An Interview With Cynthia Corsetti
Deeper connections: Empathy allows you to connect with your team on a human level. While operating the law practice, there was a paralegal who was extremely capable but hesitant to take on more responsibility. Instead of simply pushing her to do more, I took the time to understand her concerns and listened to her aspirations. By showing her that I genuinely cared about her growth and challenges, she gradually gained the confidence to step up, eventually taking on a leadership role within the firm. Empathy built that bridge, fostering trust and deeper connection.
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, is increasingly recognized as a pivotal leadership trait. In an ever-evolving business landscape, leaders who exhibit genuine empathy are better equipped to connect, inspire, and drive their teams towards success. But how exactly does empathy shape leadership dynamics? How can it be harnessed to foster stronger relationships, improved decision-making, and a more inclusive work environment? As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kamini Wood.
Kamini Wood is a bestselling author, speaker, human potential coach, and host of the popular RiseUp — Live Joy Your Way podcast. In her client work, Kamini focuses on helping high achievers overcome imposter syndrome and social anxiety, release trauma, break through limiting beliefs, build confidence, set boundaries, address eating disorders, money mindset, conscious uncoupling, and more.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about empathy, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Growing up in a small Connecticut town as a first-generation American with immigrant parents, I navigated the complexities of identity and belonging. Feeling the pressure to blend in and seek external validation, I excelled academically and in helping others, driven by the belief that hard work equaled acceptance.
Becoming a mother of five while pursuing a career as a certified project manager, I realized my identity was externally defined. Raising high-performing young adults, I recognized people-pleasing behaviors in my children and felt a deep calling to reclaim my authenticity and self-leadership.
Seeking to realign with my true self, I embarked on self-discovery and self-validation. Becoming a certified life coach, I dove into my self-work, learning to honor my feelings and emotions without judgment. Through self-compassion and self-love, I evolved into my self-leader.
Today, as CEO and Founder of Live Joy Your Way and AuthenticMe® Life Coaching, I empower high-performing adults and young adults struggling with self-doubt and the need for external validation. My mission is to help others recognize their true value and stop outsourcing their self-worth.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
One of my career’s most interesting and impactful stories happened early on, when I was starting out. The concept of my business was unconventional to some, and plenty of people questioned whether it would succeed. I faced doubts not just about the viability of my concept but also about my ability to make it work. People questioned the foundation of what I was building, and at times, it felt like they were trying to diminish my vision before I even had a chance to start. Even after I was running my business, they would try to project doubts and criticisms.
Yet, time and time again, my clients would reflect on the deep support, understanding, and transformation they experienced through our work together. These moments were incredibly affirming, as they showed me that my impact was real and meaningful despite the external doubts and criticisms. It was a powerful reminder that people will judge, question, and even try to hold you back, but when you lead yourself and stay true to your values and vision, you create the path to your success.
This experience reinforced a core belief of mine: that being your self-leader is not just about guiding others but about guiding yourself through the noise, the doubts, and the challenges. It’s about trusting in your purpose and having the courage to keep moving forward, even when others can’t see the potential that you do. This self-leadership has been crucial to my journey, and it’s something I strive to instill in every client I work with.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
The deep, genuine connection I build with each of my clients makes my company stand out. It’s about offering guidance and creating a space where people feel truly seen and understood. I’ve had clients describe me as being like a Jedi — how I engage is so connected and sincere. They’ve shared that working with me doesn’t feel like they’re being pathologized or put into a box, which I take great pride in.
One story that highlights this is a client who came to me feeling stuck and overwhelmed. They were used to being analyzed and judged in other settings, which made them hesitant to open up. But as we worked together, they felt safe enough to explore their challenges without fear of being labeled. One day, they told me, “You’re like a Jedi. How you connect with me is like you’re guiding me to my own answers. I don’t feel judged — I feel understood.”
That’s exactly the experience I strive to create — one where people don’t just feel supported but empowered to figure out what they need to move forward. It’s about holding space for them in a compassionate and transformative way, helping them tap into their own strength and clarity. That’s what makes my company unique, and it’s why my clients can experience the deep, lasting change they’re seeking.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
As a business leader, three character traits have been instrumental to my success: humility, commitment, and resilience. Each of these traits has profoundly influenced my journey and the impact I strive to make through my work.
