Susan holds Bachelors, Honors, two Masters Degrees and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her Ph.D. investigated the concept of emotional intelligence. Susan is a Research Associate at Yale University, USA. She is also a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Susan has been awarded fourteen prizes and scholarships including the National Health and Medical Research Council's Sydney Sax Fellowship for research on the role of emotions in well-being. For three consecutive years she was selected as an International Positive Psychology Fellow by the Positive Psychology Network directed by Professor Martin Seligman. Susan has authored peer-reviewed publications, and is editing and authoring books on positive psychology (Oxford University Press) and engagement (Little, Brown, and Company).

Susan is on the editorial boards for the International Coaching Psychology Review and Coaching: An International Journal of Research, Theory, and Practice. She is an invited member of the Global Convention on Coaching and served as an external advisor for the first Masters of Applied Positive Psychology program to be implemented in the United Kingdom. Susan and her work have been extensively quoted in the media, including USA Today, What Happy Women Know (by Dan Baker, PhD; Rodale Press), and Positive Psychology Coaching (by Robert Biswas-Diener; Wiley).

Susan is frequently invited to speak at international conferences. Recent presentations include the Breakthrough Leadership Conference (Dubai), the annual conference of the Society for Human Resources Management (United States), the International Emotional Intelligence Conference (United Kingdom), the Strengths-Based Corporate Development Conference (United Kingdom), and the first Positive Psychology, Business and Well-being Conference (United Kingdom).

Susan has extensive business psychology experience. Her clients are leading organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa.