The Empathy Edge

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to lead a fast-growing business or team with heart, humor, and humanity, today is your masterclass.Annalee Hagood-Earl is the CEO and co-founder of Bash Creative Inc. Under her leadership, Bash has become a magnet for some of the biggest names in the world—not just because of its stunning creativity and flawless execution, but because people can feel the company’s values in every interaction.Annalee’s not just talking about values—she lives them. She’s led her team through seasons of explosive growth and through moments when, as she puts it, “the bottom dropped out.” And she’s done it all while staying grounded in empathy, transparency, and joy. In our conversation, we dig into building a thriving business while investing in your team’s self-development, what it looks like to lead through uncertainty, and how to redefine success by what your team feels while they’re producing, not just what they produce. We also dive into some golden leadership lessons: the difference between values and ideals, why Annalee insists on hiring people smarter than herself, what she learned from her worst managers, and why she and her business partner went through a kind of leadership couples counseling to make their company stronger.It’s like she ticked every box in my Five Pillars of Effective Empathy, and the results on her culture, retention, and revenue speak for themselves.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…Why reinvesting a headcount into developing your team means they can grow instead of relying on past experiences and traumasWhy you should consider counseling with your business partners, your C-Suite, and other leadersWays you can walk the talk and model self-awareness, joy, and learning Why allowing your people to be who they are means they can get further, faster How communication and transparency will take you a long way on so many levels"We take a lot of time to interview and recruit. We're looking for aligned values, not aligned ideals. I want people with different perspectives on my team. I want to learn from them." —  Annalee Hagood-EarlEpisode References: Follow the Founder: https://followthefounder.co/ The Empathy Edge podcast: Claude Silver: Leading with Heart at Vayner MediaAbout Annalee Hagood-Earl, Founder & CEO, Bash Creative, Inc.Annalee Hagood-Earl is the CEO and co-founder of Bash Creative Inc., an agency known for designing world-class events and experiences for global brands. Guided by both her company and personal values, Annalee has led her team through seasons of explosive growth as well as times when the bottom dropped out. Under her leadership, Bash has attracted some of the largest companies in the world as clients — not just for its creativity and execution, but because its values-driven approach creates trust and a culture people can feel. This commitment to values has even inspired clients to reflect on their own, discovering alignment they hadn’t previously articulated. Annalee speaks internationally on values-based leadership and how aligning values with action inspires resilience, clarity, and lasting impact.From Our Sponsor:Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Annalee:Bash Creative: bash-creative.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hagood-earl-annalee-78848a6Instagram: instagram.com/bashcreativeConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

When it comes to empathy at work, there are a hundred different ways to infuse empathy into your operations and systems - in real, practical, non-emotional ways. One of those ways is to look at compensation strategies and professional growth and development.Today, Scott Trumpolt talks about empathy in compensation that leads to better employee engagement and more strategic growth. We discuss both the pitfalls of pay transparency leading to a dead end, but also the upside in how it catalyzes your company to reflect on and improve internal practices. He talks about how compensation is more than just salary, and the overlooked piece of career architecture - a concept that supports the Clarity pillar of empathetic leadership. Scott shares why programs fail, but culture shifts succeed, the #1 element to think about in determining competitive compensation structures, and why empathy is vital to ensure that compensation is about a one-on-one conversation and not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Scott also shares how HR leaders can strengthen credibility with business leaders and move the needle on company growth.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…Driving solutions aimed at employee engagement.Why compensation is not a one-size-fits-all solution and needs to be tailored to your employees and organization.Balancing pay transparency and directing packages and compensation for the individuals.Why job titles and compensation matter."There's a reason why compensation is not in finance. Yes, I use a lot of numbers, but we do it in a completely different way, and we are impacting the individual directly." —  Scott TrumpoltEpisode References: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel PinkThe Empathy Edge: Rhonda George-Denniston: Why Betting on Your People Leads to Market DominationAbout Scott Trumpolt, Managing Director & Compensation Consultant:Scott Trumpolt’s career is defined by a seamless evolution from corporate leadership to independent consultancy, reflecting over 30 years of expertise in compensation planning, HR leadership, and rewards strategies. For 18 years, Scott excelled in the corporate world, holding leadership roles in HR and Compensation across the United States and Germany. In 2012, he launched Trumpolt Compensation Design Solutions (TCDS) to provide bespoke solutions tailored to the unique needs of organizations worldwide.Scott’s corporate experience provided a solid foundation for mastering market-based pay structures, sales incentive plans, and job classification systems. Transitioning into independent consultancy, Scott has spent the past 12 years leveraging this expertise to deliver innovative, client-focused strategies. Scott’s global reach includes projects across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America/Caribbean, reflecting his adaptability to diverse work cultures. He is a Certified Global Remuneration Professional (GRP), holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management, and has maintained an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, underscoring his commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.From Our Sponsor:Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Scott:  Trumpolt Compensation Design Solutions: hrcompensationconsulting.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-trumpolt-m-a-g-r-p-257a6b317 BBB profile: bbb.org/south-east-florida/login/page/0/?li=1  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

