The Empathy Edge

Want to save the world - & build a healthy profitable business? You can. My guest today, Lindsay LaShell, and I talked about everything purpose & profit! What is a marketing activist, how impact organizations can better leverage marketing to achieve goals, where folks go wrong when leveraging social media, & the marketing lies that detract all of us, for-profit & nonprofit - from achieving our goals. Lindsay explains her buyer's journey framework & how it operationalizes empathy into your business model & marketing. We talk about B Corps & how any business that wants to make a difference can become one -  she has stellar advice for anyone longing to marry purpose & profit or paycheck. You will leave today's conversation motivated to do more good with your work, no matter how large your organization is.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Marketing is not about lying to people, it is about telling your story truthfully to do good in the world. Marketing is a communication tool to serve & lift. 
• Every sale you make is human-to-human. B2B or C2C don’t matter because everyone is human with their own thoughts, fears, wants, stresses, & human needs.
• Have a business purpose for everything you do in marketing. You do not need to do everything that everyone else does. You do not need to do something, especially on social media, just because you feel like you “should” do it. 

"Mediocre marketing costs a lot of money because you don't know who you're talking to, & you don't know what you're offering. We don't have time & money to waste. We need our s*#t to be more efficient, we need better. That's where empathy focuses your range." —  Lindsay LaShell

MARIA'S COURSE

Learn more about Maria's new Brand Story Breakthrough course, starting September 8. Spots are limited so grab yours before it's gone to start attracting more of your ideal customers & boosting revenue & growth: https://bit.ly/BSBcourse

Resources Mentioned:

• Heather Hiscox, The Empathy Edge: The Surprising Empathy Gap in Social Impact That Hinders Change
• Elisa Camahort Page, The Empathy Edge: The Art of Empathy in Politics, Activism & Media BS
• Ian Bentley, The Empathy Edge: Conscious Consumerism for the Win
• Gay Hendricks, The Genius Zone
• SPECIAL OFFER: Want to ditch the social media channels that don't serve you without sacrificing opportunities? Use coupon code "EMPATHY" to get FREE access to Lndsay's Social Media Solution course in Kajabi. 
• Lindsay's course: The Power of Delegation for Entrepreneurs: https://courses.open-lines.co/offers/78wKLz3E/checkout

About Lindsay LaShell, Marketing Activist & Founder, Open Lines Marketing: 

Lindsay Dayton LaShell is a Marketing Activist & the creator of the Open Lines Marketing Framework. Her work is to advance justice, equity, & sustainability through access to excellent marketing strategies for women, indigenous, queer, or POC founders, B Corps, & nonprofits. Through workshops, speaking gigs, & consulting, she’s helped thousands of organizations reevaluate & realign their marketing strategies to be more empathetic, efficient, & effective. To see what she’s up to, follow her on LinkedIn or subscribe to her newsletter at open-lines.co.

Connect with Lindsay LaShell:  

Open Lines Marketing: https://www.open-lines.co/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Open_Lines

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

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast & book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria & her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: 

Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

In this special episode, I deconstruct Ted Lasso's cultural impact and golden lessons on leadership and empathy with one of my favorite people, Elisa Camahort Page.You may recall her from a past episode - she is a leadership and business expert, as well as a devoted empathy and pop culture fan, like myself - and we both enjoy finding lessons to apply to leadership and life in our favorite stories and characters. 

We discuss why the Apple TV+ show hit such a nerve with viewers (and us, as fan girls) and created a cultural phenomenon. We explore the leadership and teamwork lessons the show gracefully imparted, as well as how it expertly tackled themes of female friendships, toxic masculinity, mentorship, fatherhood, and mental health. We also dive into the brilliant storytelling construction and character arcs that kept viewers wanting more - and what we think might be next for the Lasso universe.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Good ideas can come from anywhere. Stay curious, keep listening, and give others an opportunity to fill in where your skills don’t cover. 
• The little moments matter. They are what lead you to and away from the big moments and are equally as important. 
• There is freedom in allowing yourself to feel vulnerable and embrace the challenges that come your way. 

'On the surface, there was the super warm fuzzy and so much to love, but underneath, they were tackling the complexity of human nature, how nothing is what it seems, and we don't know what's behind everybody's behavior." —  Elisa Camahort Page

MARIA'S COURSE

Learn more about Maria's new Brand Story Breakthrough course, starting September 8. Spots are limited so grab yours before it's gone to start attracting more of your ideal customers and boosting revenue and growth: https://bit.ly/BSBcourse

Episode References: 

• The Empathy Edge podcast: Elisa Camahort Page: The Art of Empathy in Politics, Activism, and Media BS
• Ted Lasso
• Scrubs

About Elisa Camahort Page: Elisa Camahort Page is a fractional executive and strategic consultant who works with organizations to launch and scale authentic community and/or user-based initiatives, harnessing the power of people -- community members, employees, and partners. Elisa was at the vanguard of the social web as co-founder and COO of BlogHer, Inc. In that role, she represented the face of the company to the user community and drove the transformation of a movement into a market. Elisa had oversight of the practices, policies, and procedures that modeled how organizations can build community, grow a business, support inclusion in words and action, and defend transparency and civility. Since BlogHer was acquired, and after instilling BlogHer's community ethos into the acquiring company's practices, Elisa has consulted with organizations that want to create compelling products and content, foster passionate community, and bring constituencies together in alignment with their brand values. A frequent public speaker and freelance writer, Elisa is also the host of The Op-Ed Page podcast and the This Week-ish newsletter, as well as the co-author of Road Map for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy for All.

Connect with Elisa Camahort Page:  

Website: elisacp.com

Find all Elisa’s Links at https://bio.site/elisacp

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: 

Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Leading with your heart might be a scary phrase to some old-school leaders out there. But my guest today knows a thing or two about leading a fast-paced, successful company - without sacrificing human connection.

Claude Silver believes showing up with heart and humanity is the key to unlocking greatness in people. Today, she shares her incredible personal story, what a Chief Heart Officer does, how it differs from HR, how empathy has fueled Vayner Media's growth, and their value of kind candor, as opposed to radical candor. We debunk myths and fears many leaders have about empathy at work, and she shares so many examples of how Vayner Media walks its talk in being a people-first organization while still holding everyone accountable and achieving success.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• The old models of command and control leadership are not going to take you into the future, they will not attract top talent, and the companies will be gone in less than 20 years if they aren’t willing to evolve. 
• Empathy doesn't just roll downhill from leaders to staff, it needs to roll up hill to so that we're partnering, no matter what our level, but also we're accountable, no matter what our level.
• You are a giant. Create your mission statement, your northstar statement, that will help you to understand what your purpose is every single day, not only when you have time to do it. 
• You were hired for a reason - amplify your skills and your strengths. You are not anyone else around you, you have your own light to shine and your own greatness to bring to your organization at whatever level you are at right now. 

"People are not assets, people are your company. Heart is the central operating system of any human being and human beings right now, and probably tomorrow, are the central operating system of your company and culture." —  Claude Silver

About Claude Silver: Chief Heart Officer, Vayner Media

Claude Silver believes showing up with heart and humanity is the key to unlocking greatness in people. As the world’s first Chief Heart Officer at Vayner Media, she sees it as her job to infuse empathy into every aspect of the organization. As a speaker, podcaster, and LinkedIn influencer, she’s now inspiring other leaders to do the same. 

At a young age, Claude was repeatedly told she thinks too much with her heart — something she has now learned is her superpower. As a non-traditional learner, she left college after two years and had an epiphany while on a 93-Day Outward Bound trek: it was up to her to change the narrative of her life, and in order to do so, she had to change her thinking. This power has evolved into what Claude calls “Emotional Optimism”: a concept that is key to her Heart-First leadership style. 

With Claude as Chief Heart Officer, Vayner has grown from a team of 400 to a Global team of 2000. She has proven that empathy plays a role in fueling growth and does everything she can to make each and every human feel safe, seen, valued, and included. This involves taking a hard look at how leadership is showing up, identifying cynicism and toxicity, and taking the crucial steps to flush it out. 

Claude’s success coaching and leading people and guiding client relationships come from a mantra that she teaches to everyone she crosses paths with: “Be someone people want in the room”. 

Connect with Claude Silver:  

Website: http://www.claudesilver.com

VaynerMedia: http://www.VaynerMedia.com

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/claudesilver

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

In 2021, Gallup found that unprecedented numbers of young people identify as LGBTQ+. Why should you as a leader or hiring manager care?  Basically, Gen Z is the queerest, most gender-diverse generation  - and they are under attack on a daily basis which distracts them mentally and emotionally from innovating, delivering, and contributing their vast talents to the team. If you want to fuel your company's growth, compete, and win, you need to empathize with and understand transgender rights and inclusion.

