The Empathic Leader

What if the most powerful leadership strategy wasn’t in another business playbook but inside you all along?

In Episode 36 of “The Empathic Leader”, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller breaks down why empathy isn’t “soft”.  It’s skills-based, data-driven, and results-oriented. She shares real-world stories and hard numbers that show how empathy fuels productivity, innovation, and profit — while also preventing burnout and costly turnover.

You’ll learn how empathy can:

💡 Reduce attrition and save your organization thousands

💡 Boost engagement, innovation, and productivity

💡 Build a “know, like, and trust” culture that drives performance

💡 Start with YOU — through practicing self-empathy first

Dr. Melissa also shares practical leadership tools like the “60-second curiosity pause,” tracking emotional KPIs, and using empathy as a measurable part of your business strategy.

Grab my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book “The Empathic Leader”: https://a.co/d/6mKtblA

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empathyqueen.eq/ 

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

In this episode, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller sits down with Jan Raeder. She’s a wellness educator, former martial-arts instructor, and author. They unpack practical tools for self-leadership, resilience, and everyday well-being. 

Jan walks us through her evidence-based M.O.R.E. Framework (Meaning, Optimism, Relationships, Engagement), explains simple daily practices like the “what went well?” check-in, and shares powerful leadership exercises (including the Gratitude Visit) that build connection, retention, and psychological safety at work.

Listeners will discover why self-leadership and self-empathy are the foundation for effective leadership, and how the MORE framework works by showing how Meaning, Optimism, Relationships, and Engagement feed into one another. Jan also shares a fast and practical meeting ritual — ending with “What went well?” and, importantly, the why behind it — as a way to shift energy and focus.

She also introduces the Gratitude Visit exercise, a simple yet transformative practice where leaders write and read a note of appreciation that can profoundly impact relationships and morale. Throughout the conversation, Jan highlights how small, evidence-based habits not only reduce chronic stress but also help teams thrive, creating workplaces where empathy and resilience are at the core.

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Grab my #1 bestselling book “The Empathic Leader” here: https://a.co/d/8IfKm3M

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: @empathyqueen.eq

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

Connect with Jan Raeder:

Website: https://selfcaresensei.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfcaresenseijraeder/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-raeder-48799b26/

About Jan:

Jan Rader is a wellbeing educator, speaker, and author dedicated to helping individuals and organizations thrive. Through her signature M.O.R.E. framework — Meaning, Optimism, Relationships, and Engagement — she equips people with practical, evidence-based tools to build resilience, lead with purpose, and live well.

With more than 30 years of experience in martial arts, positive psychology, and behavior change, Jan brings a unique perspective to wellbeing. She believes wellness is an active, deeply personal process shaped by culture, tradition, and psychology and that everyone is capable of living their best life.

A proud national gold medalist in AAU Karate, Jan also earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in wellbeing education in just four years, beginning with only 19 credits. Her journey reflects her belief that transformation happens when we push beyond our perceived limits.

As the “Self-Care Sensei,” Jan empowers others to create lives of balance, growth, and fulfillment whether through personalized wellbeing education, transformative keynotes, or her writing.

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

What if spotting a great leader was as simple as reading their flags? 🚩⚪💚

In Episode 34 of "The Empathic Leader", Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller breaks down the red, beige, and green flags of leadership—signals that reveal how leaders handle critique, communication, generosity, change, and empathy.

From toxic patterns that drain teams to green flags that inspire trust and growth, this episode equips you to recognize the signs of strong, empathic leadership—and avoid the pitfalls of poor leadership.

Grab my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book “The Empathic Leader”: https://a.co/d/6mKtblA

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empathyqueen.eq/ 

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

‘Burnout’ isn’t just a buzzword in health care, it’s a crisis. In Episode 33 of "The Empathic Leader" podcast, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller sits down with registered nurse, entrepreneur, and founder of the Nomadic Nurse Network, Melanie Boulerice.

Together, they explore the realities of health care systems in both the U.S. and Quebec, Canada. Plus, the devastating cycle of “do more with less,” and how burnout erodes not only professional well-being but also patient care. Melanie shares her own story of burning out early in her career, why she founded Nomadic Nurse Network, and how she’s building a community of health care professionals dedicated to restoring empathy, balance, and sustainability in the field.

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Grab my #1 bestselling book “The Empathic Leader” here: https://a.co/d/8IfKm3M

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: @empathyqueen.eq

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

Connect with Melanie Boulerice:

Website: https://nomadicnursenetwork.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nursemelaniejadeb/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-boulerice/ 

About Melanie:

Melanie Boulerice is a registered nurse, serial entrepreneur, and owner of Nomadic Nurse Network Inc. Based in Montreal as a travel nurse, she is also a passionate advocate for health care professionals navigating the challenges of modern medicine.

Through her work, Melanie shines a light on the realities of burnout and the role empathy plays in preventing it, sparking conversations that too often get overlooked. She uses her podcast and community platform to bring people together—nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals who are experiencing burnout or seeking a supportive space to heal and rebuild.

Driven by a mission to transform health care culture, Melanie blends her frontline experience with entrepreneurial vision to create connection, awareness, and solutions for those who give so much of themselves in service of others.

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

Welcome to Episode 32 of “The Empathic Leader” podcast with Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller. In this solo episode, we dive deep into the realities of toxic work environments—what they actually are, how to recognize the signs early, and most importantly, what to do if you find yourself stuck in one.

Too often, terms like “toxic workplace” or “gaslighting” are thrown around loosely, but here we take time to define what they truly mean.

A toxic work culture isn’t just about having an annoying coworker or an inconvenient policy—it’s a long-term, ongoing environment that damages mental health, physical health, and even personal relationships.

From leadership blind spots to cultural misalignment, Dr. Melissa unpacks how these dynamics take root, why they’re so dangerous, and how leaders can use empathy to break the cycle.

Grab my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book “The Empathic Leader”: https://a.co/d/6mKtblA

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empathyqueen.eq/ 

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

In the 31st episode of The Empathic Leader podcast, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller interviews Vandana Puranik—a powerhouse marketer, strategist, and bestselling author who has worked with iconic brands like Johnson & Johnson, Hershey’s, and Campbell’s.

Vandana’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and facing life-threatening complications—including a coma and acute respiratory distress syndrome—she came out with a renewed perspective on life: to live “limitless,” prioritize self-care, and embrace every moment.

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Grab my #1 bestselling book “The Empathic Leader” here: https://a.co/d/8IfKm3M

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

Connect with Vandana Puranik:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vandana.puranik 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vandanapuranik/ 

About Vandana:

Vandana Puranik is a brainstormer, builder, and brander. With 25+ years of experience as a marketer, innovator, and strategist, she has scaled startups, revived struggling businesses, and driven rapid growth—even boosting an established company by 60% in just one month.

Her global career across industries and cultures has given her a deep understanding of human insights, which she transforms into breakthrough ideas. She’s passionate about turning complexity into clarity, clarity into vision, and vision into reality.

A USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and international speaker, Vandana helps growth-minded leaders solve “impossible” problems and unlock limitless success. She is also the founder of Active Ingredients Inc. and a proud Duke University graduate.

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: @empathyqueen.eq

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

Empathy isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the glue and accelerant for real business transformation. In Episode 30 of “The Empathic Leader” podcast, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller shares practical, actionable ways leaders can actually embed empathy into their culture and not just talk about it.

From the importance of modeling behavior and being visible to your team, to why empathy sometimes means having the hard conversations, Dr. Melissa pulls back the curtain on what authentic, empathy-driven leadership looks like in action. 

She also explains why self-awareness is critical, how culture naturally forms when leaders aren’t intentional, and why “nice” and “kind” are not the same thing.

Whether you’re leading a team of five or five thousand, this episode will challenge you to reflect, connect, and lead with empathy in a way that inspires loyalty, innovation, and trust.

Grab my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book “The Empathic Leader”: https://a.co/d/6mKtblA

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empathyqueen.eq/ 

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

She Survived the Boston Marathon Bombing, Now She's Changing the Mental Health Landscape After Tragedy

In this gripping episode of "The Empathic Leader" podcast, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller speaks with Manya Chylinski, a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing who turned personal trauma into national advocacy.

Though Manya walked away without visible injuries, the psychological impact was deep and largely ignored. In this conversation, she opens up about the emotional aftermath, her struggle with invisibility as a trauma survivor, and how that pain became the driving force behind her advocacy.

Manya shares how surviving the Boston Marathon bombing led her to advocate for mental health reform, resulting in the Post-disaster Mental Health Response Act of Rep. Ayanna Pressley. She opens up about the emotional toll of being an “invisible” survivor, the power of being believed, and how sharing her story—first anonymously, then on global stages—helped her heal. She and Dr. Melissa also discuss workplace trauma, leadership failures, and why empathy isn’t optional in recovery or leadership.

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Grab my #1 bestselling book “The Empathic Leader” here: https://a.co/d/8IfKm3M

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: @empathyqueen.eq

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

Connect with Manya Chylinski:

Website: https://manyachylinski.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mschylinski/ 

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/manyachylinski/ 

About Manya:

Manya Chylinski is a keynote speaker, communications expert, and passionate advocate for mental health awareness. A survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing, Manya turned her personal trauma into a mission to champion psychological recovery and reshape how we approach leadership, empathy, and crisis response.

