Great leaders don’t just give orders—they connect, inspire, and create real change.
In this episode with guest Dan Winemiller, Chief Information Officer at Stillwater Medical Center, we’re breaking down how cognitive empathy helps leaders—even those who aren’t naturally “warm and fuzzy”—build trust and lead stronger, more effective teams.
We’ll dive into:
🔹 How Cognitive Empathy shapes leadership and decision-making
🔹 Empathy Fatigue in healthcare—caring without burning out
🔹 Why vulnerability is actually a leadership superpower
🔹 How Transformational Leadership fuels productivity, innovation, and engagement
When leaders truly listen…
…teams thrive, ideas flow, and businesses grow.
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
Subscribe to the Show ► @theempathicleader
Pre-Order my book here: https://stan.store/empathicleader
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 Dan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-winemillermba/
About Dan Winemiller:
With 29+ years in trauma hospitals and an MBA, Dan blends leadership, strategy, and operational expertise to help organizations thrive. With a strong foundation in both healthcare and business, he specializes in identifying challenges, fostering collaboration, and driving meaningful improvements.
He had led major projects, including launching a Surgery Center in 2017 that passed all regulatory surveys with zero safety recommendations. His ability to plan strategically and negotiate acquisitions has consistently cut budgets by 30% while maintaining top-quality standards.
As a consultant, Dan has helped ASCs and Pain Management practices boost patient and stakeholder satisfaction, streamline workflows, and reduce waste. He played a key role in the EPIC build and launch for a major healthcare system, ensuring a seamless transition.
A Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and former CEO of Bonescan of Illinois, Dan led high-performing teams, optimized operations, and oversaw IT system acquisitions to enhance efficiency. Passionate about leadership development, he mentored professionals for decades, helping teams grow and perform at their best.
For Dan, leadership isn’t just about management—it’s about investing in people, fostering innovation, and making a lasting impact.
► 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.