Today, Leo Caldwell and I talk about how Gen Z views gender identity and corporate culture, the growing mental health epidemic among trans folks, how the current climate of anti-trans hate and legislation could be impacting many of your workers on a daily basis, what your company can do to support trans employees and practical steps you can take to foster inclusion to attract and retain top talent. Leo also shares his own personal experience and busts some myths about transgender life.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• The standards of care for trans and other LGBTQ+ youth and adults has evolved a lot in the last 20 years, but there is still work to be done in society. 
• Gen Z is the generation that is going to change the workplace and expectations in the workplace. They expect allyship and flexibility and that your workplace will actually stand up and be vocal on issues. 
• There are not necessarily more queer and trans people than there used to be - it only appears so because it is no longer illegal and the fear that stopped many previous generations is not still there for many people. It is also hard to identify if you don’t have the language around that identity. 
• You need to have people who are part of the community help solve the problem. You cannot understand the issues minority communities are facing without bringing them in to be part of the solution. 

"Gen Z is going to change the workplace and expectations in the workplace…we're at a spot of gender transformation.You're either going to be a proactive leader, or you're going to be reactive if you haven't done something in the next 2 or 3 years." —  Leo Caldwell

Episode References: 

• The Research Institute on Gender Therapeutics
• Their LinkedIn page
• Harvard Business Review article,"Companies are Failing Transgender Employees"”
• 2022 Gallup poll
• Erin Reed, Erin in the Morning blog
• National Center for Transgender Equality
• Current anti-trans legislation tracker
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• Paula Stone Williams, TedX
• Empathy Edge Podcast - Cori Lovejoy: A Trans Woman’s Journey Transforming Self and Organizational Culture

About Leo Caldwell: LGBTQ+ Educator and Speaker

Leo Caldwell is an LGBTQ+ educator and speaker with a focus on the trans community. He has presented to a variety of audiences including Gannett USA TODAY Network, University of Oregon, local fire/police departments, and various non-profits/youth organizations. He is currently a lecturer at Ball State University and Comms Consultant for The Research Institute for Gender Therapeutics. Leo has a bachelor's in journalism and a master's in digital storytelling. He combines his storytelling, virtual training expertise and years of lived experience as a trans man to inspire empathy and inclusivity for all genders within organizations.

Connect with Leo Caldwell:  

Website: https://leocaldwell.com

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

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Everyone talks about disruption. Disrupting the status quo, the industry, the way we do things with their cool new product or service. But how about we disrupt leadership? How about we learn to embrace failure, build connection, and establish trust as the keys to success? My guest today, author, mentor, and CEO Colin Hunter shares why leaders need to be more wrong in order to be more successful. 

Today we talk about why leadership needs to be disrupted, a 3-pronged model for how leaders can increase their impact, how to create more resilience and avoid burnout, and why we need to be more wrong and embrace experimentation and play so we can learn faster - leaving ego at the door in order to find success.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

•  Self-care and mindfulness are so important. And without it, you do burn out as a leader, especially if you are a good leader and are trying to give of yourself to your team, but it does your team no good if you end up going up in flames.
• Just like how you recharge your phone every night, you need to do something that recharges you, as a leader, so that you can ground yourself, allowing you to show up better for yourself, your team, and your organization. 
• Utilize the power and energy of everyone on your team. As you lead with empathy and active listening and give them a playground you will see an amazing difference in your team. 

"As children, we have this self-clearing mind -  we learn, experiment, play, fall over, fall out with friends, and then we self-clear and we go. But as we grow older, we freeze. If you aren't doing your work, aren't practicing disrupting, learning, experimenting every day, then you’ve frozen your mind." —  Colin Hunter

Episode References: 

• The Empathy Edge podcast, Rebecca Friese: How to Build a Good Culture
• The Empathy Edge podcast, Rhonda Manns: Design Thinking in Healthcare and Beyond
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• IDEO
• Sir Ken Robinson, TED Talk, Do Schools Kill Creativity?
• Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Talib
• Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us by Jon Alexander
• The Trusted Advisor by David Maister

About Colin Hunter, CEO of Potential Squared and Author, Be More Wrong

Colin Hunter is an author, mentor, coach, and founder of Potential Squared which specializes in creating playgrounds to disrupt the way people are led.  He lives with his family, near London, but originally from Scotland, and still retains his love of the Scottish mountains and the outdoors.  Colin and his team work with their clients to provide leaders and their teams the chance to, as he describes, “Sail their ship out of the harbour and test themselves in rougher seas”.  He is a practitioner and his work and his book are based on personal experience and purposeful practice with his clients.”

