EMPATHY-LED

THE GRIO AGENCY

Empathy-led is a show about empathetic leaders, organizations and brands and for people who aspire to infuse a great dose of empathy into their lives and organizations.  We started this show because our vision at the grio agency is a world with more empathetic leaders, organizations and brands. And we hope that you will come along with us on this journey, and that together we can make the work a more empathetic place. 

  1. 23.06.2023

    THE POWER OF SAYING YES TO LIFE

    Did you know that Kidney Diseases are one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide? I certainly didn’t. Not before my conversation with Steven Rick. Steven is intimately familiar with the devastating effects of kidney diseases. Several of his family members have been affected and continue to battle against this silent killer. Fighting against Kidney Disease is a two-prong problem that Steven and others are working hard to solve. And we should certainly join the fight. First, we need to raise awareness. Second, we need to raise funds for research and kidney care. Over the years, Steven has personally raised £6k for various charities focused on Kidney Diseases. This year, he is raising funds for Kidney Care UK by completing the London Classics. Watch my full conversation with Steven Rick. In this episode, we talked about the power of surrendering by saying YES to life; the importance of #curiosity to help us find our path in life or at least our next step; and of course the role #empathy plays in #education, #marketing and #design. . . . Steven is one of those people that perfectly embody the idea that not all who wander are lost. As he puts it, he’s “going through life just bumbling along” with the curiosity and surrender required to treat life as the adventure that it is. Steven started his first company as a 19 year old, dissatisfied with his professional path and determined to make his own way. Though that first venture failed by all conventional measures, he looks back fondly at that time of his life because of the lessons it taught him. In the aftermath of his failed business venture, Steven read the book Yes Man, which quickly became his life mantra. And thus started a very unconditional career path that includes arts, education, marketing, technology and design. Today, he works as product and service designer for The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), where he has the important responsibility to help people in the engineering industry worldwide acquire the knowledge and skills needed to get us to net zero faster. Steven is also a serial fundraiser for charities focused on Kidney Disease, having personally raised over £6k over the past few years. This year, he is raising funds for Kidney Care UK by completing the London Classics. https://2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse... Empathy- Led EP23/S02

    50 Min.
  2. 12.06.2023

    COMPETITION IS A DISTRACTION

    At the grio agency, we often warn our clients against the dangers of competition. We remind them that when you compete, you often use your competitors as a reference for what you should do, instead of focusing on those you seek to serve and trusting in your own vision. But it would also be foolish to completely ignore other players in your industry. So we advise them to think of their competitors not as enemies but as allies that are out to solve the same fundamental problem for customers. Allies that simply have different points of view, approaches and solutions. We call it Competitive Allyship. Just Her Rideshare is a perfect illustration of Competitive Allyship in action. Kimberly Evans isn't focused on beating her mighty competitors or on building the next unicorn. Her focus is on obsessively and generously serving a segment of the market that, for too long, has been neglected. So this is not a David vs Goliath story. Hers is a story about purpose and community building. Kimberly Evans is a serial entrepreneur, community builder, founder and CEO at Just Her Rideshare , Inc. While many deemed the number of attacks on women using rideshare services concerning but statistically insignificant to justify systemic change, every new story about a woman being attacked or harassed only created more urgency for Kimberly to act. With features like S.O.S, which makes it easy to notify the police or a person of contact when you are in an emergency situation, or Track My Ride, which gives you the ability to share your itinerary with a loved one, Kimberly is committed to giving every woman a safer and more comfortable alternative to ridesharing. And it's not just the riders Kimberly wants to empower. By hiring primarily women drivers, Kimberly's vision is to create a community of empowered women uplifting and looking out for other women. Before starting this company in 2020, she founded three other companies, all while building a career with the United States Postal Service, where she spent 21 years in distribution, client support and management. Empathy-Led EP22/S02 Learn more about Just Her Rideshare https://www.justherrideshare.com/

    47 Min.
  3. 11.06.2023

    THE POWER OF CULTURE

    A few years ago, Grant McCraken made a compelling case for why every company needs a Chief Culture Officer . He argued that, although corporations are often blind and deaf to the world around them, they need to have a better pulse on Culture in order to succeed in this rapidly-changing and interconnected world. His point was that we need people like Michael McConnell who have not only the cultural fluency but also the ability to translate their observations into actionable insights. In this episode, we covered a wide range of topics: the symbiotic relationship brands have with Culture; the power of empathy to connect brands with customers and people to each other; the role responsibility, community and therapy play in our respective healing journeys. Michael McConnell is a brand consultant, innovator, community builder, and wellness advocate. Michael began his career as an intern for Sean Combs, where he learned the true meaning of entrepreneurship. He went on to create his own brand marketing and consultancy firm, the Rebel Camp, helping start-ups and large corporations connect authentically with their desired consumers. He has also taken on he role of head of culture and marketing director for Uncle Waithleys Beverage Company. As an innovator Michael helped raise nearly $30 Million dollars for charity, through Text to Pledge®, which he helped launch. Michael is again at the forefront of innovation and is a founding board member for EquityCoin, a securities token focused on building affordable homes for homeless families. Michael is also a master community builder and outspoken advocate for mental health and wellness. He has dedicated his life to ensuring that people of color get the tools necessary to live full and healthy lives. Empathy-Led, EP21/S02 Learn more about his company The Rebel Camp https://www.therebelcamp.com/

    54 Min.

Info

Empathy-led is a show about empathetic leaders, organizations and brands and for people who aspire to infuse a great dose of empathy into their lives and organizations.  We started this show because our vision at the grio agency is a world with more empathetic leaders, organizations and brands. And we hope that you will come along with us on this journey, and that together we can make the work a more empathetic place.