The Empathy Edge

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, AuthorHeather 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/mariaross

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