Meet Gina Anderson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gina Anderson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Gina, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

I am inspired when I hear stories about people who find themselves in positions of adversity–whether through conditions they were born into or when they were faced with an insurmountable challenge–and they find a way to overcome the obstacle. They not only survive it but make a life for themselves that is more than anyone, including themselves, thought possible. They rise to the top of their game. To me, these individuals are champions. Concepts that apply to champions can be applied to anyone who struggles with self-limiting beliefs. When you face adversity in your life (all of us can think of at least three) the structure of your brain changes. You do not want to go through these things, but you do and you come up stronger. Significant life experiences impact memory, feelings, and behaviors. In these situations, the body releases cortisol, which can lead to changes in thinking and cognition. By understanding this connection, anyone can be encouraged to overcome hurdles by harnessing the mind. You build empathy for others and can encourage others that they have the power inside of their own brains to thrive.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I own an award-winning learning company(INC 5000 2024 and 2023 Fastest Growing Company) that focuses on transportation and logistics. We help fleets understand the learning science behind how we remember information and the psychology supporting changing behaviors. When you have people driving 80,000 pound trucks it does not have to take a split second for our minds to wander and could be life or death. It is not about teaching them more generic content but connecting with them on an authentic level. They report being stressed and depressed and then they get into one of these vehicles. Luma Brighter Learning helps fleet safety professionals implement learning through our learning management system that connects both the heart and the mind while using data to inform us on behavior changes.

I am the author of the best-selling book neuroscience on Amazon, Thrive: How Learning Can Ignite a New Way Forward and a contributing author to the best-selling book Perspectives on Invisible Illnesses. Recognized as a thought leader in learning and an Inc. contributing author, I am also the creator and host of the I Love Learning podcast, where leaders from around the world share what motivates them to learn. I hold a Doctor of Education in instructional systems technology from Indiana University, where I also minored in learning science. I have a passion for helping people learn.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Resilience, Grit, and Love Starting, running, and owning a business is not easy. You do not get a day off. But when you find your true self and what is at the core of your passion and true being it helps you get through the tough days. For me that is love. In the darkness moments, I can close my eyes and harness the warmth of love. I give that energy to anyone that needs it. We all need it. Everyone has to understand that the power to thrive is actually inside of them. They hold the power. They just have to unleash it. I write specific strategies to help in my book

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When you feel overwhelmed you have to stop. Close your eyes. You have to breathe. Deep breathe in and long exhales out. You have to ground yourself back into the present moment and focus on your breath. Feel love flow throughout you. Tell yourself that you are strong. Tell yourself that you’ve got this. Hug yourself. You have to take in the smells and sounds around you. Be silent. Be still but breathe because at the end of the day no matter what you can always go back to your breath.

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