What if the key to leading others with empathy… is learning how to lead yourself first?Today’s guest, Heather Younger, is here to show us how self-leadership isn’t just a personal development buzzword — it’s the foundation of truly impactful, caring leadership that achieves real ROI. As a global expert on active listening and workplace culture, Heather has helped Fortune 100 companies transform the way they engage employees—starting from the inside out.In this episode, we learn about Heather's journey as a culture bearer and customer experience professional, what self-leadership is, and why it matters - why doing the inner work helps you lead with grace and drive results,  and why treating employees with care isn’t just a moral choice but a business strategy that drives innovation and performance. She shares powerful examples and offers actionable first steps to help you lead more effectively, take ownership of your career, make smarter choices, and advocate for yourself.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…What self-leadership is and why it matters.How can you change your office culture to an empathy-driven culture?The power of getting curious within yourself.The power of giving and receiving feedback within your sphere of influence.  "Take back your own power to lead yourself in the way you, intuitively, already know you're supposed to be doing." —  Heather R. YoungerFrom Our Sponsor: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross About Heather R. Younger: CEO, Keynote Speaker, Author:Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP, is a trusted contributor to leading news outlets, like Forbes, Fast Company, Bloomberg, NBC, and ABC, and one of the world’s leading experts on Caring Leadership® and active listening at work. She is the visionary Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a preeminent employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm for Fortune 100 companies. Employee Fanatix conducts annual research on workplace culture, relying on employee voices for what is relevant now, to help companies redefine their culture strategy. Heather has personally read over 30,000 employee surveys and facilitated over 100 employee focus groups, including her signature “Art of Active Listening Sessions.”With over 25 years of successful management of teams, she has worked in customer experience, sales, and large account management for multi-million dollar accounts and multiple industries such as tech, staffing, healthcare, professional services, the public sector, and the financial sector. She's a renowned keynote speaker, drawing insights from current data and putting into practice what she teaches in her Caring Leadership Transformation Model™.Heather is an award-winning leader in the area of Employee Engagement, as recognized by Inspiring Workplaces, is a LinkedIn Learning course partner, a 3-time bestselling author, a TEDX speaker, and the host of the popular Leadership With Heart Podcast.Connect with Heather:Employee Fanatix: heatheryounger.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heatherryounger Facebook: facebook.com/HeatherRYounger Instagram: instagram.com/heatherryoungerofficialX: x.com/HeatherRYounger Her new book: The Art of Self-Leadership Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Many leaders come to empathy in their style and communication based on their own challenges. Today's guest shares how vulnerably sharing her story led her down the path of teaching and training on empathy, and how you can boldly leverage vulnerability as an asset in your communication, leading to stronger connections and better results.Sharon Steed is a keynote speaker, author, and empathy expert specializing in communication and collaboration. As the founder of Communilogue, she helps organizations build more inclusive, connected teams through the power of vulnerability and empathy. A stutterer since childhood, Sharon uses her personal experience to illustrate how embracing discomfort fosters growth. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, tech leaders, and global organizations, delivering impactful talks and workshops. Sharon is also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor with multiple courses on empathy. She hosts a weekly live podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube on empathy in the age of AI called Empathy In Automation. Her work empowers professionals to lead with authenticity and compassion. Sharon shares her powerful story and discusses how to be vulnerable and communicate with empathy in productive ways—ways that influence and ignite your team, customers, and other stakeholders. We also had an interesting discussion about the intersection of empathy and AI and how to keep humanity in a tech-driven world.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…Why curiosity is an empathetic power.What it means to communicate with empathy and how to overcome communication barriers.The power of setting your conversational intentions out loud.The importance of empathy in the age of AI.  "Everybody swears that they are terrible at communicating. And (I say), well, no, every single time you enter a room, you are communicating." —  Sharon SteedEpisode References: The Empathy Edge podcast episodes:Dr. Michelle Zhou: Empathic AI is Real, and It’s Here – But We Need Everyone Involved!Chris L. Johnson: When Leaders Pause, They WinAbout Sharon Steed, Speaker and Founder, Communilogue:Sharon Steed is a keynote speaker, author, and empathy expert specializing in communication and collaboration. As the founder of Communilogue, she helps organizations build more inclusive, connected teams through the power of vulnerability and empathy. A stutterer since childhood, Sharon uses her personal experience to illustrate how embracing discomfort fosters growth. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, tech leaders, and global organizations, delivering impactful talks and workshops. Sharon is also a LinkedIn Learning instructor, with courses on Communicating with Empathy and Driving Inclusion with Empathy; she hosts a weekly live podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube on empathy in the age of AI called Empathy In Automation. Her work empowers professionals to lead with authenticity and compassion. From Our Sponsor:Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Sharon:Communilogue: communilogue.coLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharon-steedLinkedIn Learning Course: Communicating With EmpathyYouTube: Empathy in AutomationLinkedIn Newsletter: linkedin.com/newsletters/7107818443042656256/ Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