Connect with Colin Hunter:  

PotentialSquared: https://www.potential2.com

Book: Be More Wrong  https://www.potential2.com/be-more-wrong/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Potential_2

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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/potentialsquared2/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/potential_2/

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

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

To unleash the potential of all employees in your organization, you need to create an environment where they feel safe enough to offer new ideas, speak up about risks, and bring their unique perspectives. If your culture lacks psychological safety, you could be missing out on opportunities or running headfirst into costly and avoidable risks. 

Today,Minette Norman, speaker, consultant, and co-author of the Psychological Safety Playbook, defines psychological safety and how it's intertwined with inclusivity and trust, and what role empathy plays in creating such a culture. We discuss clear markers of a psychologically safe culture, and what organizations miss out on when they punish dissent, failure, or authenticity. Finally, Minette shares fabulous and actionable ways you can work toward a more psychologically safe culture where your people do their best work. Today's episode is full of so many gems, take a listen.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• If people do not feel psychologically safe, they will not feel like they can speak up. Their amazing ideas will go unheard. Their points of view will go unseen. 
• Disagreement without personal attack is a sign of psychological safety. 
• It is important that leaders are more equipped and trained to have these conversations, with the correct vocabulary and understanding to talk about psychological safety. 

"You don't come into a room and say 'This is a safe environment.' It happens over time when people see repeatedly that there will be no ramifications from speaking up. It takes time, consistency, and practice." —  Minette Norman

Episode References: 

• The Empathy Edge Podcast - Kathy Klotz-Guest - Trust, Improve, & Humor for a More Innovative Culture
• Amy Edmondson - The Fearless Organization
• Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas - Humor, Seriously: Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life

About Minette Norman:

With decades od experience in the software industry, Minette Norman now focuses on developing transformational leaders who create inclusive working environments rooted in psychological safety. Minette has extensive experience leading globally distributed teams and believes that when groups leverage diversity, breakthroughs happen. Before starting her own consultancy she was VP of Engineering Practice at Autodesk, where she transformed how Autodesk developed software. Responsible for more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Minette is a keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, psychological safety in the workplace, and embracing empathy. Named in 2017 as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the 2018 Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognized leader with a unique perspective.

Minette has co-authored he Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human and her second book, The Boldly Inclusive Leader, publishes August 2023.

Connect with Minette Norman:  

Website: https://www.minettenorman.com/

Book: Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human https://thepsychologicalsafetyplaybook.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/minettenorman

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minetten

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

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: 

Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

So much of our inability to connect in the workplace comes down to creating an Us vs. Them mentality when it comes to different generations. Research shows that we have five generations all coexisting in the workplace - so we need to sort this out. Such misunderstandings turn off our empathy and cause us to underperform, feel resentful, or blame others.

Today, you are in for a powerful lesson in Generational Codes. - what they are, why they matter, and how you can leverage them to build bridges with different people. My guest is Anna Liotta, a keynote speaker, leadership facilitator, and generational strategist.  We talk about what generational CODES mean (hint: it's an acronym) and you'll have so many a-ha moments about why different generations do what they do, how they communicate, and what motivates them. We discuss why you may think certain generations are "entitled" or"authoritarian" and why neither is right or wrong. We explore certain phrases that cause particular friction, such as work ethic and respect. You'll discover strategies for communicating better across this generational divide - and leave with a better understanding of each other. This episode is a must-listen for anyone of any age in the workplace who wants to collaborate more effectively for great results. 

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Common sense is not a common thought - it always taps back to someone’s own generational code and how that code was formed in their formative years. This will change from generation to generation. 
• Traditionalist leadership, as a model, came from the military and straight into corporate America. It has created a language that is fight-or-flight, trauma lead leadership. But that is not the only way of leading - younger generations want to be part of the answer and the creation of their corporation.
• Conversation and curiosity are the most important keys to understanding the generational codes of each generation and how those can assist the individuals of your organization. 

"A Generational Code is an algorithm that is running in the background, always informing our actions and reactions about who we trust, what we believe is our right when it comes to how leaders should treat us with empathy or not, who we follow, and who we buy from." - Anna Liotta

About Anna  Liotta, CEO, Keynote Speaker, and Generational Strategist, Resultance, Inc.

Anna is recognized as a top thought leader on generational success -- with a client list that includes Amazon, Bloomberg, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, the PGA, and the NBA.

She is the founder of The Generational Institute™ and is the author of the bestseller, Unlocking Generational CODES©, and in 2021 was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame.

