About Us
Bullsh!t without Borders (BSWOB) is a movement for changemakers who are skeptical of the status quo. We’re here to pull back the curtain on the global aid and development industry, exposing its absurdities and inefficiencies with wit and hard truths. We want the next generation of idealists—especially ambitious, driven women—to question outdated practices, embrace equity, and build a better path to meaningful impact.
Mission
To challenge outdated practices in global aid by exposing inefficiencies, fostering accountability, and equipping changemakers with tools and insights to contribute to lasting impact.
Vision
A world where development is reimagined to value people over projects and rooted in equity, humility, and longer attention spans.
What We’re Reading & Watching
Transparency
We believe in calling out issues—no sugarcoating, no spin.
Collaboration
We believe in calling in. Global change requires partnerships, mutual respect, and collective efforts.
Equity
We prioritize voices from the Global South and marginalized communities, placing them at the forefront.
Courage
We embrace difficult conversations and challenge the norms that hinder progress.
Humor
Laughter is a powerful tool to communicate hard truths and connect with people.
Meet the Author!
Susan Davis is a philanthropic advisor, social impact strategist, and advocate for effective and equitable development. She shares funny stories and serious lessons from three decades of leadership experience in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Her work spans 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. She has advised hundreds of donors on supporting sustainable, locally-led solutions.
Susan is multi-passionate, meaning she’s held a variety of roles throughout her career and pursued numerous side quests. Most recently, she created the Director of Equitable Giving role at the Segal Family Foundation, where she championed African social impact leaders. She’s been an intrapreneur as the Chief of Party for the USAID Global Waters program; Global Coordinator for Agenda for Change; Chief Partnership Officer of Water For People; and Director of Development for what’s now water.org. She tried her hand at social entrepreneurism as well by founding Improve International, a mission-driven consultancy dedicated to learning from failure in international development.
Susan is known for her ability to blend humor, honesty, and evidence to spark necessary conversations about the challenges of global development. She has spoken about accelerating learning from what works – and more importantly, what doesn’t – to improve impact at several international conferences, webinars, and podcasts. She especially loves to talk to students about what she wished she’d known earlier in her career.She also shares her strong opinions as a writer, a judge for social impact competitions, and a co-teacher of a course at Georgia Tech’s Institute of Leadership and Social Impact. Her upcoming book, Bullsh!t without Borders, offers a candid critique of international development and philanthropy, combining sharp insights with humor to challenge outdated approaches and inspire meaningful change. Follow her WTF (What the Failure!) Wednesday posts on LinkedIn.