In today's Hot Take, Maria talks about gratitude as a practice and catalyst for empathy, collaboration, and well-being.Listen in as Maria discusses gratitude as a leadership superpower, mental health booster, and cultural glue. She dives into what true gratitude means, why we should be expanding our circles of thanks, and gives us the science behind the strategy of gratitude with practical tips for your own life. Throughout, Maria acknowledges the complex history of Thanksgiving, emphasizing the importance of holding space for both its positive and negative aspects to deepen both our gratitude and our empathy.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…Gratitude is the cultural glue to keep your team happy and thriving.Recognizing the Thanksgiving paradox and inviting both sides of the conversation.The science behind gratitude and how you can start practicing gratitude today to improve performance and well-being. "Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring problems — it means facing them with perspective. It’s emotional range training, and emotional range is leadership power." —  Maria Ross Episode References: The Empathy Edge Podcast Episodes:Logan Mallory: How a Culture of Gratitude Boosts Engagement and Mental HealthNovember Hot Take: How Gratitude Leads to EmpathyStudies and Data:NIH National Library of Medicine: The Effects of Gratitude InterventionsGratitude in Organizations: A Contribution for Healthy Organizational ContextsHarvard Health, Giving Thanks Can Make You HappierDr. Michelle Rozen: Gratitude in Leadership: A Strategic AdvantageLearned Optimism: Is Martin Seligman’s Glass Half Full?Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

What does it take to leave a high-powered career and change the world, one child at a time? And how can empathy fuel ripple effects of change, no matter your role in a company or society?Dr. Abraham George is a social entrepreneur with a unique background. He shares his powerful journey and the life-changing moment when he almost died. Dr. George shares the blueprint for how any leader or entrepreneur can create real change and move beyond existing for-profit models, and the compounding power of helping or inspiring just 100 people who, in turn, help 100 more. We discuss lessons on how to build your leadership legacy, no matter where you sit.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…The role education plays in lifting up economic equity and social justice.Understanding the impact you want to have on other people’s lives.Different ways you can do good in the world and how you can have a bigger impact than you know now.Creating the leadership legacy you want to leave behind.The benefits of leading a corporation with a heart. "The way to deal with social injustice is through economic opportunity for those people, and the way to get economic opportunity is through excellent education." —  Dr. Abraham George Episode References: Albert Schweitzer, Out of My Life and ThoughtBertrand Russell, The History of Western PhilosophyThe Empathy Edge: Woodson Martin: Balancing Corporate Success with Humanitarian WorkAbout Dr. Abraham GeorgeAbraham George is a social entrepreneur committed to providing opportunities and resources to the most underserved populations in India. Growing up in India, Dr. Abraham was painfully aware of the social injustices surrounding him. After working 22 years as a finance executive and Army veteran, Dr. Abraham returned to India to fulfill his promise of creating social change. He founded The George Foundation through which he runs several projects. One such project is Shanti Bhavan, a school educating children from India’s poorest communities. Over the past 27 years, they have transformed the lives of over 15,000 people. By empowering marginalized children, they create opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. The 2017 Netflix documentary Daughters of Destiny centers on Shanti Bhavan’s efforts to educate and empower girls.From Our Sponsor:Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Dr. Abraham George:Dr. Abraham George Foundation: drabrahamgeorge.comShanti Bhavan: shantibhavanchildren.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abraham-george-519315274 Facebook: facebook.com/dr.abrahamgeorge?mibextid=LQQJ4d Instagram: instagram.com/dr_abraham_george?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

We've got work to do! Yes, we do. And it will likely not stop. So, WHY should you make time for joy, even in the toughest work environments? Why should you even do it when we have spreadsheets, deadlines, and goals to hit?The better question is: How can you NOT find the time? It's the 5th pillar of being both an empathetic AND effective leader. And it's not a luxury. It's a vital way to build team culture, engagement, and reduce stress and anxiety when you can.But HOW do you do it?Today, I get the joy of talking about joy with Lisa Even. Lisa shares her transformative leadership story and how she infused joy into her own life and at work to build a winning culture, and how she helps leaders do the same. Lisa shares many examples and stories, and we discuss informal power, trying on others' glasses, and how to check in with your team and start infusing joy in small ways that make a big difference.  Lisa shares the 3 ingredients necessary to create a joyful culture: desire, belief, and permission. We talk about how to encourage accountability and impact while creating joy, and Lisa shares a fantastic way to avoid "forced fun” with your most skeptical, cranky employees! To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.Listen in for…How to sneak joy in before, during, and after everything you do.Small steps to inject joy into your life and work.The power of taking accountability for crappy to happy. Why you should be finding connection through other people’s joy. "Make a list of the most unglamorous things, the things that just drive you bonkers. It's your job to find a little happy after the crappy." — Lisa EvenKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross About Lisa Event, Keynote SpeakerLisa Even believes that you happen to the world, not the other way around. Life isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about showing up, creating connections, making an impact (Have Good Ripple Effect), and making joy your job. From serving farmers and truckers at a small café in high school to leading multi-million-dollar budgets—and juggling life—she’s passionate about helping people think beyond their backyards and build meaningful careers and lives.Now, Lisa brings that same energy to organizations nationwide. The author of Joy Is My Job, host of the Have Good Ripple Effect podcast, and in-demand keynote speaker, she has spoken to hundreds of teams across a wide range of industries.Stay tuned for her newest book, What’s Your Ripple Effect? And Why It Matters More Than Ever: A Leader’s Guide to Creating Lasting Impact and Influence.Connect with Lisa:Lisa Even International: lisaeven.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-even-have-good-ripple-effect-0778b112 Facebook: facebook.com/lisaeven11 Instagram: instagram.com/lisaeven_ Books: lisaeven.com/books  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.comKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

October is Maria’s birthday month—and her wish this year? More empathy and compassion in leadership. In this special solo episode, Maria shares why we must stop accepting toxic leadership as “normal,” and how you can turn the tide toward human-centered, high-performing workplaces.Plus, she’s got a special birthday and holiday gift for you (and maybe one for her, too!): Buy The Empathy Dilemma in bulk for your clients or teams and get a free 30-minute virtual Author Fireside Chat if you order 50+ copies by Dec 31, 2025.She also shares three powerful, practical actions any leader can take to be a more empathetic leader and increase engagement, performance, and accountability —and reminds you where to go for more inspiration, including her upcoming virtual leadership events and her Forbes column.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.Highlights:Maria’s 53rd birthday reflections: why empathy matters more than ever.The myth of “tough” leadership and what to replace it with.Her birthday/holiday book, discounted bulk order promotion, and how it benefits your team.Three actions leaders can take right now to model empathy.Details on Maria’s virtual Leadership Events.Where to find her latest Forbes articles. "There’s clearly no more data I can show you. Now, it's a question of you deciding what kind of leader - and person - do YOU want to be?" —  Maria Ross Episode References: Buy The Empathy Dilemma in bulk at a discount: https://www.TheEmpathyDilemma.com. Buy 50 or more copies and contact me to get your free virtual Author Fireside Chat to guide discussion and enable action.Join an upcoming Leadership Event: https://red-slice.com/leadership-workshopRead Maria’s Forbes column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariarossArticle on the 996 trend: https://www.wired.com/story/silicon-valley-china-996-work-schedule/ Sponsor Message: Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

How well do you listen? Like, really listen? We waste so much time, energy, resources, and money due to a lack of effective listening. It causes misunderstandings, rework, mistakes, and in some cases, dangerous outcomes. My guest today is a Listening Whisperer! Oscar Trimboli starts out sharing his epiphany moment in a meeting that led to his current work. With over 35,000 people in his research database, Oscar shares the 4 common listening villains that cause barriers at work - and perhaps you can select which one you might be! I share my common villain with all of you, too. We talk about what the best listeners have in common, how listening changes when it's face-to-face versus online, and practical ways to improve your listening at work and in meetings to ensure engagement and positive outcomes. Oscar shares what he's learned about how deaf and blind people listen, and he even reveals some ways to listen better when you are utterly bored by a presenter or in a meeting.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.Listen in for…The four most common listening barriers at work. When interrupting can be an empathetic action.Characteristics of the best listeners. Ways we can engage when we don’t feel engaged. "If you focus on the speaker, you're starting from the wrong place. Listening starts with you. You need to shut down the browser tabs in your own mind so you can create enough space in your working memory." —  Oscar TrimboliEpisode References: Take the Listening Quiz! www.listeningquiz.comApple's award-winning podcast Deep Listening Oscar's BooksThe Empathy Edge podcast:August Hot Take: Why is Active Listening So Hard?Pam Fox Rollin: How to Grow Your Group Into a TeamAbout Oscar Trimboli: Speaker, Podcaster, and Author, Deep ListeningOscar Trimboli is an author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening, and a sought-after keynote speaker.Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace.Through his work with chairs, boards of directors, and executive teams, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. He is the author of How To Listen - Discover The Hidden Key To Better Communication, the most comprehensive book about listening in the workplace. He's also the author of Deep Listening - Impact Beyond Words And Breakthroughs: How To Confront Assumptions. Oscar loves his afternoon walks with his wife, Jennie, and their dog Kilimanjaro. On the weekends, you will find him playing with Lego with one or all four grandchildren.Connect with Oscar:  Oscar Trimboli: oscartrimboli.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oscartrimboli  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.comKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

How much better does taking an empathetic approach impact not just your leadership, but your ability to bring the right products and services to market nd truly connect with your ideal customers? Turns out, it can help you avoid costly advertising campaign failures!Today I talk with Lane Byrum, EQ coach and Director of Corporate Accounts for Five Capitals. Lane shares one of the most powerful stories I've ever heard about blending business with human connection, how empathy got real for him in that moment, and how it changed the team and consumer. He also gives a great example of how one company wasted millions of dollars on a brand-damaging ad campaign that missed the mark when it failed to dive deeper into empathy for your target audience - and how they put ego aside, took responsibility, and re-did the research to launch a breakthrough campaign instead! We discuss how empathy helps you break away from putting people into labels and boxes to form better connections. He shares three ways to get curious without sounding like you are interrogating someone. And Lane shares how to use empathy as a tool in a healthy, compassionate way with four steps to engage in a deeper connection at work - or at home!To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com Listen for…The research project that made empathy real for Lane.Why empathy is first and foremost about acknowledging, not fixing or solving. Key steps to engage in a deeper connection with others. How to use empathy and storytelling as a tool.  "You have to be courageous in these times, because there are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't (be) that sound right, - until you use courage and empathy, you won't understand how wrong those reasons are." —  Lane Byrum Episode References: Always Like a Girl Campaign and Super Bowl ad from Leo BurnettAbout Lane Byrum: EQ Coach and Director of Corporate Accounts, Five CapitalsLane brings 18 years of experience in qualitative research with Fortune 500 companies, and now devotes his work to developing emotionally intelligent leaders and teams. As an Enneagram Type 2, Lane’s approach blends deep self-awareness and empathy to create lasting growth—one conversation at a time. Whether through individual coaching or team training, he helps leaders tune into their inner wisdom and the people they lead to build truly human-centered organizations.Connect with Lane:  Five Capitals: fivecapitals.net LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lanebyrum  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.comKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

What if the real solution to conflict is not about persuading the other side, but in transforming yourself first? That’s the provocative question we explore in today’s episode with my guest, Ursula Taylor.We discuss why self-awareness and authenticity must precede empathy, versus what some other thought leaders you may be following are saying. We examine where traditional conflict resolution processes fall short, and why it truly only takes one person to change the energy of a dispute, answering the most common question I get about how to deal with someone who is not showing YOU any empathy! And finally, we consider why peacebuilding and sustainable resolution start from the inside out, requiring us to release our energy and the need for control to cultivate neutrality within ourselves before clarity and solutions can emerge.If you’ve ever found yourself entrenched in conflict, whether at work, at home, or with others in these very divisive times, this conversation will invite you to reimagine what resolution really looks like.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com Listen in for:Keys to approaching negotiation and conflict with self-awareness. The right energy to bring for healthy conflict, and how you can release your own emotional charge when someone is not showing you empathy back.The impact you have on others when you set the tone in your interaction with them. Why the win/loss dichotomy is not important in conflict and negotiation "When you're in an interaction with someone who's not capable of empathy, it manifests as self-absorption or even narcissism. You're with someone who's not there to hear you. They're there to talk. You want to make sure you are sourcing your energy from you and not from that person." —  Ursula Taylor Episode References: Never Split the Difference by Chris VossThe Empathy Edge podcasts with guest Robin Dreeke:Spycraft and the Leadership Code of TrustSpy Lessons for Leaders: Forging Unbreakable Alliances Through EmpathyAbout Ursula Taylor, Founding and Managing Member, Conflict Reimagined: Ursula specializes in guiding individuals and teams through conflict resolution using holistic and strategic methods that go beyond traditional dispute resolution. With seventeen years of experience as a nationally recognized managed care attorney in commercial litigation, Ursula now focuses on helping clients avoid or limit costly legal processes. When litigation or arbitration is unavoidable, she supports clients in finding efficient resolutions.Ursula combines intuition, deep discernment, practical experience, and analytical skills to help clients understand the broader scope of each issue or dispute, including underlying drivers, emotions, and limiting beliefs. She partners with individuals and leaders who prioritize business results, cooperation, and productivity, and who are open to innovative approaches for addressing and preventing expensive and uncertain conflicts.Connect with Ursula:  Conflict Reimagined: https://www.conflictreimagined.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-taylor-b0ba4729/  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.comKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

How can you challenge yourself as a leader to embrace empathy and think bigger, not just about success, but about significance?Joining me today is Mark Mears, a visionary business leader, best-selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building stakeholder value, driving innovation, and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory. He is currently the founder and Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC, where he inspires leaders and organizations to grow with purpose.Mark shares insights from his powerful new book, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder. We’ll dive into how empathy fuels meaningful growth, not only in business outcomes but people, teams, and culture. Mark believes that when leaders operate with purpose and put people first, they don’t just build companies—they build legacies. He shares why “culture” is not the right word, how to stop managing to the org chart, the four brands you need to consider within your organization, how to build your legacy starting today,  and how to think about inner diversity as much as organizational diversity. He also shares powerful stories from his past Fortune 500 mentors that you will love.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:True success comes from building communities where people belong, not just cultures where they merely exist.Leadership is a role to be earned daily through empathy and self-awareness, not just a title like “boss.”Empathy fuels performance, proving that compassion and results go hand-in-hand.Recognition and fulfillment drive engagement, motivation, and lasting impact in organizations.Purpose must be lived through four interconnected brands: personal, internal, external, and employer.“I never let anyone call me a boss. I said, if you want to refer to me as your leader, that’s a title I have to earn every day by how I show up.” —  Mark MearsAbout Mark Mears, Founder & Chief Growth Officer, LEAF Growth Ventures: Mark A. Mears is a #1 best-selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building stakeholder value—driving innovation and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory.Today, Mark serves as Founder and Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC—a consulting firm inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential while making a positive, lasting difference in the world.Connect with Mark Mears:Website: LEAF Growth Ventures LLC - https://www.MarkAMears.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamears/ Book: The Purposeful Growth Revolution: https://www.amazon.com/Purposeful-Growth-Revolution-Leader-Builder/dp/1636182135Free Purposeful Growth Self-Assessment: https://www.MarkAMears.comConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.comKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Featuring guest Mike Humphries, SparkEffect CEO and former Fortune 500 Executive.Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.Our show is launching off on its own! Come check us out for twice-monthly episodes at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com or subscribe to Courage to Advance on your favorite player.Kim Bohr opens with a striking boardroom paradox: "The person who can most impact your organization's success or failure, your CEO, is also the person most likely to receive the least comprehensive, least rigorous performance evaluation." In this conversation with Mike Humphries, they explore why traditional board-only CEO evaluations fall dramatically short.Mike reveals why most boards focus on KPIs that capture only 15-20% of a comprehensive CEO evaluation, missing critical competencies like adaptability and stakeholder leadership. The conversation unveils how co-creating evaluations with CEOs prevents feedback rejection, why different stakeholders experience CEOs differently, and how independent assessment creates psychological safety for honest feedback in the loneliest executive role. To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Key Takeaways:Most CEO evaluations focus only on KPIs—missing 80% of a comprehensive assessmentCEOs who help design evaluation processes can't honestly reject feedbackBoard members and executive teams experience CEOs in different environmentsIndependent evaluation eliminates bias and creates safety for honest feedbackEarly warning signs surface first with direct reports, not board membersComprehensive evaluation covers adaptability, stakeholder leadership, and culture stewardshipLongitudinal analysis tracks CEO growth and identifies systemic challenges "I don't think any board goes into this process thinking that they're taking a superficial approach... but there is a different way, and especially for this unique role." —  Mike HumphriesAbout Mike Humphries: Mike Humphries serves as Chairman and CEO of SparkEffect. He joined the organization in 2001, bringing experience as a successful entrepreneur and business executive with deep knowledge in finance, technology, and administration. Over two decades, he has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, giving him a unique perspective on effective governance and leadership evaluation.Connect with Mike Humphries:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehumphries/ Website: sparkeffect.com/about/mike-humphriesConnect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffectSparkEffect: sparkeffect.comCourage to Advance recording and resources: sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffectLinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohrConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.comKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

The power of empathy for organizational success is not just proven in all the data. Neuroscience backs up our human need to connect and form relationships. But why does empathic communication lead to better business results, improved wellness, decreased burnout, and better workforce retention? We explore that today with Dr. Helen Riess. Persuaded by the belief that empathy can transform healthcare, Dr. Riess founded Empathetics to meet medicine’s most pressing challenges. We talk about whether empathy can be taught or if it's an inborn trait, the evidence for how empathy improves measurable outcomes, and what shifts we need to make to more fully bring empathy into work. Dr. Riess shares how the brain works on empathy and how it looks different for different people of all abilities. Finally, we discuss the importance of getting people into the right seat to lead with empathy and why self-regulation skills are critical to leadership success.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Listen and discover:Why empathy is a key survival trait of the human species.Effective shifts to bring more personal compassion, kindness, and empathy to the workplace.The best ways to start your day for effective, empathetic leadership.Advice for dealing with people at different stages and levels of empathy.Why practicing empathy at work spills over into other aspects of your life. "Neuroscience shows that when the brain is at rest, we're not doing nothing. The default mode is all about working out relationships. It just shows how critical human relationship and connectedness really is." —  Dr. Helen RiessAbout Dr. Helen Riess, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, EmpatheticsDr. Helen Riess, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, is renowned for her groundbreaking research into the neurobiology of empathy.  Dr. Riess has shown that empathy can be taught and learned. Her work has reshaped how healthcare professionals connect with patients and colleagues, fostering trust and greater patient and clinician satisfaction. Her award-winning research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals.Persuaded by the belief that empathy can transform healthcare, Dr. Riess founded Empathetics to meet medicine’s most pressing challenges. As Chief Medical Officer, she translates her research into programs that help healthcare teams navigate the communication demands of modern practice. Her empathy training programs improve wellness, reduce burnout and employee turnover, and improve workforce cultures.Her best-selling book, The Empathy Effect, has resonated globally. Her TEDx talk, “The Power of Empathy,” has nearly one million views. A Founding Member of Newsweek’s Expert Forum, Dr. Riess continues to champion the transformative power of empathy to improve healthcare for everyone.Connect with Helen: Empathetics, Inc: empathetics.comInstagram: instagram.com/helen.riessLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/helen-riessTEDx: The Power of EmpathyBook: The Empathy Effect: empathetics.com/empathy-effect-bookConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Turns out your organization's inability to adapt and align in this era of great change may have little to do with structure, sales, or cutting costs and more to do with how you are investing in building your team's people skills: you know, old-fashioned communication, empathy, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Sorry to break it to you, but research is showing those skills are going to be MORE, not LESS important in the age of AI. Today’s guest, Dan Tocchini, has been helping leaders bring more magic to their teams for over 35 years. We talk about what leadership really means, the biggest enemy of a high-performing culture, and how to spot when your team is misaligned. Dan also shares why it can feel lonely at the top, how empathy helps leaders have difficult conversations that make a real difference, and the best time to address issues before they derail performance. If you want practical, hard-earned wisdom on how to lead with both courage and compassion—while still driving results—this is the conversation for you.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Key Takeaways:The biggest enemy is fear, and what you don’t face will defeat you. Courage is being in touch with prices and rewards.You have to live your values. If you’re not living them, you won’t understand the nuances and where things could fall apart.Leadership doesn’t have to be lonely; it only is because you’re not willing to solve that problem. Often, the unwillingness to hear feedback is the biggest breakdown.Business, now more than ever, influences culture. With AI becoming increasingly relevant, it is up to leaders to become more relational and more empathetic. “Most executives work around the hard conversations. They end up reacting to them. The hard conversations become your culture, and the conversation you're not willing to have becomes your culture. What you don't face now will eventually defeat you.” - Dan TocchiniEpisode References:The Empathy Edge Podcast: Kara Goldin: On Undaunted LeadershipAbout Dan Tocchini, Change Agent, Catalyst, Consultant, CoachDan Tocchini has been helping leaders bring some more magic onto their teams for over 35 years. He has worked with executive teams from Interstate Batteries and ESPN, to Smarty Pants Vitamins and Impulse Space, as well as on-profits like Homeboy Industries and Defy Ventures. Dan gives a no-fluff approach by helping transform leadership teams without any pixie dust - just courageous leadership, creative conflict resolution, and relevant restructuring. No conversation is too difficult, no situation too conflicted, because a leader with a vision cannot be held hostage by circumstance or history.Connect with Dan:Take New Ground: takenewground.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dantocchiniInstagram: instagram.com/dan_tocchiniThe Change Imperative (FREE e-book) change.takenewground.comRevenant: takenewground.com/revenant Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Empathy is the key to effective marketing. You've heard that here before. But what is really going on in the brains of savvy buyers, and how can we tap into that - not to manipulate, but to connect and engage with what they need and who they want to be?Today, Rai Cornell shares her unique journey, including being a psychologist in the prison system. We discuss how to appeal to today's savvy buyers and why everyone is a skeptical buyer. We talk about the mistakes companies make when they "pitch” and why 70% of the sales process is actually done before the salesperson does that pitch. And some examples of effective tactics and campaigns we've both seen. And a real treat today: you know the old marketing adage of helping prospects know, like, and trust you? Rai breaks down HOW to achieve each of those steps by taking about the brain's neurotransmitters and the chemicals activated at each stage, so you can best engage your audience at each step.  And we discuss the ethics of empathetic marketing and how to avoid manipulation or coercion at all costs, as well as the importance of internal feedback loops to consistently practice empathy with your customers.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Key Takeaways:Prioritize understanding the gatekeeper, not just the final buyer, especially in B2B sales situations.Everyone you are selling to is a human. They will have both logic drivers and emotional drivers.If you want to be efficient with your marketing dollars - spending less, doing more, and getting more ROI - empathy is the way to do it because you have to slow down and understand who the other person is.Utilize the power of neurotransmitters - dopamine and oxytocin - to maximize know, like, and trust. "Be altruistic. Understand the situation. This is where empathy comes in. You have to understand the situation that they're in before they want to buy your solution." —  Rai CornellEpisode References:Nike, If You Let Me Play Ad CampaignSubaru crashed car ad, They LivedAbout Rai Cornell, CEO, Cornell Content Marketing:Rai Cornell is the CEO and Strategic Marketing Consultant of Cornell Content Marketing. Rai helps B2B businesses become thought leaders by creating long-term demand-generation strategies and eliminating costly and unnecessary short-term, manipulative tactics like ads. Rai's marketing approach is psychology-driven to ensure businesses attract pre-qualified, emotionally engaged buyers.Connect with Rai:Email: rairose@cornellcontentmarketing.comCornell Content Marketing: cornellcontentmarketing.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raicornellConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

The skills and sensibilities we needed in the industrial age are no longer working. But according to my guest today, Saqib Rasool, we are approaching skills development as if we were machines - just sprinkle some knowledge or insert some new information and BAM we will transform our leadership style. Instead, he offers a different way to navigate these new skills and improve performance.Today, we discuss how the leadership paradigm has changed and why our approaches to skill development often fail, because they rely on people fitting into rational machine models - which they do not! We discuss examples of how one crucial mindset shift works better,  and why breakdowns are not a bad thing, but an opportunity for leaders to shift their mindset, engage in tough conversations, and listen to what is important to others  - thus building the new leadership skills you need to succeed. We discuss how even the field of change management has changed and how you can shift from “power over” leadership models to “power with” models that lead to better results.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.comKey Takeaways:Humans don’t give feedback; machines give feedback. Humans give opinions, both good and bad.The most dangerous and unproductive leader is the one who believes they have nothing else to learn.Be willing to set aside what you believe as true. Breakdowns can only be solved by being willing to hear the truth, no matter what it is. "Even in industrial environments, the value is created in our ability to coordinate action with each other in conversations, to deal with breakdowns with each other, and to really see possibilities for innovation might exist in the breakdowns." —  Saqib RasoolEpisode References: The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms by Nassim Nicholas TalebSaqib Rasool, CEO, ConceivianSaqib is a serial entrepreneur, coach, and author. Starting his career at Microsoft, he later built several startups and founded a start-up accelerator. Saqib’s passion for cultivating leaders and entrepreneurs led him to study human potential, teamwork, innovation, entrepreneurship, and communications. Saqib has coached countless changemakers to unfold their potential, see the breakdowns ripe with opportunities, and set bold missions. He lives in the Seattle area and travels globally for work.Connect with Saqib:Conceivian: conceivian.com X: x.com/SaqibRasool LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/saqibrasool Facebook: facebook.com/saqibrasool Instagram: instagram.com/saqibrasoolofficialConceivian's Emerging Leaders Program. A Revolutionary Approach To Building Leadership,  Management, and Communication Capacities for Upward Mobility In Career & Performance in Enterprises: conceivian.com/elp Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.Tune in to our subseries every 3rd Thursday, right here on The Empathy Edge! Or check us out at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com.After overwhelming listener response to our AI and coaching conversation, Kim Bohr and Rod Bacon reconvene to address burning questions about executive coaching misconceptions. This deep dive challenges the outdated view of coaching as "leadership rehab" and reveals its true power as a strategic growth amplifier.Rod dismantles the "scarlet letter" stigma, sharing how vulnerability creates strength and why interview-based stakeholder feedback provides "X-ray vision" into leadership impact. The conversation explores why executive presence is an inside job, how the forgetting curve undermines training investments, and why coaching transforms information into embodied leadership behaviors.Whether you're justifying development budgets or seeking authentic growth, discover why combining training with coaching multiplies ROI and how modeling vulnerability builds cultures of continuous learning. To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.Key Takeaways:Executive coaching is a growth amplifier, not leadership rehab – top performers use it proactivelyInterview-based 360 feedback reveals not just what happened, but organizational ripple effectsExecutive presence isn't about gestures – it's about embodying confidence and claiming your seatUp to 90% of training content is forgotten within a week without coaching reinforcementVulnerability-based leadership creates psychological safety and models continuous growthTraining fills knowledge gaps; coaching ensures application and integrationThe most powerful transformations focus on one or two needle-moving changes"We're going to see it as a growth amplifier… when people get coaching, they're able to look at their strengths, what's potentially getting in the way of accelerating those, and really grow." —  Rod BaconAbout Rod Bacon: Rod Bacon serves as Chief Coaching Officer at SparkEffect, developing world-class executive coaches and working with C-suite leaders across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and technology industries. His philosophy that vulnerability enables true strength has guided transformative leadership development worldwide.Connect with Rod Bacon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwbacon/Website: sparkeffect.com/about/rod-baconConnect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffectSparkEffect: sparkeffect.comCourage to Advance recording and resources: sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffectLinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohrConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

