The Empathy Edge

Balancing performance with human leadership can be tough for some leaders. The goal is to strike a healthy balance, while always remembering that taking thoughtful care of your people, recognizing their unique contributions, and creating an environment where they can thrive can lead to the stellar performance results you seek.

But how would you lead if your title or position didn't give you any power?

Joris Merks-Benjaminsen is a leadership trainer and the award-winning author of Managing Without Power. Joris shares his unique journey at Google, watching the culture and leadership he loved so much shift as his managers changed, and why he’s committed to helping companies capture that early magic and scale it as they grow. We discuss recognizing and respecting your power dynamic while also understanding that the title does not give you power, but consistent, intentional small behaviors will ensure your team will help you meet your goals. Joris shares how to balance people nd performance through the five basics of his interconnected, practical, holistic leadership approach. And he shares how to solicit and take in upward feedback to help you effectively support an employee's journey, ensure high performance, and make tough decisions when needed.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• How managers can shape microcultures and establish team norms.
• Upskilling leaders to avoid conventional traps and pitfalls.
• Providing ongoing support to learning, not just one-time training. 
• The five basics of his interconnected, practical, holistic leadership approach.
• How to solicit and take in upward feedback to help effectively support an employee's journey, ensure high performance, and make tough decisions when needed.

“The problem I see is this balance between human-focused and performance-focused leadership. I regularly meet leaders who think of them as opposites, but you need both of them in a certain balance...in order to create a high-performing team and organization." —  Joris Merks-Benjaminsen

Episode References: 

• Joris’ Book: Managing Without Power: Creating high-performance teams and organizations in your own human way
• How Google Works by  Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
• Google re: Work - Guides: Give feedback to managers https://share.google/nhB0hREQOztuqQwOV

About Joris Merks-Benjaminsen, Leadership Trainer, Author of Managing Without Power:

Joris Merks-Benjaminsen is a leadership trainer and the award-winning author of Managing Without Power. Joris had a leading role in Google's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, and was one of the highest-scoring managers in the company's history. Today, he trains managers and leaders to help find the right balance between humaneness and performance pressure.

Connect with Joris:  

Managing Without Power: www.managingwithoutpower.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joris-merks-benjaminsen-5673384/

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

What happens when you’re standing at a pivot point — the kind where your next move could shift everything for your business, your team, or your career? In those high-stakes moments, success doesn’t come from spreadsheets alone. It requires empathy, emotional intelligence, and even self-compassion.

Kasey D’Amato knows this firsthand. A keynote speaker, executive coach, and strategic advisor, Kasey has guided founders and corporate leaders through major transitions with clarity and resilience. In our conversation, we dug into her four pillars of holistic leadership and how self-regulation shapes better decisions. We explored the “decision threshold,” why every choice has three outcomes, and how to balance head, heart, and gut when the numbers don’t tell the full story. Kasey also shared why grounding yourself is key to hearing other perspectives without defensiveness — and how empathy and self-compassion aren’t soft skills, but strategic advantages when the stakes are high.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Finding the balance of the decision threshold - that point between gathering information and making the decision. 
• Why does every choice have three outcomes?
• The Four Pillars of holistic leadership and how self-regulation shapes better decisions.
• How to balance head, heart, and gut when the numbers don’t tell the full story. 
• Utilizing the Two-Minute rule to move out of indecision.

"I believe it is the critical moments of decision and how you handle your emotional intelligence in those critical moments and pivots that set you up for success, no matter how big your failures are along the way." —  Kasey D'Amato

Episode References: 

• The Empathy Edge Podcast Episode: Ilana Ben-Ari: How the Empathy Toy is Changing the World

About Kasey D'Amato, Business Leader and Holistic Coach:

Kasey D’Amato is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and strategic business advisor who helps business founders and corporate leaders navigate high-stakes decisions and transitions with clarity, confidence, and resilience — without burning out in the process.

With over 20 years of experience across healthcare, entrepreneurship, and business consulting, Kasey brings a unique blend of business acumen, human behavior expertise, and emotional intelligence to her work. She is a former Dermatology PA who went on to launch multiple ventures — including a global skincare brand, a healthcare consulting agency, and an executive leadership advisory.

