Episodes
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In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries on The Empathy Edge.
Mortality, Impermanence & Why It Drives EverythingWe may be the only species that lives with the conscious knowledge of our own death. Maria and Rob sit with an uncomfortable truth of human existence: that we are finite, and that knowledge shapes how we love, create, grieve, and find meaning. Something AI cannot even register.
We explore what it means to be a time-malleable species - aware of the past, present, and future in ways no other animal appears to be - and we are most when time starts to run out. We look at evidence of grief in elephants and chimps, asking whether mourning requires mortality awareness or whether it's something else.
Rob asks Maria about her own 2008 near-death experience from a brain aneurysm, and together they wrestle with the near-death experience as a pivot point: the moment when abstract knowledge of death becomes real, and life suddenly looks completely different.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.
"One of the fundamental aspects of the human experience is knowing that death’s coming, but we all, as humans, deal with that knowledge very differently." — Rob Volpe
Episode References:
Rob’s project: Cross-generational conversations: form.typeform.com/to/Mf5GDlYTRob’s newsletter: Hardwired to be afraid: readingbetweenthelines.beehiiv.com/p/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-the-story-fear-tells-usThe Empathy Edge:
Ashley Jones: How to Courageously Lead and Support Through GriefStephanie Sarazin: What Is Ambiguous Grief and How To Show UpRon Gura: How Technology Helps People Navigate Grief and LossJane Goodall Institute on chimp grief: news.janegoodall.org/2019/07/24/now-we-must-redefine-man-or-accept-chimpanzees-ashumansKara Swisher Wants to Live Forever: cnn.com/kara-swisher-wants-to-live-foreverSan Junipero episode: Black Mirror: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_JuniperoRebooting My Brain by Maria RossMy Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte TaylorThe Tibetan Book of the DeadUploadWashington Post:
Perspective piece by a hospice worker: wapo.st/4oPoZGp7 Things to Know about Death, per Death Doulas: wapo.st/4oSLOZUAbout Maria Ross:
Maria Ross is a speaker, author, empathy strategist, and host of The Empathy Edge podcast, now in its sixth year. She believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive™, and has spent decades helping leaders balance empathy with accountability to drive better results, stronger teams, and lasting impact. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning The Empathy Dilemma, a Forbes.com contributor on Workplace Empathy, and creator of two LinkedIn Learning empathy courses.
About Rob Volpe:
Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries.
Connect with Rob Volpe:
Website: robvolpe.expert
Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation
X: x.com/rmvolpe
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe
Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist
Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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What if the future of leadership isn’t about scaling faster or competing harder, but about finding empathy and remembering what it truly means to be human?
Aubrey Morgan Yee invites us into a radically different way of thinking about leadership, collaboration, and the futures we’re actively creating. She is a cultural strategist, narrative practitioner, and empathy-centered futurist whose work bridges emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and Indigenous wisdom.
After experiencing profound personal collapse, Aubrey rebuilt her life around empathy, presence, and purpose. That lived experience now informs her work with leaders and changemakers seeking to grow their impact without losing their humanity.
We explore the idea of radical collaboration rooted in Indigenous frameworks that teach us new ways of understanding time, trust, leadership, and technology. We also talk about alternative and preferred futures, and how imagination is not a luxury but a leadership responsibility.
Aubrey shares what her personal collapse taught her about empathetic leadership, how emotional presence and cultural storytelling shape resilient organizations, and why the stories we choose to live by can either limit us or unlock entirely new realities. This is a conversation for leaders ready to question old myths, collaborate rather than compete, and help build futures that are not just more effective but more humane.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The Indigenous frameworks that teach us new ways of understanding, and how Indigenous cultures are among the most technologically advanced.How to navigate fear of change and choose to co-create instead.What pronoia means and how it is the antidote to what is keeping systems stuck. Why emotional presence and cultural storytelling shape resilient organizations."’Indigenous mind’ is just a way of being. It's a very grounded understanding that there are ways of thinking about what it means to be human, what it means to be a leader, what it means to be in business." — Aubrey Morgan Yee
Episode References:
Project BiomeCitizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of UsThe Empathy Edge:
Dr. Michelle Zhou: Empathic AI is Real, and It’s Here – But We Need Everyone Involved!Dr. Cori Lathan: Benevolent Cyborgs and a Techno-Optimist’s View on TechnologyAbout Aubrey Morgan Yee, Ph.D, Indigenous Politics and Alternative Futures:
Aubrey Morgan Yee is a cultural strategist, narrative practitioner, and empathy-centered futurist with a PhD in Indigenous Politics and Alternative Futures. After overcoming alcoholism and burnout, Aubrey rebuilt her life around empathy, presence, and purpose—now guiding others to do the same. Her work bridges emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and Indigenous wisdom to support leaders and changemakers in building more compassionate, regenerative futures.
She’s led cultural transformation initiatives for organizations like Culture Hack Labs and Project Biome, founded the rewilding sanctuary Hokuao Farm & Temple on O‘ahu, and hosts the Beloved Futures podcast. Her book, Our Beloved Futures, is a call to reimagine what it means to be fully human, to face and metabolize the toxic systems of modernity.
Aubrey brings a rare blend of vulnerability, strategy, and deep presence—offering practical insights for leaders seeking to grow their impact without losing their humanity.
Connect with Aubrey:
Our Beloved Futures: ourbelovedfutures.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aubrey-yee-phd-110153186
Instagram: instagram.com/aubrey.morgan.yee
Beloved Futures: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beloved-futures/id1681375129
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook
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Missing episodes?
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In a world racing toward smarter machines, empathy speakers and authors Rob Volpe and Maria Ross get curious in this limited subseries about what only humans can feel, do, and be — and why that's our greatest competitive advantage. Enjoy this limited subseries here on The Empathy Edge.
Self-Awareness, Consciousness & the Brain That Knows ItselfWhat does it mean to be aware that you exist? In this first episode of the What Does It Mean to Be Human? subseries, Maria Ross and Rob Volpe dig into one of the most profound and surprisingly unsettled questions in science and philosophy: what makes human consciousness distinct from every other species on the planet — and why does that question matter more urgently now than ever before?