While multiple studies show that we are experiencing mental health crises, burnout, and stress at alarming levels, I don't have to tell you that you're feeling it. It impacts your ability and your team's ability to perform at the highest level. To innovate, problem solve, and focus. Some workplace stress is a given, but what about the stress we can control? The stress caused by a culture and a leader who refuses to recognize our humanity? The leader who does not value empathy, connection, well-being, or psychological safety as a way to empower their people to achieve success.Today, I talk with Marisol Solarte-Erlacher about the price you pay for toxic and psychologically unsafe cultures and how that impacts business performance. We discuss why chronic stress is an issue, how it impacts leadership and performance, and what it looks like to put employee well-being at the center of your business strategy. Marisol shares how to make the culture shift in your own team to prioritize well-being in meaningful ways, not just surface-level perks. She offers three questions you can ask your team to discern if they feel psychologically safe, and she shares how you can make the business case for well-being so your people can thrive and your company can achieve its goals.To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.Key Takeaways:The pandemic gave everyone the ability to pause and actually question if the way we have always done things is the only or best way to do things.Being in a constant state of stress takes a long-term toll on our bodies and health.Do assessments with yourself and your team to understand what the biggest stressors are at any given point.To assess psychological safety, you can ask three questions: What are the things in the workplace that cause you the most stress? How do you handle those? How do you ask for help? "This is about the long-term investment of your culture for the overall well-being and sustainability of your organization." —  Marisol Solarte-ErlacherEpisode References:The Empathy Edge podcast:Rebecca Friese: How to Build a “Good” CultureAnna Liotta: Understanding Generational CodesAbout Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, Trauma Expert and Resilience ConsultantNamed one of Colorado's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Marisol Solarte-Erlacher is a trauma expert, resilience consultant, and licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations build cultures where both people and performance thrive, while hosting the award-nominated podcast 'Resilience and Resistance,' featuring successful Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color who have overcome trauma to become resilient leaders.Connect with Marisol:Email: marisol@marisolerlacher.com Website: marisolerlacher.com Instagram: instagram.com/marisol_resilience_expert  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross

Empathetic leadership drives engagement, performance, and innovation. It's a fact. Yet post-pandemic, leaders are struggling to balance the needs of their people with the demands of the business and their own mental health. This livestream session with empathy expert, speaker, author, and podcast host of The Empathy Edge, Maria Ross, will enable leaders from the Director to C-suite to build high-performing teams, align their work with their values, and find success in the new world of work.The audience will gain:DEFINE what empathy means in a work context and clarify confusing terminology. Bust common empathy myths that hold leaders back.DISCOVER how empathy helps you do good while doing well financially: Empathy is not just good for the world, but it can be a competitive advantage. We'll walk through the financial & organizational benefits of acting with empathy, and how you can persuade others in the organization to do the right thing.EXPLORE what empathy is - and more importantly, what it is NOT.DISCOVER the Five Pillars of Effective and Empathetic Leadership to better balance the needs of the business with the needs of your people.To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.Key Takeaways:Empathy requires great strength to be able to take on someone else's point of view without fear or defensiveness.We can access empathy through two angles - cognitive and affective (or emotional) empathy.Why managers need to create a human connection with their teams.In today’s digital world, connection is more important than ever. It is a key to experiencing empathy. "You need to be very firmly grounded in who you are, what you believe, and your own self-confidence to open yourself up to other points of view. Empathy is anything but weak; it's a strength." —  Maria RossEpisode References: Sign Up Here for PeopleFoward Network: https://bit.ly/pfncommunityThe Empathy Edge Podcast:  Daina Middleton: How to do Layoffs with Humanity, Inclusion, and Compassion 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 PeopleForward Network: We exist to help all people experience meaningful work.We imagine a world where leadership and people-first leadership are synonymous.PeopleForward Network provides innovative podcasting, communications, and partnership services for people-first leaders to impact meaningful work.From podcast production and distribution to creative services and growth consulting, PeopleForward Network’s mission is to share resources and insights with its global community of leaders, connectors, and creators to inspire and build workplaces where people thrive.Connect with Jason Cochran & PeopleForward Network:  Website: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jason.Cochran LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasondcochran/  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross