“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus for creating change.” – Max Carver
We think Max Carver got it right and that if we truly care about community building and making positive changes in the world, we have to invest in learning about how to become even more empathic as empathy is at the heart of true understanding. We asked some deeply empathic leaders to share their perspectives below.
Mona Kumar
Empathy is one of the key skills required of a good therapist. There are others too, such as being a good listener, asking exploratory questions, and picking up on unconscious themes. However, in the absence of empathy, you risk either missing your client’s subjective experience or projecting your own onto it. Empathy is the ability to feel what your client feels about a given situation, not what you would feel if you experienced it. Read more>>
Erin Wing
I believe my background truly did shape my perspective and personality quite a bit. My family experienced generational poverty and trauma. I was raised by a single mother in low-income communities and sometimes dangerous environments. As the oldest of my two siblings, I needed to serve as a parental figure to them and eventual financial provider once I came of age to work and earn money to support our household. Read more>>
Cory Cofer
I’m from a modest background. Like many, I was compelled to overcome adversity. I watched my mom, who at times was a single mother while raising us. I witnessed her magic in making something out of nothing and more out of something. I attended several schools and made constant adjustments to new surroundings that made it difficult to establish relationships. Read more>>
Taaj Jones
Growing up, I often felt misunderstood or that people didn’t care to fully understand me (my opinions, decisions, desires, struggles, etc.). That feeling was so disappointing especially when it was somoene close to me like a parent or a long-time friend. I assumed those were the people in your life who would actually take the time and have the interest in wanting to understand who you are in all aspects. Read more>>
Reva Banka
I would say, empathy is what drives a lot of my thoughts and actions. I grew up in a very protected environment as a child. When I got married, I moved to USA only a few months after that. Unfortunately, in a year after moving to USA I met with a massive sky diving accident. That accident shaped a lot of who I am today. When I met with the accident in a foreign land, I only had my husband here. Read more>>
Alison Allard-Papion
I grew up between two very complicated environments. My father was abusive, but as a child, I felt like the trauma I experienced was my fault. My mother had a lot on her plate and didn’t recognize what was happening. I grew up between their households and felt very withdrawn a lot of the time. As an adult, I found myself in a toxic marriage, again feeling like it was my fault. Read more>>
Ackeem Kipp
In the dynamic narrative of The Black Currency, the conditions that allowed us to develop our empathy are deeply rooted in our cultural pride, personal narratives, and an unwavering commitment to justice. As proud African-Americans hailing from Brooklyn, New York, with Caribbean/West Indian heritage, our journey reflects the transformative force of empathy propelling our entrepreneurial voyage. Read more>>
Nia Bellona
There are two major events in my life that led me to become a more empathetic person. The first was when I was hit in the head with a soccer ball in 7th grade, resulting in me developing what my neurologist called “complicated migraines”; I would very frequently lose feeling in one of my arms and half of my face and then have horrific, seemingly unending pain. I was very athletic, healthy and happy before this happened. Read more>>