From the evolutionary leap of the prefrontal cortex, to Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey's field evidence of chimp and gorilla emotional lives, to Michael Pollan's exploration of "the hard problem" of consciousness, Maria and Rob explore the idea that humans aren't running a different program than other animals — we're running a souped-up version of largely the same one. And yet something tipped. Something made us capable of recursive self-awareness: knowing that we exist, wondering why, and imagining how others see us. What was that tipping point? And can any technology ever cross it?
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
"People interact with AI as though there is a human behind it, because it communicates, and I think that's part of the danger that we're running into." — Rob Volpe
Episode References:
Jane Goodall Institute: Now We Must Redefine Man, or Accept Chimpanzees as Humans? https://news.janegoodall.org/2019/07/24/now-we-must-redefine-man-or-accept-chimpanzees-ashumans/PNAS Study on Human vs. Chimp Brain Connectivity: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1818512116The Conversation: What Makes the Human Brain Unique? https://theconversation.com/what-makes-the-human-brain-unique-we-compared-it-with-monkeys-and-apes-to-find-out-252331Michael Pollan: A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness https://michaelpollan.com/books/a-world-appears/The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist: https://www.focusfeatures.com/the-ai-doc-or-how-i-became-an-apocaloptimist The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Confessions/Paul-Bradley-Carr/9781668074411About Rob Volpe:
Rob Volpe is the Founder/CEO of Empathy Activist and the creator of The 5 Steps to Empathy, which he chronicles in his award-winning book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. He is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and consultant in the improvement of communication and collaboration in organizations of all sizes in all industries. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in San Francisco with his husband and 3 cats. Learn more at his website: www.robvolpe.expert or follow on Instagram: @Empathy_Activist.
Connect with Rob Volpe:
Website: robvolpe.expert
Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation
X: x.com/rmvolpe
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe
Facebook: facebook.com/EmpathyActivist
Instagram: instagram.com/empathy_activist
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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What if I told you that the most powerful force in business isn’t strategy, innovation, or tech: it’s love? Every great leader you admire already practices it. They might call it something else: respect, compassion, trust, purpose. Yet, underneath it all, it’s love, the energy that connects us, motivates us, and reminds us we’re human first.
Today’s guest, author, executive leadership coach, and international speaker, Dr. Moshe Engelberg, has spent nearly three decades helping organizations and leaders rethink what it means to lead with love as a strategic advantage. His work, grounded in behavioral science and wisdom traditions, shows how love drives engagement, loyalty, innovation, resilience, and how it goes hand-in-hand with empathy.
In our conversation, Moshe and I dig into what “love” really means in a business context and how you can model it without getting side-eyed in the boardroom. We talk about why culture is designed to resist change and what to do about it, the ABC model of The Amare Wave, and how to unify your team around a shared vision with more confidence, compassion, and clarity.
If the word love makes you a little uncomfortable, lean in closer. Because discomfort is usually where growth and better leadership begin.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
What love means in a business contextHow to open the door to the idea of love for leaders who may seem resistant at first.Holding healthy boundaries while you build a culture of trust and psychological safety.Small steps you can take now to create a more connected, resilient culture."Culture is designed not to change. That's its purpose, is to offer stability, certainty, and predictability. So, it's hard to change, and when we find tools that work that are usually behaviorally oriented, it can be profound for an organization." — Moshe Engelberg
Episode References:
Moshe's book: The Amare Wave: Uplift Your Business by Putting Love to Work Red Slice Blog: Why Can't Love Be Part of Your Business Model?Moshe's Just Say No Guide and Newsletter Signup: https://amareleadership.com/#good-leadersAbout Moshe Engelberg, Author, Executive Leadership Coach, International Speaker:
Dr. Engelberg inspires businesses worldwide to think differently, act courageously, and lead with love. His work blends applied behavioral science with diverse wisdom traditions, refined through nearly three decades of consulting with world-class organizations across healthcare, technology, government, nonprofits, foundations, and start-ups. A teacher at heart, Moshe helps others uncover the knowledge and truth within themselves. He holds a PhD in Communication from Stanford University, master’s degrees in Psychology and Public Health, has published numerous research papers, taught executive and graduate-level courses, and is known as a speaker for his innovative thinking, open heart, dry wit, and practical leadership tools. He is also the author of *The Amare Wave: Uplift Your Business By Putting Love to Work*, a weekly leadership newsletter, and more than 150 articles published in *INC. Magazine*.
Connect with Moshe:
Amare Leadership: amareleadership.com
X: x.com/MosheEngelberg
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mosheengelberg
Facebook: facebook.com/MosheEngelbergAuthor
Instagram: instagram.com/mosheengelberg
YouTube: youtube.com/@mosheengelbergauthor9276
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Join this deep conversation about what empathy really looks like in our institutions, our communities, and our leadership—especially at a time when empathy feels both urgent and under pressure.
Dr. Terri Givens has been doing this work long before it became a headline or a corporate initiative. Terri is a Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia, and from 2021 to 2024, she served as the Provost’s Advisor on the Strategy to Address Anti-Black Racism at McGill University. She is the former CEO of the Center for Higher Education Leadership and has partnered with colleges, universities, and ed-tech companies to drive innovation, equity, and excellence in higher education.
Terri is the author of the new book, Reckoning: Creating Positive Change through Radical Empathy, as well as her past book, Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides. Her new book takes her work even further into how individuals and institutions can confront history and move toward meaningful change.
Terri shares stories of early work at IBM, Intel, and L’Oréal Canada that both strengthened culture and moved the bottom line. She also speaks about her collaboration with the Menlo Park Police Department, where empathy became a practical tool for healing divides, improving communication, and synthesizing multiple perspectives across the city council, police, and the community. Terri shows us that empathy isn’t a buzzword, a trend, or a “nice to have” in today’s polarized world—it’s a leadership competency, a community-building tool, and a catalyst for true connection and accountability.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
Where we actually are today in our quest for empathetic leadership and more human social systems, what’s shifted since her first book, and what still needs to be done.The essential role empathy plays in DEIB and race relations, and why DEI is not some new concept from 2020. Real tactical guidance for how to create brave and safe spaces in your team or community."Creating a brave and safe space was really important so that we weren't just attacking what the police were doing. It had to be an environment where we were trying to uplift rather than tear down." — Terri Givens
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge Podcast: Terri Givens: Radical Empathy to Bridge Racial DividesAbout Terri Givens, Professor and Author of Reckoning and Radical Empathy:
Terri Givens is a Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She was the Provost’s Advisor on the Strategy to Address Anti-Black Racism at McGill University from 2021 to 2024. She is formerly the CEO of the Center for Higher Education Leadership and has worked with a variety of colleges, universities, and ed tech companies on issues related to innovation and excellence in higher education. As the author of the new book Reckoning and the past book Radical Empathy, she is a sought-after consultant and speaker on issues related to leadership and inclusion. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, politics, international affairs, and nonprofits. She is an accomplished speaker and uses her platform to develop leaders with an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion, while encouraging personal growth through empathy.
Connect with Terri:
Givens Consulting: terrigivens.com
Book: Reckoning: terrigivens.com/reckoning
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/terrigivens
Facebook: facebook.com/Terri.Givens64
Instagram: @tgivens64
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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If work feels harder than it should—more exhausting, more fragmented, more misaligned—it’s probably not because people are failing. It’s because the system is.
Meghan French Dunbar has spent her career studying organizations like an anthropologist, looking beneath policies, perks, and performance metrics to understand why modern work so often isn’t working for the humans inside it.
Meghan is a workplace strategist, speaker, entrepreneur, and the author of the bestselling book This Isn’t Working, which explores how working women (and men) and the organizations they lead can move beyond stress, guilt, and overload toward a more sustainable definition of success. Her work has reached more than a million people worldwide.
We dive into some of the juiciest insights from her book. We talk about why empathy isn’t a “feminine” skill- or a soft one - and how the same patriarchal systems that burn out women also do irreparable harm to men. We unpack the difference between sacrificial leadership and sustainable leadership, and why research shows that holistic leadership - where performance and well-being aren’t at odds - is actually the most effective way to lead.
Meghan also shares the most powerful things leaders can do to access healthy leadership traits like empathy - and how empathy enables more customizable workplaces that truly engage younger generations. This is a conversation about redesigning work, so it actually works for people and for business.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
How to run a thriving organization while also thriving yourself.It is not about feminine or masculine traits, but rather about human traits.What holistic leadership means at its core.How vulnerability and authenticity lend credibility to you as a leader."Autonomy, having control and agency in your life, is one of our core intrinsic motivators, and when you strip it from people, it's one of the primary causes of chronic stress and burnout." — Meghan French Dunbar
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge: Michelle Feferman: How Leaders Create Psychological Safety When Employees Are AfraidAbout Meghan French Dunbar: Workplace Strategist, Speaker, Author, This Isn't Working
Meghan French Dunbar is a “business anthropologist” who studies organizations to find solutions that improve work for everyone. As an author, entrepreneur, workplace strategist, and speaker, her work has touched the lives of over a million people worldwide. She's the author of the best-selling This Isn’t Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success.
Meghan co-founded the first nationally distributed print magazine in the U.S., focusing on impact-driven business, Conscious Company Magazine, where she interviewed more than 1,000 business leaders worldwide. As a leadership and workplace strategist, she works with leadership teams at companies like Coach, Kate Spade, Leonard Green, Charter Next Generation, and more while writing for outlets like Forbes, Fast Company, and Inc. about her key insights.
Connect with Meghan French Dunbar
Website: meghanfrenchdunbar.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meghanfrenchdunbar
Instagram: instagram.com/meghanfrenchdunbar
Substack: meghanfrenchdunbar.substack.com
Book: This Isn't Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success: https://bookshop.org/p/books/this-isn-t-working-how-working-women-can-overcome-stress-guilt-and-overload-to-find-true-success-meghan-french-dunbar/3775a58ced9d08f8
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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The data proving empathy is smart business has always been there, it's all we talk about here - but now it's bigger, broader, and more impossible to ignore than ever. Dr. Robert Coleman is Director of Research and Thought Leadership at Dale Carnegie and Associates, where he leads ongoing research into the issues facing leaders, employees, and organizations worldwide. He comes bearing serious receipts in the form of Dale Carnegie's white paper, The Power of Empathy: A Key Soft Skill for the Future of Work. Now in its third consecutive year of global research with roughly 4,000 respondents. This isn't a one-off survey. This is an ongoing comparative study that is building an airtight case for empathy as a core business strategy.
Robert walks us through what the data actually shows - and it is compelling. Employees in high-empathy workplaces dramatically outperform those in low-empathy ones on retention, satisfaction, and goal achievement. Teams in high-empathy organizations are significantly more likely to meet and exceed their targets. And here's the stat that stopped me cold: only 14% of employees say they've received training specifically focused on empathy, despite its proven link to performance and retention. Not because employees don't want it, they are craving it. It's the interpersonal skills they know matter most. And yet companies continue to underinvest. We dive deep into the data together and then pull back out to make sense of what it means for your organization and why you need to pay attention right now.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
How one interaction can shape someone’s view of your organization.Why roll fit should be addressed from the front end, and not assumed to be fixed later.Statistics around empathy as a retention and job satisfaction driver.Why accountability is important for engagement at all levels."Without empathy, emotional intelligence loses its effectiveness, because empathy makes it actionable. It's how people experience it, and it is that action piece that transforms emotional awareness into those meaningful leadership outcomes that people are looking for." — Robert Coleman, Ph.D
About Robert Coleman, Ph.D., Director of Research and Thought Leadership, Dale Carnegie
Robert A. Coleman, Ph.D., is the director of research and thought leadership for Dale Carnegie and Associates, where he is responsible for ongoing research into current issues facing leaders, employees, and organizations worldwide.
Connect with Robert:
Dale Carnegie & Associates: dalecarnegie.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robertcoleman5
Dale Carnegie White Paper: The Power of Empathy: A Key Soft Skill for the Future of Work: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/en/state-of-organizational-health
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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What if the biggest thing holding leaders back isn’t a lack of ambition or skilL but outdated operating systems we’ve never questioned?
