“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.
Karen Garcia
As a child, I was heavily influenced by NASA’s Space Shuttle program. We often traveled to Cape Canaveral, Florida, to watch the shuttles take off, and I felt such hope and excitement in watching the possibilities of humanity. I felt connected to the space program my whole life, and when I had the incredible opportunity to meet Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, he said one comment that solidified that connection. He quoted Carl Sagan, saying, “We are star stuff,” and talked about how we are all made of the same elements and we are deeply connected to the universe and each other. Read More>>
Jillian Lauren
My empathy has been built over years of experiencing a lot of life in condensed periods, not always by choice. The resilience, adaptability and acceptance that were born out of each situation and circumstance led way to an increased sense of empathy for people around me and the unique experiences that they held. I have always been a nonjudgmental person and aimed to understand the intention over the action of people. Read More>>
David DeGrand
I feel my parents are vastly responsible for how I developed my empathy. My dad was a nursing home administrator, so from an early age I saw how he would go out of his way and do all that he could to help the elderly and make their remaining years as comfortable as possible. Read More>>
Veronica Anile
I developed a deep sense of empathy very early on. I was born in Mexico in extreme poverty. I was abandoned by my mother after birth and raised by my sweet abuelita. At the age of 6 years old my mother returned to kidnap me and smuggled me into El Paso, Texas, USA, where I lived a life filled with sexual abuse and terror. At the age of 15 I ran away. My life has been extremely hard. I found drugs and experienced homelessness along with many other hardships. I like to say that I am an expert at everything that can go wrong in life. It is for that reason that I feel empathy for others because I too may have experienced their suffering at some point in my life. Read More>>
Dr. Leslie Davis
Growing up as an only child and living with a single mom, I spent a lot of time alone. I always wanted the experience of living with siblings and having a big sister. Coincidentally, my friends all came from large families, which provided me insight to what it was like to be part of a traditional family. But as an outsider, my experience with these families often left me with questions. I often found myself asking “why” in relation to human behavior, and I believe my questioning positions me to approach others with empathy. My empathetic existence creates a safe space for individuals to share pieces of their hearts with me and opens doors to their healing. It’s not unusual for strangers to tell me their life story or to share their struggles with me. I believe it’s my intention to listen with understanding that connects with the pain in souls of the broken hearted. Read More>>
JODY
Whew, this is such a good question. Experiencing the sudden death of my mother, homelessness, and poverty are just a few things that really expanded my sense of empathy. My traumas sent me to therapy and it was in therapy that I learned about myself & others. As I learned about others & expanded my perspective, I was able to really “see people” & possess grace for them – the same grace I needed as I was going through my own storms. Read More>>
Yayi Dia
I developed my sense of empathy by maintaining the ideology that anything can happen to anyone (which is true!). Growing up, my home and social lives were in some of the toughest conditions. From losing my brother to experiencing a major mental health decline, I knew then that not only can my life change at the blink of an eye but also that my hardships are not unique to me. I had always been aware of life happening to everyone, but I did not feel for them until it was me that life was happening to. Read More>>
Sole Bovelli
I think the more stories I read or understand, the more I see myself grow internally. Having empathy for all human beings, even the ones I used to be quick to judge has helped me see the world differently and with a lot of empathy. Read More>>
