Susan Dominus with Dr. Lisa Damour

In this compelling conversation, Dominus and Damour will delve into the questions that shape every parent’s hopes: Why do some siblings thrive while others struggle? What fuels ambition and resilience in children? Drawing from Dominus’s new book The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success, the session will explore the subtle forces—within families and beyond—that influence motivation, drive, and emotional well-being.

This session offers practical, research-informed reflections that challenge easy answers and encourage deeper thinking about what it means to support children in today’s high-pressure world. Parents will walk away with insights into how to nurture their children’s potential, understand the emotional undercurrents of sibling dynamics, and create a home environment that supports both achievement and healthy relationships.

Susan Dominus has been a journalist with The New York Times since 2007, contributing as a Metro columnist and later as a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. A National Magazine Award winner in 2024 for her widely discussed piece on menopause, Dominus has also been a fellow at both the National Institutes of Health and Yale Law School. She currently teaches journalism at Yale University. Her latest book, The Family Dynamic, is a powerful and thought-provoking look at sibling success, family life, and ambition.