Anna’s most impressive generational credential? She is the youngest girl of nineteen children. This means that every Thanksgiving, graduation, and wedding is a case study in generational communication.

Connect with Anna Liotta:  

Resultance, Inc: https://annaliotta.com

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

Book: Unlocking Generational CODES: Understanding What Makes Generations Tick and What Ticks Them Off

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Is your organization guilty of checkbox diversity? You know, "Let's hire one person from a marginalized group and call it a day on our DEIB efforts?" Today's show explores how to avoid checkbox diversity and leaving out important groups in DEIB strategy to create a meaningful inclusive culture that transforms mindsets, boosts business performance, and allows people to do their best work for you. 

Dannie Lynn Fountain and I talk about how to avoid checkbox diversity, the importance of considering the intersectionality nuances in your DEIB efforts, why you need to strategically invest in your Employee Resource Groups if you want to make the right DEIB moves, and how remote-first companies with asynchronous communication are leading the way for inclusive cultures. You'll also hear the scary wake-up call that COVID is the largest mass disabling event of our time and that potentially one in two people will have some sort of disability that companies must accommodate if they want to attract and more importantly retain the best talent out there.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• For every person that is speaking up, there are dozens that are not. As organizations, we need to be more aware of what our employees need, even when they are unsure if they can speak out. 
• So much of disability is invisible. Remote-first allows for accommodating not only working style but also how much of a person they show you, which can help to reduce bias. 
• Before COVID, 1 in 4 adults had some disability. That number has drastically increased due to the long-term effects of COVID or other directly correlated comorbidities to up to 1 in 2, based on some estimates. 
• So much of what we think as accommodation, we think of as needing to be this rigorous process full of bureaucracy that requires form submissions, and doctor-supporting evidence, when really, it's actually quite simple.

"If you say the current working environment accommodates the extroverted, outgoing, or high-functioning individual, that really puts the word ‘accommodate’ into perspective. Because that's the reality." —  Dannie Lynn Fountain

Episode References: 

• Book: A Woman Makes a Plan by Maye Musk
• Empathy Edge Podcast - Cynthia Owyoung: Diversity and Inclusion Deliver Real Results. But Have We Made Progress? 

About Dannie Lynn Fountain, Staffer at Google: #IamRemarkable Global Inclusion Lead, Author, Keynote Speaker

Dannie Lynn Fountain is a passionate storyteller who helps companies focus on people. By day, she’s a staffer at Google hiring the world’s most talented software engineers and by night she supports clients and brands with HR-focused diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. She’s also a multi-passionate human - beyond working in HR, Dannie Lynn is a five-time author, licensed IRS Enrolled Agent, and founder of the #sidehustlegal movement. She has been interviewed or quoted in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Bustle, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Cosmopolitan, Digiday, The Everygirl, Girlboss, and more. Dannie Lynn’s most recent book is Ending Checkbox Diversity, published October 2022.

Connect with Dannie Lynn Fountain:  

Website: https://www.danniefountain.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dannielynnfount

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

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

Substack: www.livros.substack.com: bookish content / books Dannie’s read / etc

Book: Ending Checkbox Diversity www.checkboxdiversity.com

HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2023/01/should-you-disclose-an-invisible-marginalized-identity-at-work

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

It's 2023 - we had a major global pandemic, geopolitical upheaval, and market ups and downs. So how are we doing when it comes to making the workplace more empathetic and adapting to everything that's hit us? For 8 years, Businessolver, a leader in benefits technology has conducted their State of Workplace Empathy Report. This report has come to be the gold standard in workplace empathy and leadership. And this year? Well, let's just say we have some work to do. In some ways, we've gone backward, with a widening gap between what the C-Suite thinks about its culture and what HR and employees actually experience. Also, HR is burning out.  And as suspected, employees are craving flexibility as a key empathetic benefit. 

Today, Rae Shanahan, who has supported the organic growth of Businessolver from 10 employees to 1500 employees, and I discuss the key findings 2023 State of Empathy Report, what it means for HR and C-suite leadership, where we can continue to be optimistic and push for change, and actionable ways you can close the Empathy Gap in your own organization, regardless of where you sit.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• What is right for one person is not going to be right for another. As a company, understanding what is right for each of your employees, as an individual, is a way in which you can be empathetic. 
• 42% of employees feel their manager has the most impact on building a culture of empathy. More and more organizations are really focused on giving first-level managers training on empathy and caring. 
• Empathy is not about treating people the way you were treated. Gen Z is estimated to make up 27% of the workforce by 2025 and they bring completely new expectations to the workforce, around empathy, DEI, financial wellness, and flexibility.