She’s consulted with Fortune-level companies, led workshops across the healthcare and financial industries, and spoken at major institutions like UCLA, USC, and the University of Miami.

Kasey is known for her dynamic, actionable, and emotionally intelligent approach to leadership — guiding ambitious entrepreneurs and executives to think bigger, lead better, and align their next move with both performance and personal fulfillment.

Connect with Kasey: 

Website: https://www.kaseydamato.com/ 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kasey.damato/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaseydamato/?hl=en 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

What if the problem isn’t that moms are failing—but that we’ve built systems that quietly ask them to do the impossible and then blame them when they struggle?

My guest today, Rebecca Geshuri, sits at the intersection of motherhood, mental health, and compassion in a way that feels deeply needed right now. We talk about why so many moms feel like they’re failing even when they’re doing everything they possibly can. We unpack the crushing mental load, the lack of structural support, and how quickly shame spirals take hold when moms feel they’re “not good enough.”

This is a conversation about empathy, support, and the quiet strength of caregiving—and why taking better care of moms in the workplace and beyond ultimately makes all of us stronger.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why having healthy and supported mothers is key in our organizations and society.
• Lessons businesses and organizations can learn from mothers.
• How to stop assuming and do more noticing and learning about the mothers in your organization.

"Don't count moms out. They’re working their tails off, trying to be everything to everybody, to care for everyone. They have parts of themselves that are planning things and organizing things, and seeing things that don't exist yet. Moms are visionaries and strategists." —  Rebecca Geshuri

Episode References: 

• Book: When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide for Transforming Guilt, Anxiety, and Anger into Compassion, Confidence, and Connectedness  by Jessica Tomich Sorci and Rebecca Geshuri 
• Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
• Second Street Collective: secondstreetcollective.org

About Rebecca Geshuri, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Co-Author, When Good Moms Feel Bad:

Rebecca Geshuri, M.A., PMH-C, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She holds certifications in Internal Family Systems, Perinatal Mental Health, and Brainspotting. Rebecca is the co-author of When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide for Transforming Guilt, Anxiety, and Anger into Compassion, Confidence, and Connectedness.

In addition to seeing moms, their partners, and their babies in her private practice in Campbell, CA, Rebecca teaches workshops to therapists, physicians, doulas, and yoga practitioners. Rebecca is the Founder of Second Street Collective, which provides psychotherapy and support to moms and their families throughout California. She has presented at the IFS Institute and Postpartum Support International conferences and has been featured on several prominent podcasts. Rebecca’s work is grounded in the profound and extraordinary experience of being a mom to three daughters. 

Connect with Rebecca:  

Rebecca Geshuri LMFT: https://rebeccageshurilmft.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-geshuri/

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

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

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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 today’s timely hot take episode in this heavy world, Maria discusses the importance of empathy in leadership during challenging times, emphasizing that emotional connection at work is crucial. She highlights how unaddressed employee emotions lead to disengagement and reduced performance, and offers 3 practical ways for leaders to connect with their employees, regardless of how high their discomfort with emotion.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why emotional connection at work isn’t a “nice-to-have”.
• Why avoiding emotion is actually costing you more. 
• Three practical ways to connect emotionally with your people, even if you’re deeply uncomfortable.

"Empathy isn’t about fixing emotions; it is about acknowledging reality. People don’t need you to fix everything; they need to know they’re not invisible." —  Maria Ross

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 Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

I had to get this urgent episode to you sooner rather than later, given the climate of fear in the U.S. in current times.

For many employees right now, work doesn’t feel like a safe place. It feels uncertain, frightening, and deeply personal. In moments like this, how leaders respond matters more than ever. 

Michelle Feferman has spent decades helping organizations navigate complex DEI and workplace culture challenges in ways that protect people and strengthen the business. 

We talk directly about what leaders can do to support employees in the face of ICE raids and immigration-related fear, how to create real psychological safety at work, and why most DEI efforts are still entirely legal if you’re focused on risk mitigation, clarity, and care.

We also unpack how retention, engagement, and productivity are tightly tied to DEI and empathy work, and the key elements leaders need to think through right now to support their people while capturing the full business benefit.

This is a practical, compassionate conversation for leaders who want to do the right thing without panicking, posturing, or staying silent.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Creating a diverse team that goes beyond old-fashioned quotas.
• Key benefits of having a wide pool of differing viewpoints within your organization.
• Actions to put in place to keep your employees safe and informed about handling ICE raids that could be used as a template for other crises. 
• Tips to create an FAQ that matters 

"If you can take the time now to get these things in place, the majority of people will relax, to some extent, and feel like they can come to work and just focus on work. People will relax more and be much more productive at work." —  Michelle Feferman

Episode References: 

• Michelle's article: It is Imperative to Create Psychological Safety at Work Amidst ICE Raids: https://mfeferman.substack.com/p/12868206_ice-raids-and-psychological-safety
• Book: DO DEI Right: Cut Through the Noise and Drive Lasting Results

About Michelle Feferman, Founder and CEO, Equity at Work, Author of Do DEI Right

Michelle is passionate about helping organizations have a profound impact on their employees, businesses, and communities through their diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She is the Founder and CEO of Equity At Work, known for creating innovative, customized solutions for even the most complex DEI and workplace culture challenges. Her clients outperform their peers in revenue and margin growth, productivity, engagement, and retention.

Michelle is the author of Do DEI Right, co-host of the podcast Your DEI Minute, and on the Investment Committee of RevTech Venture Capital. Before this, she spent 25 years working at Accenture, Kurt Salmon, Macy’s Inc., and The Walt Disney Company.

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 Michelle:

Equity At Work: https://www.equity-at-work.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093183559876

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

Substack: https://mfeferman.substack.com/

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

Internships have changed a lot since COVID, and if done well, they can be powerful tools for both attracting top young talent and fueling your organization’s productivity. But too often, leaders miss the mark, leaving interns underutilized and organizations frustrated.

Amy Mosher Berry shares what's really going on with young professionals today and why mentorship and meaningful work enable your organization to thrive. Amy and I delve into what truly motivates and drives today's young professionals, the biggest mistakes leaders should avoid when hiring interns, and how intergenerational strategies fueled by empathy can enhance collaboration and productivity. We discuss the important role of casual mentorship, how your internship program becomes a marketing strategy, and how effective programs not only benefit interns but also drive your mission and results.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Important facts to know about the rising young professionals.
• Key mistakes to avoid in hiring the right interns.
• The detriments of the purpose gap are with both interns and employees.

"Internships, by law, need to have 51% majority benefit going to the intern. It has to be officially structured with learning objectives, and there needs to be that supportive process." —  Amy Mosher Berry

Episode References: 

Forbes articles: 

• Gen Z And The Empathy Expectation: What Workplace Leaders Need To Know
• 8 Ways Gen Z Can Meet Managers In The Middle And Shine At Work

The Empathy Edge:

• Anna Liotta: Understanding Generational Codes
• Michelle Hoover: Understanding First-Generation Professionals in Your Workplace
• Courage to Advance: Leading Gen Z with Dr. Meisha Rouser
• Rhonda George-Denniston: Why Betting on Your People Leads to Market Domination
• Fact Sheet #71: Government Guidelines for Internships
• Free guide: 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Interns

About Amy Mosher Berry, CEO of Visions Internships:

Amy Mosher Berry is a passionate social entrepreneur with over 20 years of diverse experience in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, including 15 years in workforce innovation, 5 years teaching college, and now as the CEO & Founder of Visions Internships.

Visions Internships primarily helps organizational leaders design and manage customized, impactful internship programs without the overwhelm. Amy's social enterprise also empowers young professionals with the skills and support to succeed.

A certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® with a Master's degree in Community Development and Planning and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies/ Spanish, she enjoys bringing a project management approach to program development for maximum results.

Amy lives in Central MA and is deeply dedicated to Co-Creating a World that Works - especially with her young daughter inspiring her every day.

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 Amy:

Visions Internships: visionsinternships.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amymosherberry

Facebook: facebook.com/visionsinternships

Instagram: instagram.com/visions_internships

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/visionsinternships

INTERNSHIP INSIDER™ Training (IIT): A live virtual 5-week program development course teaches 2-4 key staff members how to design a customized, impactful internship program as part of your organization's overall growth strategy. visionsinternships.com/internship-insider

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

What if creating championship-level performance has far less to do with the team you inherit and everything to do with your own mindset and how you lead, design systems, and set standards from day one? That question came up again and again in my conversation with Donzel Leggett, a leadership strategist, executive coach, and the award-winning author of Make Your Destiny Happen. 

