TEDx speaker, EQ coach, and author Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller joins Serena to challenge the myth that empathy is a “soft” extra. She shares her journey from French horn professor to empathy-in-leadership researcher after a toxic workplace experience, then breaks down the different types of empathy and how leaders actually apply them—especially in tough conversations and high-pressure environments.

Key Takeaways

• Empathy is multi-dimensional. Beyond “I feel what you feel,” leaders can (and must) use cognitive empathy (perspective-taking) and self-empathy (self-awareness and reflection). These forms help you understand others even without shared experiences.
• Empathy takes work—and courage. Many avoid it because stepping into someone’s world can be uncomfortable; only about a third will choose the empathy-requiring path.
• The “dual-route” model matters. Emotional empathy is fast and instinctive; cognitive empathy is slower and chosen. Effective leaders use both.
• Boundaries ≠ lack of empathy. Self-empathy means knowing your capacity and keeping boundaries so you can truly show up for others.
• Kind vs. nice. Empathy isn’t people-pleasing. It may require hard conversations (e.g., honest performance feedback) done with care so people can grow.
• Business case: When leaders genuinely employ empathy, productivity, innovation, and profit rise; performative “buzzword” empathy backfires and erodes trust.
• Empathy first, then EI tools. Consider empathy the precursor that helps you choose the right emotional-intelligence skill for the moment.
• Start with self-empathy. You can’t sustain empathy for others without it.

Practical Takeaways for Introverted & HSP Leaders

• Use cognitive empathy prompts in 1:1s: “What might this look like from their side?” (choose to perspective-take).
• Check capacity before deep talks: if depleted, set a boundary and reschedule—this is self-empathy in action.
• Replace “nice” with “kind + clear”: deliver honest feedback that enables growth; skip people-pleasing.
• Lead with empathy, then select the EI tool (communication, motivation, etc.) that fits.

Memorable Quote

“Empathy is not always very nice—but it’s always kind.”

About the book

The Empathic Leader: How EQ via Empathy Transforms Leadership for Better Profit, Productivity, and Innovation — a primer on what empathy is (and isn’t) and how to apply it in today’s AI-shaped workplaces.

Next Steps

FIND OUT MORE about Melissa’s work:
https://eqviaempathy.com/

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WORK WITH SERENA:
I help introverted professional women be visible and valued without performing extroversion.

Book a private Zoom call HERE.

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

What happens when an introverted woman steps into one of the most male-dominated industries and learns to stand tall in her quiet strength?

In this inspiring conversation, I speak with Dione Chan, a Filipino-Australian business owner, keynote speaker, and director of ICP Group Australia. From growing up shy with severe eczema to finding her voice in the security industry, Dione’s story is one of courage, resilience, and redefining what it means to lead as an introvert.

She shares how a viral encounter with rapper Drake became the catalyst for teaching others about boundaries and self-respect, and how her SAFE framework (Scan, Acknowledge, Find, Engage/Escalate) is helping introverts and women hold their ground with quiet confidence.

This episode is full of practical wisdom for anyone who has ever struggled with people-pleasing, cultural conditioning, or the fear of speaking up.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Dione transformed childhood shyness and self-doubt into resilience and leadership
• The surprising lessons she learned from working in the security industry as an introverted woman
• Why setting boundaries is essential—and how to do it with compassion
• How cultural upbringing and people-pleasing patterns can hold introverts back
• The power of healthy anger and why it’s necessary for self-protection
• Dione’s SAFE framework for handling challenging situations with clarity and courage
• Why putting yourself first is not selfish, but essential for authentic leadership
  
  

About Dione Chan

Dione Chan is a Filipino-Australian business owner, keynote speaker, and director of ICP Group Australia. With experience across safety, security, and training, she has built a career in spaces where women are rarely seen. Drawing on her own journey from self-doubt to self-leadership, Dione now speaks and teaches on boundaries, resilience, and quiet confidence—helping others become their own first responders.

Instagram: @that_security_lady

Facebook: @That Security Lady

LinkedIn: Dione Aaliyah Chan

Website: www.icpgroupaustralia.com.au

Next Steps

If you’re ready to become visible without acting extroverted, follow me on LinkedIn for introvert-friendly strategies to grow your career.

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

In this episode of The Quiet Warrior Podcast, Serena interviews Simon Copsey, a delivery and transformation consultant who helps organisations solve complex problems through scientific thinking and modern management theory.

Simon shares his journey from software developer to consultant and opens up about experiencing imposter syndrome when stepping into advisory and leadership roles. Together, they explore how introverts and quiet achievers can thrive in consulting environments that require communication, relationship-building, and collaboration across different personalities and levels of seniority.

A central theme of the conversation is the Theory of Constraints, a practical framework for clarifying organisational goals, identifying obstacles, and making assumptions visible so teams can work together more effectively.

This episode highlights the importance of trust, curiosity, and understanding different perspectives at work — especially for introverted professionals who prefer thoughtful, reflective approaches to problem-solving.

Key message:

People are good. They act for a reason. And curiosity creates connection, clarity, and influence.

As Simon says:
“Be curious before furious.”

Connect with Simon Copsey:

Landing page: https://curiouscoffee.club/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncopsey/

For insights that light up your career and relationships without forcing you to change who you are:

Subscribe to The Visible Introvert newsletter: https://serenalow.com.au

Help more introverts find The Quiet Warrior Podcast by rating and writing a review:

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-quiet-warrior-podcast-with-serena-low/id1635834564

Thank you for your support!

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions