“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.” – Mohsin Hamid
We believe empathy is one of the most important ingredients enabling effectiveness and so we connected with some amazing folks to ask them about the conditions that allowed them to develop into such empathic leaders.
Laila Contractor
Developing empathy has been a transformative journey for me, shaped by a combination of personal experiences and deliberate efforts to understand others deeply. One of the most significant conditions that allowed me to develop empathy was my early exposure to diverse perspectives. Growing up in a multicultural environment, making several trips to India (where my family is from), and traveling to other places around the world (due to my father’s penchant for travel), I interacted and connected with people from so many different backgrounds. It all taught me to appreciate and respect different viewpoints and experiences. Read more>>
Kemp Lyons
When I was seven years old, my parents sat me and my sisters down to tell us we were moving from Orlando, Florida to rural New Jersey. I went running to my room crying. When I was eleven years old, my parents sat me and my sisters down to tell us we were moving from rural New Jersey to Ann Arbor, Michigan. By the time I was thirteen years old, and my parents sat me and my sisters down to tell us we were moving to Albuquerque, I’d kinda gotten used to the rhythm. Read more>>
Michael Nguyen
Growing up as the only son to Vietnamese refugees, moving around the country every few years due to my mom climbing the corporate ladder and escaping systemic racism and sexism with each move, and coming to terms with my same-sex attraction at a time where the US government allowed gay and bi men die without treatment for HIV/AIDS in the 80s and 90s were the conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy. Read more>>
Alexandria Wilson
Growing up in a large family with seven siblings living under one roof developed my sense of empathy. The dynamics of such a full household demanded discipline, patience, and an awareness of each other’s needs. Having a large family also meant higher costs, making it challenging to afford the private Christian school my parents wanted us to attend. Read more>>
Danielle McCarthy
I was a victim of a Body Broker scheme in which my deceased husband’s body was dismembered and sold without my knowledge. I was an extremely empathetic individual prior to this experience, yet while traversing the many years of open trauma and grief, I developed an event deeper, more intuitive empathy. Read more>>
Khristopher Fields
The conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy were deeply intertwined with my personal experiences and reflections on the generational impacts that shaped my life. Growing up in Greenspoint, an inner-city neighborhood in Houston, I faced numerous challenges, including limited access to positive role models, stigmatization, and personal struggles. These experiences, though difficult, provided me with a profound understanding of adversity and the importance of support and encouragement. Read more>>
Danielle Leverett
I was born an empath, but for years, didn’t know it. As a child, I was always deeply affected by the emotions and experiences of those around me, even if I didn’t fully understand why. I felt a strong connection to others’ pain and joy, which often left me feeling overwhelmed. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized these feelings were a reflection of my innate empathy. Read more>>