We dive into what leaders can learn from one of the most talked-about leadership turnarounds in sports this season: Curt Cignetti and the remarkable transformation of Indiana Hoosiers football. We unpack why turnaround success isn’t about inheriting the “right” team, it’s about setting expectations, creating belief, and installing systems that allow people to perform at their best. 

With more than three decades of leadership experience at Fortune 200 companies, Donzel helps leaders and organizations build clarity, capacity, and intentional leadership. He’s also a former Academic All-America football player, which makes his perspective on leadership, discipline, and performance especially powerful.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• What leaders need now to stay grounded, adaptable, and effective amid rapid change and disruption.
• How to translate big ideas into repeatable behaviors that actually create change over time.
• Helping individuals take control of their lives and make their destiny happen through life planning and consistent action.

"In most cases, the majority of people have the talent and have the capability. They just need to believe, and they need some tools and some processes to go along with that to allow them to win." —  Donzel Leggett

About Donzel Leggett, Founder, Destiny Development Delta, LLC, and Author, Make Your Destiny Happen:

With more than three decades of leadership experience at Fortune 200 companies, Donzel is the Principal of Destiny Development Delta, LLC, where he focuses on executive leadership development. He is also the award-winning author of Make Your Destiny Happen: Take Control of Your Life with the Destiny Development Delta Model for Transformational Success.

Recognized for his strategic vision and commitment to mentorship, Donzel is passionate about coaching and developing leaders worldwide. His purpose is clear: to help people unlock their full potential and become the best leaders they can be. A proud Purdue graduate and former Academic All-America football player, Donzel now splits his time between Florida and Chicagoland with his wife, Tracy.

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 Donzel:

Destiny Development Delta: destinydevdelta.com

Book: Make Your Destiny Happen

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donzelleggett

Facebook: facebook.com/destinydevdelta

Instagram: instagram.com/donzel_leggett

YouTube: youtube.com/@DonzelLeggett

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

What if everything you believe about advocacy is incomplete? What if the real work of changing the world isn’t just about fixing problems, but about transforming ourselves in the process?

That’s the heart of the work of Sam Daley-Harris, Founder and Principal of Civic Courage, and author of Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy.

This conversation reframes what it means to participate in democracy. It’s not just about agonizing or protesting or turning off the news. It’s about awakening to our own power and using empathy to bridge divides and build the kind of future we actually want. It’s about sharing personal stories, engaging in deep listening and conversation, and making bold asks of leaders and volunteers.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Why sharing your “story of self” matters and how knowing your why becomes your anchor in meaningful leadership and advocacy.
• What transformational advocacy truly is, and why it has the power to change both the issues and the advocates themselves.
• The essential role of empathy in advocacy and the three questions volunteers ask when meeting with an opposing elected official that can turn conflict into connection.
• Why leaders and organizations must move past their fear of asking volunteers to do big, bold things, because that’s where transformation happens.

"Transformational advocacy is where you're trained, encouraged, and succeed at doing things as an advocate that you never thought you could do. When you do those kinds of things, you see yourself differently." —  Sam Daley-Harris

Episode References: 

• Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness by Jamil Zaki
• Citizens Climate Lobby
• Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill McKibben

About Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, Civic Courage, and Author, Reclaiming Our Democracy: 

Sam Daley-Harris started as a symphony musician and then founded the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS in 1980, co-founded the Microcredit Summit Campaign in 1995, and founded Civic Courage in 2012. The paperback edition of his book Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy was named an editor’s pick by Publishers’ Weekly BookLife. Daley-Harris has been interviewed on NPR’s Here and Now and on PBS’s Laura Flanders and Friends.

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 Sam:  

Civic Courage: reclaimingourdemocracy.com 

X: x.com/samdaleyharris 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sam-daley-harris-b8bb796 

Facebook: facebook.com/sam.daleyharris 

Instagram: instagram.com/samdaleyharris 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

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/

What if empathy wasn’t something we talked about, but something we actually trained, practiced, and scaled?