1. Humility
Humility is the foundation that keeps me grounded. For me, humility is genuinely wanting to see others succeed and feel they matter. This mindset has been key in building a business centered on service. I’m not in this for my notoriety or glory — my focus is empowering others and helping them achieve their potential.
Example: From the beginning, I’ve leaned into this desire to serve others, prioritizing my clients’ success over my recognition. Once, a client told me how impactful it was to feel truly seen and valued in our sessions. They felt I wasn’t just guiding them but was genuinely invested in their growth and well-being. This reinforced that humility is about creating a space where others can thrive, and that by focusing on service rather than self, I’ve been able to build a business that genuinely makes a difference.
2. Commitment
Commitment is what drives me to stay the course, no matter the challenges or obstacles that arise. It’s about being unwavering in my dedication to my vision and the people I serve. My commitment to my clients, mission, and values has been a key factor in my ability to build a successful business.
Example: There was a time when the concept behind my business faced significant skepticism. People questioned whether my approach would work, and it would have been easy to second-guess myself. However, my commitment to my vision and to making a difference for my clients kept me moving forward. I stayed true to my path, knowing that the impact I was striving for was worth the effort. That commitment has paid off as my clients experience profound transformation and success, validating my chosen journey.
3. Resilience
Resilience is the trait that has allowed me to bounce back from setbacks and keep my focus on the bigger picture. It’s about adapting to challenges and finding ways to turn them into opportunities for growth. Resilience isn’t just about surviving difficult times — it’s about thriving despite them.
Example: A few years ago, I encountered a significant challenge that threatened to derail my progress. Instead of letting it defeat me, I leaned into my resilience, reassessed my approach, and found new ways to move forward. This experience strengthened my resolve and helped me develop new strategies that have become integral to my work. It was a powerful reminder that resilience transforms challenges into stepping stones for success.
These three traits — humility, commitment, and resilience — have shaped my success and become core to guiding my clients. They remind me daily that the path to success is not a straight line but a journey that requires continual learning, unwavering dedication, and the ability to rise stronger from every setback.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.
Leadership often involves making tough decisions, especially when facing two seemingly good paths. For me, it’s about realigning with my core values and making the choice that is most aligned with those values. One of the most challenging decisions I’ve faced as a leader was when I started my business. At the time, I had built a law practice from the ground up and had put in the sweat equity, and continuing down that path seemed like a secure and logical choice.
However, this idea, this calling, kept pulling at my heart. It was a vision to create something that felt deeply aligned with who I am — a business that was about more than just success on paper but about making a real impact in people’s lives. I knew that pursuing this new path would mean stepping away from the law practice I had worked so hard to build and taking a significant risk, both professionally and personally.
Ultimately, I had to decide what was most important to me. I leaped to follow that heart-driven step, even though it meant leaving behind the security and familiarity of my previous career. This decision was shaped by my commitment to living authentically and staying true to my values, even when it wasn’t the easiest choice.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. How do you define empathy in a leadership context, and why do you believe it’s a vital trait for leaders to possess in today’s work environment?
Empathy in a leadership context is about leading others by truly seeing them as whole people — human beings, not just human doings. It’s about recognizing the full spectrum of who they are beyond just their roles or job titles. Empathic leadership involves leaning into emotional intelligence, actively listening to understand rather than just responding, and leading through a lens of safety and support rather than dictation.
In today’s work environment, this approach is more vital than ever. People are no longer willing to burn out or sacrifice their well-being for productivity — they can’t afford to. They need leaders who understand that success isn’t just about hitting targets, but about fostering an environment where they feel valued, understood, and supported as individuals. When leaders lead with empathy, they create a culture where people can thrive, innovation flourishes, and collective success is built on trust and mutual respect. This is the kind of leadership that not only sustains organizations but propels them forward in a meaningful and sustainable way.
Can you share a personal experience where showing empathy as a leader significantly impacted a situation or relationship in your organization?
When I was running operations director, I had a pivotal experience that solidified my belief in the power of empathic leadership. There was a paralegal on our team who was incredibly capable but seemed to be holding back from fully stepping into her potential. In the past, I might have taken a more directive approach — telling her exactly what needed to be done and how to do it. But instead, I decided to lead with empathy.
I took the time to listen to her, to understand her aspirations, concerns, and what might be holding her back. Through these conversations, it became clear that she needed direction, trust, and support to step into a larger role. I started encouraging her to take on more responsibility at her own pace, letting her know I believed in her abilities and supported her.
