Most people think empathy means agreeing with someone. But often, it simply means understanding what they’re feeling — and why.

Scott Annan sits down with psychologist Dr. Dana Ackley for a grounded conversation about what empathy actually is — and what it isn’t. Drawing on decades at the intersection of psychology and leadership, Dana explores how emotional intelligence shapes the way leaders listen, make decisions, navigate conflict, and build trust.

The discussion moves from brain science to everyday leadership moments, showing how empathy can transform not only workplace culture, but the way we relate to people across differences.

Dr. Dana Ackley is a psychologist who has spent more than five decades helping people understand themselves and each other. Through his work with leaders and organizations, he focuses on the practical skills of emotional intelligence — and how empathy can turn human connection into a real advantage.

You’ll Hear

• Why empathy is understanding someone — not agreeing with them

• How other people’s emotions function as data for better leadership decisions

• The balance between empathy and assertiveness in creating true win-win outcomes

• How “conflict entrepreneurs” manipulate emotions — and why empathy helps us see through it

Leaders who want to build stronger relationships, navigate disagreement with clarity, and lead people with empathy without losing their voice.

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who leads with heart — or is learning how to.

Some businesses begin with a pitch deck. This one began with two parents trying to feed their child — and sitting inside the fear of not knowing how.

Scott creates space for a conversation about empathy as something lived, not branded. Alex shares how personal need, grief, care, and love shaped not just a product, but the way he leads people, builds trust, and makes decisions when the stakes feel real.

Alex Abelin is a founder, a partner, and a father who builds from lived experience. His voice carries the perspective of someone who has felt vulnerability firsthand — and let it guide how he shows up in business, family, and leadership.

• How a moment of parental fear became the foundation for a company

• Why empathy starts with listening — not convincing

• What leading with heart looks like when pressure and uncertainty rise

• How care, presence, and long-term thinking shape workplace culture

• Why inclusion matters more than being “right”

For leaders, founders, and parents who want to build something meaningful without leaving their humanity behind.

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who leads with heart — or is learning how to.

Some of the most meaningful lessons about leadership don’t come from boardrooms. They come from how we’re raised, how we listen, and how we choose to care when it would be easier not to.

In this opening episode, Scott creates space for a deeply personal conversation about empathy as a lived practice, not a concept. Scott and Lois explore how empathy shapes culture, trust, and long-term success — in business and in life — when it’s treated as something personal, intentional, and real.

Lois Krasilovsky brings a lifetime of lived empathy — shaped by family, work, and relationships — into how she leads people and serves customers. Her perspective is grounded, human, and earned through years of paying attention to what people actually need.

You’ll Hear

• Why empathy is learned through example, not instruction

• How listening — real listening — changes how people work together

• What it looks like to build trust through care, honesty, and attention to detail

• Why love, joy, and customer loyalty are not separate from business results

For leaders, founders, and team builders who want to create workplaces rooted in empathy, trust, and human-centered leadership — and who believe culture is personal.

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who leads with heart — or is learning how to.