In this episode, Martha and Indira speak candidly with Alison Richard, a distinguished anthropologist who is widely known for her research on the evolution of complex social systems among primates, was the first woman to be appointed Vice-Chancellor (President) of Cambridge University.  

Before arriving at Cambridge, she served as the Provost of Yale University.  She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and has received numerous honorary degrees from universities in the UK, China, Madagascar, Canada, Korea and the US. 

Alison discusses her experiences in the positions and how she had the ‘nerve’ to get there.

Episode Resources

• Bateson, M. C. (1990). Composing a Life. Plume.
• Darwin, C. (2013). The Voyage of the Beagle. Simon and Schuster.
• Richard, A. (2022). The Sloth Lemur’s Song. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226817576.001.0001
• Piper, Martha and Samarasekera, Indira. Nerve: Lessons on leadership from two women who went first. Toronto, Ontario ECW Press, 2021.
  www.nerve2021.com

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