My guest today, Ed Kirwan, is doing exactly that. Ed is the CEO and Founder of Empathy Studios, a creative education organization using the power of film to develop empathy as a real, learnable skill. He’s also the founder of Empathy Week, now the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, reaching more than 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. 

In this conversation, we explore why film is such a powerful catalyst for empathy, what Ed has learned from years of working with students around the world, why empathy is becoming a critical skill in the age of AI, and how developing empathy can boost well-being and help create a better world.

This is a hopeful, practical, and deeply human conversation about what empathy looks like when we stop treating it like a soft skill and start treating it like a core capability.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• The emotional power of film to supercharge feeling and connection.
• Why empathy and related skills are necessary to reap the benefits of AI.
• How humans are adapting, seeking things that are real and authentic, and why making something look worse may actually be better.

"That's the power of film. It can really supercharge emotions; it can supercharge feeling; it can supercharge connection." —  Ed Kirwan

Episode References: 

• Ed Kirwan: Empathy Week: Using the Power of Film to Build Empathy

About Ed Kirwan, CEO and Founder, Empathy Studios

Previously a science teacher in London, Ed founded Empathy Studios, an education and creative organisation using the power of film to develop the skill of empathy in all. A director, filmmaker, and educator for 10+ years, Ed also started Empathy Week, the world’s largest empathy festival for schools, which has reached 1.8 million students across 56 countries since 2020. Their framework for empathy development is backed by the University of Cambridge, and Ed’s team now works across teams and leaders in the business world to help develop and embed the skill of empathy - foundational to high-performing and thriving teams.

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 Ed Kirwan:

Empathy Studios: empathystudios.com 

Empathy Week: empathyweek.org

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ed-kirwan 

Instagram: instagram.com/edkirwan 

YouTube: youtube.com/@Empathy-Studios

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

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

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/

Did you know that 53% of Gen Z, the rising workforce, identifies as neurodivergent? If that’s the future of work, what does it mean for how we lead, collaborate, and connect? It means if we don't learn how to lead for the needs of neurodiverse employees, we could be facing a huge hiring and unemployment gap.

Julia Armet, people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader, is on a mission to humanize work.

Julia shares her own powerful personal journey navigating her own neurodivergence, and we discuss why relationship-building is the heartbeat of modern work. She debunks myths around autism and empathy, and introduces the concept of the “double-empathy problem” - reframing how we see inclusion and communication across differences. 

You’ll also hear why listening to neurodivergent voices elevates everyone, why the outlier is often the source of innovation, not friction, and how empathy can activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Different ways people exhibit and experience empathy. 
• Approaches to unmasking neurodiversity and empowering neuroinclusion.
• What you may be missing/misunderstanding about your autistic coworker’s social differences.
•  The importance of planting new seeds and redefining modern leadership through empathy.
• How to integrate your team’s outliers to unlock greater levels of empathy. 

"Solving for empathy for the most marginalized populations is what's going to actually benefit all populations." —  Julia Armet

Episode References: 

The Empathy Edge podcast: 

• Molly McGrath: Fix My Employee! No, Fix My Boss!
• Parissa Behnia: How Badass Leaders Convert Raw Power into Real Influence

About Julia Armet, Founder of Higher Playbook

Julia Armet, PCC, ELI-MP, is a people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader on a mission to humanize work. As Founder of Higher Playbook, she partners with visionary leaders and progressive organizations to design workplace cultures where all people — and all minds — can thrive.

With a career spanning media, technology, and professional services, Julia brings deep expertise at the intersection of relationship-building, leadership development, and culture transformation. From scaling a mission-driven tech company to leading global leadership programs, she empowers organizations to foster psychological safety, unlock talent potential, and drive culture change.

Through experiential keynotes, leadership retreats, and high-impact workshops, Julia equips leaders with socially innovative approaches and relational strategies to cultivate inclusion and conscious leadership. Her signature programs — Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion — harness the power of empathy to activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

Connect with Julia:

Higher Playbook: higherplaybook.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaarmet 

Facebook: facebook.com/julia.armet 

Instagram: @higherplaybook

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/higherplaybook 

Check out her signature neurodiversity programming: Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion: higherplaybook.com/leadership-programs 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

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