How do we even start creating a more empathetic society? Even more specifically, what is our own personal role and responsibility in enriching the world? 

These are just two of the questions that I talk about with my guest, community builder, innovation expert and author Amy Wilson on today’s episode. Creating a more empathetic society starts with all of us taking action, but it also requires leaders who understand and value this duty as well. If we want systems or organizations to change, we need to get innovative about new solutions and new definitions of power - but it also requires a pledge for all of us, as leaders, to act with integrity, equity, and honesty. Stay tuned for a great conversation with actionable items that we all can do today. 

Key Takeaways:

• There are four things that need to be brought together with empathy: dignity, curiosity, equity, and humility. 
• When it comes to awareness, there is no silver bullet solution, but rather a million approaches that can be taken. 
• Globalization is realizing that we have shared power. Power is a currency that you can give to people at different times. 

"We're at a crossroads right now. We either go down the path of narcissism, of power over people, or the path of empathy and giving up power and giving agency to the people to change the world around them. We have to make this decision soon." —  Amy J. Wilson

About Amy J. Wilson: 

Amy J. Wilson is a community builder, movement maker, and an empathy advocate. 

Her journey to sparking change started in AmeriCorps, leading a project to rebuild 50 homes in four months in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. She was a chief architect of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Building a Culture of Innovation movement, which transformed the 100-year old firm. Amy later served for three years as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow, where she created a shared language and led a movement for innovation and change in government. In her debut book, Empathy for Change: How to Create a More Understanding World, she hopes to inspire others to embrace kindness to enrich the world. In her free time, she enjoys baking pies, traveling internationally, and telling stories.

We talked about how her past experience as a public entrepreneur framed her thinking on empathy, why the AmeriCorps pledge is so important for today’s leaders, and Empathy Deficit Disorder, which may be why it’s so hard for us to speak truth to power.

Connect with Amy:  

Website: www.amyjwilson.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amyjwilson

Twitter: twitter.com/RealAmyJWilson

Instagram: instagram.com/realamyjwilson

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’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.com

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

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

In today’s episode, I get to welcome back attorney, DE&I strategist and executive leadership coach M.E. Hart for  an important conversation about how to have honest conversations in our personal and professional lives. We are living in a time of difficult, long overdue conversations around racism, social justice, gender equality, and so much more that have a real impact in the workplace and in our daily life. Today we crack open what marks this hard and how to broach these conversations in an empathetic, healthy way that respects the lived experiences of all involved. 

Key Takeaways:

• Hard conversations make us all uncomfortable. We need to learn to be comfortable in that discomfort. 
• Having honest, open conversations at work can be difficult and may need to be approached differently depending on your work culture and commitment as a leader. 
• From an empathy standpoint, it is really important for us to recognize that people are taking their own journeys in their own way. 

"When you open the door to honest conversation, you will find that people are often hungry to talk about things, as long as they know they can do it confidentially and that you have a level of respect and can accept their answer without judgment." —  M.E. Hart

About M.E. Hart:

M.E. Hart, JD - Attorney, DE&I Strategist, Master Facilitator, and Executive Leadership Coach. 

M.E. Hart (who goes by Hart), JD brings a unique blend of training experiences – and expertise as an attorney, professional actor, and certified executive coach – to the design and delivery of highly effective learning solutions in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Hart balances “life experience” with cutting edge research to teach critical communications, management and leadership skills that are unmatched in the adult-learning field.

His career has taken him into Fortune 500 companies across the US, and to interesting parts of the world. Hart has helped bridge cultural differences in Moscow and Ukraine; worked with global industry leaders in Belgium; conducted “emergency interventions” for organizations in crisis; produced interactive satellite and videoconference training for members of the federal judiciary; produced award-winning educational broadcast television programming; provided one-on-one executive coaching in the technology, finance, energy, and telecommunications sectors; and led interactive learning events on diversity, feedback & coaching, conflict management and many other topics.

Hart received his BA in Russian Language and Literature and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He also completed the Senior Executive Leadership Certificate Program at Georgetown University. Hart is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Emotional Competency Inventory and has consulted using many other organizational assessment tools. He is committed to working with organizations to create inclusive, creative and innovative cultures that empower people to accomplish their desired business goals while living their values.

Connect with Hart:   

Hart Learning Group website: HartLG.com

Twitter: twitter.com/corporatepoet

Poetry: hartofapoet.com

Thriver’s Quest Book: amazon.com/Thrivers-Quest-M-Hart/dp/1618460552

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’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.com

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

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

In today’s episode, I talk to Don Mamone, whose long career in hospitality instilled in him the importance of customer service and relationship marketing. Don and his wife, Emily, run a successful photography studio based on the people first, then profit philosophy. Throughout this episode, we discuss what people first, then profit really means, and practical ways in which you can implement it in your business. We talk about redefining profit and identifying how you measure your wealth. We also talk about the importance and the value of relationship marketing, as you create, build and scale your business, and how you create unforgettable experiences for your customers.

Key Takeaways:

• People first, then profit, is not correlative, it’s causal. You won’t be successful unless you understand that if you put people first, the profit will come.
• Sales is the perfect alignment of your brand proposition and your client’s wants and needs.
• You can differentiate yourself on a playing field by elevating yourself outside of the competition by HOW you do what you do.

"When you create a brand people love, you take someone on an emotional journey and they become fully committed to you  - then loyalty and championing come as second nature." —  Don Mamone

About Don Mamone:

Relationship Marketer, Speaker, Eduator

Don's decade-long career in hospitality culminated with his role as the Director of Events for the world-renowned Beverly Hilton. His time in this fast-paced high-profile career instilled in him the importance of customer service and relationship marketing.

Determined to pursue a life-long passion, Don and his wife Emily opened their photography studio 14 years ago guided by and based largely on these principles learned on the front lines of hospitality. Creating an award-winning studio photographing from Dallas to destinations around the world, The Mamones are confident their success is due in no small part to their People First, Then Profit philosophy.  As a relationship marketer, speaker, educator coach, and catalyst, Don is dedicated to helping business owners and entrepreneurs employ his proven tactics to crush their goals faster and with less work.

Connect with Don Mamone:  

Twitter: twitter.com/donmamone

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donmamone

Facebook: facebook.com/donmamone

Instagram: instagram.com/donmamone

People First Then Profit Podcast: peoplefirstthenprofit.com

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’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.com

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

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice