On this podcast, we will share stories from physicians in various medical specialties and those in roles that support the advancement of medicine to understand the skills necessary to be an effective leader. We’ll celebrate their success and hear about strategies to overcome hurdles. We will also highlight some of the unique challenges faced by women in medicine who are interested in pursuing leadership positions and the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship in achieving and being successful in those roles.
On this podcast, we will share stories from physicians in various medical specialties and those in roles that support the advancement of medicine to understand the skills necessary to be an effective leader. We’ll celebrate their success and hear about strategies to overcome hurdles. We will also highlight some of the unique challenges faced by women in medicine who are interested in pursuing leadership positions and the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship in achieving and being successful in those roles.
In this episode of the Lead Change podcast, Dr. Mary Mulcahey welcomes her friend and colleague, Dr. Berte Boe, a consultant orthopedic surgeon at Oslo University Hospital and the first woman to serve in the presidential line of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery, and Arthroscopy (ESSKA). Dr. Boe shares insights from her multifaceted career as a clinician, researcher, and leader.
She discusses her dual focus on shoulder and knee surgery, an uncommon combination in Europe, and her evolution from clinician to section head and international leader. She opens up about her path to earning a PhD in orthopedics, how early challenges as a young woman in a male-dominated field motivated her to excel academically, and how she now mentors the next generation of surgeons and researchers.
Dr. Boe reflects on her leadership philosophy—grounded in team-building, openness, humility, and inclusivity—and outlines her goals for ESSKA, including advancing the Women in ESSKA initiative and fostering international collaboration. The episode closes with a discussion of her favorite leadership lessons, including managing diverse personalities and keeping ego in check, and her favorite quote:
“Believe that you can, and you’re halfway there.”
Key Takeaways