With a background in writing, research, and marketing, she helps individuals and organizations understand the emotional impact of trauma and build resilience during times of change. Manya has spoken on prominent stages like TEDx and SXSW, and has been featured on CBS, NPR, and in The Boston Globe.

As the catalyst behind the Post-disaster Mental Health Response Act, Manya equips organizations with tools to create compassionate, trauma-informed workplaces—before, during, and after crisis. Her honest, grounded approach inspires audiences to lead with empathy and support healing through visibility and validation.

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

In this episode of “The Empathic Leader,” Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller sits down with bestselling author, speaker, and reinvention expert Samantha Kris for an honest, inspiring conversation about the evolution from manager to empathic leader.

Samantha shares her unconventional journey. She started from addictions counselor to corporate executive to trusted advisor for impact-driven CEOs. Along the way, she unpacks the pivotal moments that reshaped her leadership style, including the challenges of managing underperforming team members, navigating feedback, and overcoming ego. 

Together, Melissa and Samantha explore how empathy becomes a practical leadership tool and not just a feel-good value. They dive into the importance of adaptive communication, self-awareness, and building feedback-friendly working cultures.She also reflects on the difference between leading a team versus coaching executives, and how witnessing vulnerability at the top has deepened her capacity for empathy—both toward others and herself.

Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader

Grab my #1 bestselling book “The Empathic Leader” here: https://a.co/d/8IfKm3M

Listen in any of your favorite podcast platform:

► APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-empathic-leader/id1796715528 

► SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ChVQGgl5l1jqAfxdoR0EG?si=1wRZC3DbS9KvhLYTggkuhg

► AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0158b2cb-7bec-4135-a2c0-2f594d21109b/the-empathic-leader

CONNECT WITH ME:

► Instagram: @empathyqueen.eq

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eqviaempathy 

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/

Connect with Samantha Kris:

Website: https://www.samanthakris.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthakris3/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-kris/ 

About Samantha:

Samantha Kris is a bestselling author, Certified Reinvention Practitioner, and award-winning speaker whose #1 TEDx talk on goal setting continues to inspire leaders around the world. Known for her highly tailored and interactive keynotes, Samantha breaks the mold of traditional speaking by creating experiences that spark real connection and drive meaningful action.

She is a trusted advisor to some of today’s most impact-driven CEOs and thought leaders, supporting them in crafting and delivering powerful speeches and developing strategic communication plans that resonate. Her influence has earned her recognition from Real Leaders magazine as a Top Executive Coach for 2024, and Microsoft named her one of the Leading Speakers to Follow in 2025—alongside names like Mel Robbins.

► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.

In Episode 27 of "The Empathic Leader" podcast, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller returns for a powerful solo episode that every leader, team member, and aspiring changemaker should hear.

This time, she dives deep into the difference between beige flags and red flags in leadership, borrowing a term often used in dating and applying it insightfully to organizational life.

🚩 Red flags are clear warning signs like leaders who weaponize language, resist all forms of critique, or foster manipulative group dynamics.

⚠️ Beige flags, on the other hand, might not seem like a big deal at first but left unchecked, they can quietly erode trust, innovation, and team culture over time.

Dr. Robinson-Winemiller breaks down six key behavioral “flags” she’s seen repeatedly in her work with organizations, including:

1. How leaders handle feedback and critique

2. The language they use (and how they use it)

3. Their approach to generosity vs. scarcity

4. Resistance or fear around change

5. How they use data and analytics

6. And whether they treat people equitably

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► About Dr. Robinson-Winemiller:

What do empathy and a treadmill have in common? Both need action to deliver results.

Quiet quitting. Resenteeism. Post-pandemic stress. AI. Modern leaders face challenges unimaginable in the past, and the pace of change is relentless. The old command-and-control leadership style is obsolete. Leaders today must evolve or risk irrelevance. But leadership now goes beyond dashboards and spreadsheets—so, what’s the answer?

Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is the answer. With over 20 years of leadership experience, two doctorates (including one focused on empathy in leadership), an MBA, and multiple certifications in change management and DEI, she helps leaders achieve greater profits, retention, productivity, and innovation.

Her mission? To elevate leadership through the often-overlooked power of EQ and empathy. As a coach and consultant, Melissa draws on expertise, data-driven insights, and proven results to guide leaders through today’s complexities.

► Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional, medical, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional or licensed provider with any specific and personal questions you may have regarding personal or professional concerns.