Mitch Shepard lives at the intersection of truth-telling, leadership, and systems change. She’s an Applied Behavioral Scientist, Chief Truth Teller, and CEO of HUMiN, Inc., and a trusted advisor to leaders at some of the world’s most influential companies.
In this unfiltered conversation, the throughline is clear: we must all embrace authentic leadership, equity, and courage to be fully human at work and in life.
This is a bold, honest, and expansive conversation about legacy. How leaders can do truly great work by creating equity, telling the truth, and inviting men and women alike to bring all of who they are so we can solve hard problems together.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
How leaders can stop performing and start telling the truthWhy can’t we keep focusing on “fixing the women” and instead must confront the systems we operate withinThe tension and power between masculine and feminine leadership, and why embracing both makes leaders strongerHow societal expectations shape what we teach young men and women about success, and how we can model something healthier for our kidsHow to sell your strengths better when they defy outdated normsHow to honor people for who they are, not who the system rewards them for pretending to be"If you observe environments, it turns out men really are more likely to have the masculine traits in excess or higher quantities, women are more likely to have feminine ones. But this is where the narrative has to shift. None of us are off the hook on learning ALL the skills." — Mitch Shepard
Episode References:
Outward Bound: outwardbound.org The Athena Doctrine: goodreads.com/book/show/16250170-the-athena-doctrine“Prime Minister” Documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34965625/The Empathy Edge:
Ilana Ben-Ari: How the Empathy Toy is Changing the WorldClaude Silver: Leading with Heart at Vayner MediaAbout Mitch Shepard: Chief Truth Teller and CEO, HUMiN, Inc.
Mitch Shepard is an Applied Behavioral Scientist and trusted advisor to some of the world’s top leaders. She began her career leading wilderness expeditions through the rivers, canyons, and peaks of Utah and Colorado, guiding teams to achieve bold goals in unpredictable environments.
That foundation, combined with a formal education in Economics and Behavioral Science, prepared Mitch for two decades navigating the equally wild terrain of corporate America. She has since built three companies and coached hundreds of leaders across tech and biotech - from scrappy startups to the Fortune 500.
Mitch is known for her candor, warmth, truth-telling, and sharp strategic mind. She is also an author, mama, wife, sought-after speaker, cancer ass-kicker, social justice warrior—and passionate global citizen.
Mitch’s first book, Lessons From My Daughter, will explore the generational updating of our operating systems from one generation of women to the next.
Connect with Mitch:
HUMiN Inc: humininc.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitchshepard
Facebook: facebook.com/mitch.loomisshepard
Instagram: instagram.com/mitchshepard
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Most leaders think they're doing fine. Their teams think otherwise. And that gap - hiding in plain sight across organizations everywhere - is exactly what my guest today has spent his career trying to close. David Grossman is one of America's foremost authorities on leadership and change communication inside organizations. He's a six-time author, and his latest book is The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders.
David shares findings from a survey he conducted in partnership with Harris Poll to find out what 2,200 employed Americans thought of their leaders and what they revealed about the dangerous gap between how leaders see themselves and how their teams actually experience them. We get into the three gaps preventing good leaders from becoming exceptional, why the poker face problem is quietly undermining your credibility and connection, and why David pushes back on calling empathy a soft skill. He makes the case that empathy is actually an intelligence system, and we discuss why exceptional leaders blend both heart and head skills, how vulnerability builds trust in ways nothing else can, and that the most important leadership skill might be learning to hear what people aren't saying out loud.
If you think you're a pretty good leader, this conversation is going to reveal how you can be an exceptional one.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The three gaps that good leaders aren’t thinking about but should be. The six differentiators of exceptional modern leaders.Why David wants to get rid of the term “soft skills” and start talking about the “human skills” necessary to be an exceptional leader.How to move past the Poker Face Problem. Modifying your leadership style to handle times of uncertainty. The advanced listening skills everyone should work on."Part of our responsibility as leaders is to help create stability for our folks. We create that stability by being predictable, by leveraging these all-important heart skills as a means to get to results. I want to ensure leaders hear the need for balance between strategic thinking and empathy, or EQ - this is not an either/or proposition." — David Grossman
About David Grossman, Founder and CEO, Author, The Heart Work of Modern Leadership:
David Grossman is one of America's foremost authorities on leadership and change communication inside organizations.
An award-winning author, keynote speaker, and trusted executive coach to the C-suite, he also advises academic institutions, offering guidance on curriculum and programs. David is the founder and CEO of The Grossman Group.
A media source for his expert commentary and analysis on employee and leadership issues, David has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Sun Times, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Newsweek, the World Economic Forum, Directors & Boards, and CBS MoneyWatch, among many others.
David is a six-time author, and his latest book, The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders, is an Amazon Best Seller in Communication, Leadership & Motivation, Workplace & Culture, and Business Culture.
Connect with David:
The Grossman Group: yourthoughtpartner.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidgrossmanaprabc
Get the book! The Heart Work of Modern Leadership: 6 Differentiators of Exceptional Leaders: www.thegrossmangroup.co/edge
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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What if business wasn’t just about profit, but about creating mutual value across stakeholders and communities that would actually DRIVE more profit? That’s the question driving today’s guest, Dr. Jay Jakub. Jay is the Executive Director of the Economics of Mutuality Foundation. Jay is no stranger to transforming big ideas into practice. He spent years as Senior Director of External Research at Mars, Inc., has taught in business schools around the world, and is an international speaker and author.
We dig into the Economics of Mutuality, how stakeholder capitalism differs from shareholder capitalism, and why purpose is so essential to mutual value creation. Jay shares amazing real-world examples of how this approach produces impressive ROI. We talk about what it takes for leaders to embrace new KPIs to include social and human capital, how to convince allies inside your organization, and how empathetic leadership plays a critical role in reimagining business as a platform to tackle society’s biggest challenges while still generating healthy profit.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The difference between mutual value creation and traditional shareholder capitalismCreating purpose-driven businesses and stakeholder ecosystemsWhy you should be measuring social, human, and natural capital as performanceUtilizing empathy, deep listening, and understanding stakeholders' pain points to tackle society’s biggest challengesHow you can use your business as a platform to solve societal challenges profitably"We're trying to remove the perceived trade-off of doing some good, but always at a cost to profit, and demonstrating that you can actually create more profit and growth by solving problems than you can by creating them to…profit for yourself." — Dr. Jay Jakub
References:
The Economics of Mutuality Operating model: www.mutualvaluelabs.comThe Empathy Edge:
Joanna Cea: Beloved EconomiesRaman Frey: How to Incentivize Empathy and Community in a Capitalist WorldMichael Ventura: How to Apply Empathy to Tough Business ChallengesAbout Dr. Jay Jakub, Executive Director, Economics of Mutuality (EoM) Foundation:
Dr. Jay Jakub is the Executive Director of the Economics of Mutuality Foundation, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. He also serves as Chief of Staff for the EoM Alliance’s Mutual Value Labs consultancy and for its Mutual Value Investments PE company. Jay is on the Boards of Doma-Livanta, a healthcare advocacy and IT company based in Virginia Beach, and the Human Flourishing Foundation in Switzerland. He is a Board advisor for the Thompson Family Office in Richmond, Virginia, that is seeking to build a smart city between Washington, DC, and Richmond, and for Eagle Ventures, which invests in technology to defeat human trafficking, with offices in Fort Worth, Zurich, and Singapore. Jay also advises the Singapore government’s Alliance for Action on Corporate Purpose. He is an international speaker, a business school professor, an author, and a former Senior Director of External Research at Mars, Inc.
Jay is the co-author of Completing Capitalism: Heal Business to Heal the World, and is a contributing co-author of Putting Purpose into Practice: The Economics of Mutuality. His doctorate is from Oxford University, St. John’s College.
Connect with Jay:
Economics of Mutuality Alliance: eom.org
LinkedIn: Jay Jakub
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Dr. David Bray is one of those rare humans who has done so much, across so many high-stakes arenas, that his bio almost reads like fiction. David is Chair of the Accelerator at the Loomis Council and a Distinguished Fellow with the Stimson Center. He is a Principal at LeadDoAdapt Ventures, and was previously the Executive Director of a bipartisan National Commission on R&D.
At 15 years old, he got a job offer from the U.S. government after he built a program to track the ozone layer's deterioration - you'll hear more of that crazy story. And his non-partisan, solutions-first DNA? It wasn't an accident — it was baked in from childhood.
Dr. Bray helps leaders and organizations understand how geopolitics shapes technology and how technology reshapes geopolitics. Because in today's world, you simply cannot understand one without the other.And why government should NOT be run as a business.
We cover a lot of ground, all with a bent toward how empathy and collaboration across diverse points of view lead to more creative solutions. If you care about where technology, humanity, and democracy are headed, and how empathetic leadership just might save all three, listen in.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
Why AI is neither doomsday nor utopia — and what it actually is and isn't capable ofThe actual neuroscience behind why we see the world differently — and how laughter helps us truly listenWhy unexpected voices at the table can change everythingWhy the government cannot and should not be run like a business!The science of making decisions together - how to get from "me" to "we"And a novel, genuinely hopeful solution for getting us back to compromise and common ground"When humans feel stressed, doomsdayism becomes almost a fad, and I think it's more symbolic of that than it is the reality of the situation." — Dr. David Bray
References:
MIT Report on the human skills required to complement AIThe Empathy Edge:
Dr. Claire Yorke: Can Empathy Fix Broken Politics?About Dr. David Bray, Chair of the Accelerator, Stimson Center, and Principal, LeadDoAdapt Ventures:
Dr. David A. Bray is Chair of the Accelerator at the Loomis Council and a Distinguished Fellow with the Stimson Center. He is also a non-resident Distinguished Fellow with the Business Executives for National Security, and a CEO and transformation leader for different “under the radar” tech and data ventures seeking to get started in novel situations. He is Principal at LeadDoAdapt Ventures and has served in a variety of leadership roles in turbulent environments, including bioterrorism preparedness and response from 2000 to 2005. Dr. Bray previously was the Executive Director for a bipartisan National Commission on R&D, provided non-partisan leadership as a federal agency Senior Executive, worked with the U.S. Navy and Marines on improving organizational adaptability, and aided the U.S. Special Operations Command’s J5 Directorate on the challenges of countering disinformation online. He has received both the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal. Business Insider named him one of the top “24 Americans Who Are Changing the World” under 40, and he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. For twelve different startups, he has served in President, CEO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Strategic Advisor roles.
Connect with David:
Stimson Center: stimson.org/ppl/david-bray
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dbray
More from David: cxotalk.com/bio/dr-david-a-bray-distinguished-chair-of-the-accelerator-stimson-center
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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America is about to turn 250 years old. My guest today believes this moment is asking something from all of us. Not a celebration or parade, but a reckoning, a chance to find our way back to each other. Brandon Peele is a bestselling author of 6 books on purpose and civic leadership, is Executive Director of the National Pilgrimage, and a trusted keynote speaker and consultant. His work sits at the intersection of purpose, democracy, and what it means to be a nation.
On June 9th, 2026, a caravan of diverse Americans will set out on the National Pilgrimage — driving through the heart of this nation, sitting with people along the way, and asking the questions our political system never asks: What values should guide us? What would it take for this to be a great place for all of us to raise children? What kind of country do we want to leave for the next generation? The journey culminates in the National Assembly — a virtual gathering open to everyone on July 6th and 7th, 2026, from 5 to 8 pm PDT, where your voice will be heard and counted. Six storytellers will then travel to Chicago, and on July 9th — the anniversary of the 14th Amendment — they will read aloud a new national covenant. PBS documentarians are capturing every mile.