"96% of employees say flexible working hours is the most empathetic benefit that an employer can offer. That's something that doesn't cost a lot, but you can get a lot of love from employees for offering it." —  Rae Shanahan 

Episode References: 

• 2023 State of Workplace Empathy - 8th annual report
• The Empathy Edge Podcast - Rebecca Friese: How to Build a “Good” Culture
• NPR: Airbnb lets its workers live and work anywhere. Spoiler: They’re loving it

About Rae Shanahan, Chief Strategy Officer, Businessolver

"Seasoned" executive supporting the organic growth of Businessolver from 10 employees to over 1500.  We live the "Businessolver Way" which means we have an intentional guide that defines our core values, core business, operation principles, our "safe" environment, and common language.  We spend each day training and applying the Businessolver way to grow and delight.

Connect with Rae Shanahan:  

Businessolver: https://www.businessolver.com

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/raeshanahan

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

OK, real talk. I have taken a bit of heat over the years for trying to make a business case for empathy. When some folks saw my TEDx talk about how to trick leaders into being empathetic by showing them the benefits to the bottom line, they bristled. "How can you convince people to embrace empathy for selfish reasons?! That's not compassionate at all,’ they said. My perspective has been and will always be that to persuade people to take action, you need to make a case for what's in it for them to change. It's basic human nature. And if it gets them there, they can be transformed from the outside in - and we all benefit.

That's exactly what Andrea Feigl is trying to do. She is making the business case for the private sector to partner with public entities and invest in healthcare. When they do, they cut costs, improve performance - and grow the economy. Andrea calls this a blended finance model and it's working. 

Today, we discuss what blended finance is, what role empathy plays in health impact measurement, and why financing healthcare matters in the impact and finance spaces. We talk about how to measure the impact of healthcare access on companies and the economy, and essentially, how to make the investment case for health, as evidenced recently in blended finance partnerships helping to find and distribute vaccines for COVID.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Blended finance means that you leverage public or philanthropic resources to de-risk investments in healthcare by the private sector. It allows for proper investment and accelerated spending and production of whatever you are trying to produce. 
• While many recognize health as a right (not as a privilege), in the private sector, this is not always the belief and it needs to be communicated in language that aligns with the values of the company or investors can understand and relate to. 
• Putting a $1 value on a health state is not an exact science like measuring a cubic meter of carbon emission. It's informed by our value system. And because it's informed by our value systems, reasonable people will disagree on what that value should be.

"We see that there is value in caring - not just caring about health for health sake, even though that is important - there's value for the economy in caring and investing in health appropriately." —  Andrea Feigl

About Andrea Feigl, CEO, Health Finance Institute

Andrea Feigl, Ph.D. MPH, envisions a world with less suffering from preventable diseases, where every person can live their life with full dignity and reach their fullest potential.

Andrea is the founder & CEO of Health Finance Institute and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University who brings passion and ambition to her work in global health policy, financing, and governance. Outside of her work in healthcare, Andrea is trained as a ballet dancer and holds an international teaching certificate in classical ballet.

Andrea writes and speaks publicly in order to close the knowledge and implementation gap when it comes to global healthcare, especially related to non communicable diseases. She has published reports and papers for Health Policy, the WHO Bulletin, the CUGH Global Health Project of the Year, the Center for Global Development, and WEF/Harvard. Andrea is recognized as the innovator of the Evidenced Formal Coverage Index metric for universal healthcare coverage. 

A native of Austria, Andrea received her Ph.D. in global health from Harvard University, her MPH and BSc (First Class Honors) with a full scholarship from Simon Fraser University in Canada, and her IB from Red Cross Nordic United World College in Norway.

When she is not speaking, dancing, or traveling, Andrea enjoys playing the piano, skiing, and spending time with her son at their home in Washington, D.C.

Connect with Andrea Feigl:

Health Finance Institute: https://healthfinanceinstitute.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_feigl

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/andreafeigl1

The Health Impact Credit Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69apWnX6QlVOC9zqmGYAFq

An article on Blended Finance

https://www.re-solveglobalhealth.com/post/blending-resources-to-fund-the-ncd-fight-in-lmics?utm_campaign=e47f87f0-4d28-449f-af43-0054e0a74dbc&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=75998525-dc6b-407c-9277-a09e873826f5 

The CGD event on assistive technologies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ71XTY7A6I

Last year Skoll Open Forum – recording on solidarity: https://vimeo.com/700668875 

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/