaningful social impact. Rather than offering a simple formula for creating change, Bullshit without Borders encourages readers to slow down, question what they think they know, and listen more closely to the people and communities they hope to serve.
“There’s a bunch of questions in here for people. I don’t give people all the answers, but I want to help people ask better questions.”
Susan Davis
Davis brings this same perspective to her work with Georgia Tech students, challenging them to listen first, question their assumptions, and approach social impact with curiosity and humility. Her experience is an important reminder that creating change isn’t always about having the right answers—it’s about asking better questions and being willing to learn.
Whether you’re a student, social impact practitioner, or someone who wants to make a difference, Bullshit without Borders offers a thoughtful and entertaining invitation to rethink how we approach change.
Congratulations, Susan, on this exciting new chapter!