You'll learn more details and how to get involved. We discuss why empathy is the core mechanism of e pluribus unum — out of many, one — and why, just like any organization, we need a shared moral vision to know where we're going and who we want to be. Brandon shares the three layers of democracy and why our nation's problems are as much moral, psychological, and spiritual as they are political.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The purpose of government and how we have forgotten the core vision of our democracyHow the founding beliefs of spirituality and Natural Law shaped the countryA shared vision of what we can all be as diverse AmericansWays you can join in or support the pilgrimage and virtual assembly"This is not about politics. This is about a shared moral vision that includes all of us, and so I don't care how you voted or if you voted. I don't care how you make love. I don't care how much melanin is in your skin. You're an American, and you belong in this conversation." — Brandon Peele
References:
The Empathy Edge:
Dr. Claire Yorke: Can Empathy Fix Broken Politics?Sam Daley-Harris: Reclaiming Our DemocracyJames Coan: Closing the Perception Gap that Tears Us ApartAbout Brandon Peele: Executive Director, National Pilgrimage
Brandon Peele is a best-selling author and the Executive Director of the National Pilgrimage. He's trusted as a keynote speaker, consultant, and program leader by organizations such as Google, Harvard Business School, Johnson & Johnson, Stanford University, JDRF, Morgan Stanley, U.S. Marine Corps, YPO, University of California - Berkeley, Vistage, Forum for Workplace Inclusion, LinkedIn, the U.S. Navy, Slalom Consulting, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the University of Minnesota.
He is the author of Bison Medicine (2025), Purpose Work Nation (2022), The Purpose Field Guide (2019), and Planet on Purpose (2018), and co-author of Purpose Rising (2017) and The Purpose Blueprint (2015). His work has been featured by news organizations such as USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, the US Business Journal, and Forbes.
Connect with Brandon:
Brandon Peele: nationalpilgrimage.us
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bpeele
Instagram: instagram.com/natnlpilgrimage
The National Pilgrimage and Assembly: chuffed.org/project/nationalpilgrimage
Synanim (platform enabling the Assembly’s virtual collaboration): synanim.com
Connect with Maria:
Books: Red-Slice.com/books
Speaking: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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The power of being seen can change everything. We see it in the workplace and in our world.
And one way to strengthen empathy and build that connection is through photography. A single photograph—placed in someone’s hands—can affirm dignity, spark connection, and grow empathy on both sides of the lens. That’s the heartbeat of Print the Love, the nonprofit founded 15 years ago by today’s guest, Ceallaigh Smart.
We explore how photography creates empathy, how international travel to under-resourced communities expands perspective, why giving back in any capacity is healing, and how ethical photography and storytelling train our empathy muscle—through permission, protection, and honoring people’s stories.
Ceallaigh also shares a vulnerable personal journey of healing that led to her love of global travel and a desire to serve. That’s the power of being seen.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The transformation that comes when people see a photo of themselves for the first time.The power of being seen.The ethics of taking photos of strangers.Creating empathy through photography, especially in underserved communities.The power of celebrating life’s moments, as they are, right now."I want to live in a world where a stranger says, ‘You are beautiful today, no matter what, and here's a memory for you and your family to keep for a long time to bring you joy." — Ceallaigh Smart
Episode References:
Join an international trip with Print the Love: printthelove.org/tripsHumans of New York - InstagramFujiUltraproThe Empathy Edge podcast episodes:
Woodson Martin: Balancing Corporate Success with Humanitarian WorkTeri Schmidt: Empathy-Infused Team Building for Lasting ImpactAshley Jones: How to Courageously Lead and Support Through GriefAbout Ceallaigh Smart, Executive Director, Print the Love:
Ceallaigh (pronounced Kelly) founded Print the Love in 2015 and has worked in nonprofits for over 20 years. In addition to her work at Print the Love, Ceallaigh is the Executive Director of Haiti Outreach. With a background and education in Arts Administration (MA), Experiential/Adventure Education and Art Therapy (BA), and Colorado Outward Bound Alum, Ceallaigh brings a unique depth of leadership experiences and knowledge to the international NGO space. She is passionate about humanitarianism, international travel, narcissistic abuse recovery, Jesus, peace activism, running, the arts, self-care, the outdoors, social justice, fighting for the oppressed, crushing the patriarchy, and finding an awesome new keto dessert or mocktail recipe. She currently lives in Minneapolis with her husband, rescue pup, and two amazing teens.
Connect with Ceallaigh:
Print the Love: printthelove.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ceallaighsmart
Facebook: facebook.com/printthelove
Instagram: instagram.com/printtheloveorg
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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What are the hidden, unconscious forces that shape how we lead—why we react the way we do, why some situations knock us off center, and how we can build the internal security to lead with more empathy, clarity, and connection?
My guest, Dr. Jaime Goff, is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of The Empathic Leader, where she now works full-time helping leaders “lead from security, not fear.”
With a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy and two decades in organizational leadership, Jaime translates attachment theory, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into practical tools leaders can use immediately. Her new book, The Secure Leader, helps readers uncover the narratives shaping their leadership, regulate under pressure, and create environments where their teams can thrive.
We dig into why our brains love stories, and how those stories can limit us, what to do when leaders can’t see their own unhelpful narratives, why adaptive challenges can’t be solved with technical solutions, and the essential first step to emotionally regulate in today’s turbulent world.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The connection between parenting leadership and team leadership. How early experiences influence leadership behavior. How insecurity blocks empathy and team flourishing.What leaders can do to build internal security and lead with more calm and clarity.Strategies and daily habits for emotional regulation and stress tolerance to be a better leader."You end up stifling the growth and development of your team because you're holding on to so much control that you don't let go of the reins and you don't empower them. You don't let them experiment, innovate, learn, and grow.” — Dr. Jaime Goff
Episode References:
Dr. Jaime Goff's Secure Leader Style Scan: https://drjaimegoff.com/secure-leader-style-scanAbout Jaime Goff, PhD, Founder, The Empathic Leader, and Author of The Secure Leader:
Dr. Jaime Goff is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and founder of The Empathic Leader, where she now works full-time helping leaders “lead from security, not fear.” She previously served as Director of Leadership Development at CHRISTUS Health, designing programs for more than 45,000 associates, and she brings a powerful blend of research and real-world experience to her work.
With a Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy and two decades in organizational leadership, Jaime translates attachment theory, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence into practical tools leaders can use immediately. Her new book, The Secure Leader, helps readers rewrite unhelpful narratives shaping their leadership, regulate under pressure, and create environments where their teams can thrive.
Whether delivering a keynote, facilitating workshops, or engaging in one-on-one coaching, Jaime is known for weaving research with relatable stories to spark insight and lasting behavior change.
Connect with Jaime:
The Empathic Leader, LLC: drjaimegoff.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjaimegoff
Instagram: instagram.com/dr_jaimegoff
Book: The Secure Leader by Dr. Jaime Goff
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Do you know that customers who are highly emotionally connected to your brand are 53% more loyal than those who are merely satisfied with your products and services?
Today I’m talking with Kevin Perlmutter. We explore why traditional brand strategies often miss the mark, how branding has evolved beyond surface-level connections, and Kevin’s concept of Limbic Sparks—those moments when emotional motivation meets brand desire. You’ll learn the three steps to spark brand desire and how even B2B brands can connect emotionally. Kevin shares why talking directly to customers beats cold data alone and staying in the thick of the details will make you more successful than just relying on AI. And we chat about marketing ethics and the crucial difference between being a customer habit versus gaining their loyalty.
Finally, Kevin shares the one big lesson he wants every leader to take away from his book. We could have talked forever about one of my favorite topics, so enjoy the insights and take a listen!
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
Maintaining ethical behavior when deploying and evolving the brand.How to spark customer interest using emotional insights.Why the difference between habits and loyalty is important to understand.How to balance AI and humans to better serve your customers.The three steps for embracing a limbic spark mindset."Limbic sparks are what you feel when emotional motivation meets brand desire. It's that moment when you encounter a brand, and it feels like it was designed with you in mind." — Kevin Perlmutter
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge podcast: Kevin Perlmutter: When Emotional Motivation Meets Brand DesireMelina Palmer: What Your Employees Need But Can’t Tell YouMelina Palmer: Why Your Customers Can’t Tell You What They WantMIT Article on human skills that complement AI shortcomings: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/these-human-capabilities-complement-ais-shortcomingsAbout Kevin Perlmutter, Chief Strategist & Founder, Limbic Brand Evolution:
Kevin Perlmutter is Chief Strategist and Founder of Limbic Brand Evolution, a brand strategy and neuromarketing consultancy that puts emotional insight at the center of how brands attract and retain customers. He is also the Author of BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights. Based near New York City, he works with business and brand leaders to create stronger connections between their brand and the people they want to reach – as a consultant, speaker, and workshop facilitator – to guide the development of more effective methods for brand evolution and customer engagement.
Connect with Kevin Perlmutter:
Limbic Brand Evolution: https://www.limbicbrandevolution.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinperlmutter/
Book: BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights www.BrandDesireBook.com
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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How do you actually practice empathy? How do you prove you have it — to employers, to clients, to the people you lead? And if you're building a team, how do you hire for it?
Because here's the uncomfortable truth: most of us can't answer any of those questions well. And in the age of AI, that gap is getting more expensive by the minute.
In this episode, Maria answers these questions as she discusses the importance of empathy in the age of AI, citing data from studies showing its impact on loyalty, efficiency, and job satisfaction. She dives into actionable steps you can take to hire empathetic leaders, gives practical tips for practicing empathy (and stresses the importance of practicing empathy under real pressure, in real-time situations), and discusses the need for better tools to develop, measure, and verify empathy as AI is accelerating.
Finally, she invites everyone to learn more about and register for the upcoming Synanim FlexEmpathy event at flexempathy.com.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
Why empathy proof matters more than ever.The AI factor.How to practice and prove empathy.How to hire for empathy."Empathy is not soft. It's not optional, and in the age of AI, where human connection is simultaneously more scarce and more valuable than ever. It's your most important competitive advantage." — Maria Ross
Episode References:
Maria’s email list at: red-slice.com/newsletter/ FlexEmpathy, coming up April 25, 2025 www.flexempathy.comSynanim: https://www.synanim.com/EY's 2023 Empathy in Business Survey 2024 Businessolver State of Workplace Empathy ReportMcKinsey, It's Cool to Be Kind Research ReportConnect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Teams today are more diverse than ever—and within that diversity lies the potential to unlock innovation, performance, and belonging. But only if leaders practice cultural humility. It’s not just about competence or checking boxes; it’s about fostering safety, trust, and transformation.
Dr. Joel Pérez equips leaders to navigate today’s instability with empathy and authenticity. He has partnered for decades with national nonprofits, corporations, and higher education institutions to deliver keynotes, workshops, and strategic consulting that inspire action and lasting change.
In this conversation, we unpack what cultural humility really means, how leaders can move beyond cultural competence, how cultural humility can help you navigate the instability of today's market and world, why he wrote Dear White Leader, and how organizations can leverage diversity to create lasting impact and stronger results.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
How to develop a posture of cultural humility, no matter your background. Understanding the difference between cultural competency and cultural humility. Raising the bar as a leader from effective to exceptional.Curiosity is the key to achieving your goals.The three things that are necessary to move from cultural competency to cultural humility are."Cultural humility allows you to navigate the complexity that comes with developing organizations with a strong sense of belonging and psychological safety." — Dr. Joel Pérez
Episode References:
Book: Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility: dearwhiteleader.comTerry Cross Cultural Competence ResearchJanet HelmsSeek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World by Scott ShigeokaEEP Episode: Amer Kaissi: Humbitious Leadership Equals SuccessAbout Dr. Joel Pérez, Executive Coach and Author of Dear White Leader:
Dr. Joel Pérez is an executive and leadership coach, speaker, and consultant who helps leaders and organizations create inclusive cultures through the practice of cultural humility. As founder of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), he specializes in identity-conscious leadership, career transitions, and DEIB strategy. A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, Joel draws on more than 20+ years of leadership experience in higher education to guide clients through meaningful transformation.
He is the author of Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility, which received the Silver Medal for Best New Voice – Nonfiction from the Independent Book Publishers Association. Joel has partnered with national nonprofits, corporations, and higher education institutions to deliver keynotes, workshops, and strategic consulting that inspire action and lasting change. His work moves organizations toward creating a sense of belonging and the psychological safety to meet their goals.
Joel holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Claremont Graduate University. Outside of work, he enjoys life with his wife of over 28 years, their four children, cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers, and watching movies.
Connect with Dr. Joel Pérez:
Apoyo Coaching and Consulting: apoyocoaching.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelperezphd
Instagram: apoyocoaching01
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Some conversations linger long after the recording stops; the conversations that deepen your humanity and reshape how you think about leadership. This episode is one of those conversations.
Ashley Jones knows grief in its most devastating form. When her daughter Skylar died from a terminal illness just before her second birthday, Ashley was thrust into a darkness no parent should ever face. But through that unimaginable loss, she discovered a calling: helping people heal in grief.
Today, Ashley shares her personal story and what her healing journey revealed about grace, resilience, and the power of community. We discuss the four survival reactions to trauma - fight, flight, freeze, and fawn - and how these can manifest. We also dive into the relationship between trauma and grief and how leaders can support those around them during these times.
Trigger warning: In this episode, we both talk about experiences with sexual assault.
Ashley shared incredibly valuable tips and resources to help you become a more trauma-informed leader and support your team to their fullest potential.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
Ashley’s personal story and what her healing journey revealed about grace, resilience, and the power of community.How leadership is evolving to become more deeply human—and the distance we still need to travel.Why grief is a universal leadership issue, and what it asks of us.The two fundamental needs people have after experiencing grief or trauma, and how to meet them.The four survival reactions to trauma that leaders need to understand.Why not all grief is traumatic, but all trauma includes grief, and what that means for how we support people."It's really about choosing love regardless of the situation, regardless of the people involved. To show up and say, ‘What is the best way I can love myself and others right now in this moment?’" — Ashley Jones
Episode References:
How Can I Love You Better: howcaniloveyoubetter.comThe Empathy Edge:
Stephanie Sarazin: What Is Ambiguous Grief and How To Show UpRon Gura: How Technology Helps People Navigate Grief and LossKatharine Manning: How Trauma Impacts Performance – and What Smart Leaders Can DoAbout Ashley Jones, Founder, Momento Foundation:
Ashley was thrust into the depths of grief when her daughter, Skylar, died from a terminal illness just before her 2nd birthday. Her unique experience through darkness and healing led her to create the Momento Foundation (formerly Love Not Lost), a nonprofit on a mission to help people heal in grief. Known for creating innovative tools, new resources, and meaningful solutions for navigating grief, Ashley provides individuals and organizations with tangible help to better support themselves and each other through trauma and loss. She’s a sought-after TEDx & keynote speaker, author, and passionate plant mom.
Connect with Ashley:
Momento Foundation: momentofoundation.org
Author Site: www.ashleynicolejones.com
Book: When You Can't See the Light
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleynicolejones
Facebook: facebook.com/momentofoundation
Instagram: instagram.com/momentofoundation
Momento Community: momento. impact.app
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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For years, empathy was treated as a business nice-to-have—important, but secondary to speed, scale, and efficiency. The data now tells a very different story.
In this conversation, Maria and Conny, the Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group, dive into Zurich’s new global study, Addressing the Empathy Gap, which surveyed more than 11,000 consumers across 11 markets. The findings are striking: 79% of consumers say empathy matters more than any other factor, and 43% have left a brand due to a lack of empathy. This isn’t theoretical; it’s revenue walking out the door.
Conny shares how Zurich is closing that gap by treating empathy as a learnable skill. She shares practical first steps organizations can take, starting right where they are. We also explore Zurich’s philosophy of AI with a human touch - using technology to augment human connection, not replace it.
This is a conversation about moving from transactional payer to trusted partner—and why, in an industry ripe for disruption, empathy is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
Why customers are leaving brands due to a lack of connection and empathy.How to make AI work for your organization, without trying to replace human connections.How to create trusted relationships and partnerships and maintain them for long-term success. The power of the NRR - Net Revenue Retention - metric."We started out with the starting point that empathy can be taught, and if people get the right tools, they will also do the right thing. So we can de-learn practices you've had over the years, and you can bring new aspects into them." — Conny Kalcher
Episode References:
Zurich's 2025 Report: Addressing the Empathy Gap: https://www.zurich.com/sustainability/customers/empathy-reportThe Empathy Edge podcast: Anna Liotta: Understanding Generational CodesAbout Conny Kalcher: Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group:
Conny Kalcher is Chief Customer Officer at Zurich Insurance Group and a global leader in customer experience with a reputation for embedding empathy into business strategy to drive long-term business success. She is a founding partner of the Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Loyalty Forum with more than three decades of experience from senior roles at LEGO and consultancy work at Mindfolio.
Connect with Conny:
Zurich Insurance Group: zurich.com
LinkedIn: ch.linkedin.com/in/conny-kalcher-198ba5
Company LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/zurich-insurance-company-ltd
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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Too many leaders are still trying to succeed by becoming someone they think they’re supposed to be—quieter, tougher, more polished, less human. And in the process, they’re leaving their greatest strengths at the door.
My guest believes that’s exactly backward. Today, we welcome back Claude Silver to discuss her latest book, Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart.
We explore what authentic presence really looks like at work, and why pretending to be a different kind of leader rarely gets better results. Claude and I unpack why many leaders have accountability backwards, why the more power you gain, the less truth you often hear, and how being open and emotionally present doesn’t weaken communication but rather prevents under-communicating with your team. Finally, Claude offers us a simple, actionable practice you can use right away to take a small step and rebuild trust and connection where it matters most.
This is a conversation with one of my favorite humans on the planet about stopping the performance of leadership—and starting to lead from the strengths that made you worth hiring in the first place.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.
Listen in for…
The importance of bringing your unique perspective, talents, and humanity to your team.What authentic presence looks like at work.Protecting healthy boundaries with courage and kindness while still connecting with others.Signs your culture is thriving and how to get there. Why is the room with everyone in it smarter than any one person in that room?The reason actions say more than words ever will.The dangerous byproduct of silence."When a person is real, they are not carrying the burden or the weight of any other facade." — Claude Silver
About Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer, VaynerX, and Author of Be Yourself at Work:
Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, partnering with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. Silver has earned Campaign US's Female Frontier Award and AdWeek's Changing the Game Award, and she electrifies audiences at national and international conferences, as well as at organizations including Meta, Google, US Government agencies, and the US Armed Forces. She has been interviewed on dozens of podcasts and featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. Silver lives in New Jersey with her wife and two young children. She is the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart.
Connect with Claude:
Website: claudesilver.com
VaynerX: beyourselfbook.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/casilver
Instagram: instagram.com/claudesilver
Book: Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
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