Over time, she not only met those expectations but exceeded them. She grew into a leadership role, eventually managing the firm with inspiring skill and confidence. By leading with empathy — by seeing her as a whole person and not just a role — I was able to foster her growth in a way that a more directive approach could never have achieved.
This experience taught me that when you lead through empathy, you empower others not just to do their jobs but to grow, take ownership, and thrive. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about controlling outcomes; it’s about creating an environment where people feel valued and supported enough to reach their full potential.
How do empathetic leaders strike a balance between understanding their team’s feelings and making tough decisions that might not be universally popular?
Empathetic leaders understand that balancing acknowledging their team’s feelings and making tough decisions is an art and a necessity. It’s about leading with heart while clearly focusing on the business’s values and goals.
To me, empathetic leadership is not about avoiding tough decisions or trying to please everyone — it’s about understanding the emotions at play and communicating those decisions in a way that respects and values each person’s perspective. When a difficult choice has to be made, I take the time to listen to my team to understand their concerns and emotions. This doesn’t mean I can always make a decision that everyone will love, but it does mean that I approach those decisions with a deep respect for how they will impact the people involved.
At the same time, staying aligned with the bigger picture — the values and goals that drive the organization forward — is essential. The key is to find a way to respect both the team’s emotional realities and the business’s strategic needs. By clearly communicating the reasons behind a decision and showing that you’ve considered how it will affect everyone, you build trust and understanding, even when the decision isn’t universally popular.
Ultimately, empathetic leaders recognize that while feelings are crucial, so is the mission. It’s about leading in a way that honors both, guiding the team through challenges with transparency, respect, and a commitment to collective success.
How would you differentiate between empathy and sympathy in leadership? Why is it important for leaders to distinguish between the two?
Empathy is powerful in leadership because it allows you to connect with your team on a human level. It’s about being present with someone in their experience, actively listening, and responding in a way that shows you genuinely understand where they’re coming from. This connection allows for trust, collaboration, and a sense of safety within the team.
Sympathy can sometimes create a sense of distance — it is more of “I feel sorry for you”, and you are different from me. It can make someone feel like you’re observing their struggle from the outside rather than being there with them. While sympathy might make you feel sorry for someone, empathy drives you to understand their needs and find ways to support them effectively.
For leaders, distinguishing between empathy and sympathy is important because empathy drives meaningful action. Sympathy leaves you in action, just feeling sorrowful for someone. Empathy is not just about feeling for someone; it’s about connecting with them in a way that allows you to lead more effectively. Empathy empowers leaders to make decisions that are not only aligned with the business’s goals but also considerate of the people who make those goals possible. This balance is key to building a resilient, motivated, and engaged team.
What are some practical strategies or exercises that leaders can employ to cultivate and enhance their empathetic skills?
Building empathetic leadership skills takes time. Some ways to do this are through active listening, asking open-ended questions, practicing perspective-taking, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, taking time to reflect regularly, and practicing your emotional intelligence skills.
How can empathy help leaders navigate the complexities of leading diverse teams and ensure inclusivity?
Teams are made up of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Empathy allows leaders to truly understand and value each person’s unique contribution.
1. Creating a Safe Space:
Empathy helps leaders create a safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected. When leaders approach their team with empathy, they’re more aware of and in tune with the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that their team members may be facing. This understanding fosters a culture of trust and openness, where people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work, knowing they won’t be judged or marginalized.
2. Valuing Diverse Perspectives:
Empathetic leaders actively seek out and value diverse perspectives. They understand that having different voices and opinions is just as important as the diversity of the team’s makeup. By empathizing with others’ experiences, leaders can better understand the nuances of different viewpoints and create a collaborative environment where diverse ideas can flourish.
3. Making Informed Decisions:
When leaders lead with empathy, they’re better able to make inclusive decisions and consider how those decisions may impact team members. Empathy helps leaders anticipate how decisions might affect different individuals or groups, allowing them to navigate complex situations with greater sensitivity and care. This strengthens team cohesion and leads to more thoughtful and practical outcomes.
4. Fostering Belonging:
Empathy is about connection — understanding and relating to others on a human level. Leaders who demonstrate empathy foster a sense of belonging within their teams. People feel valued for who they are, not just for what they can do. This sense of belonging is crucial for building a cohesive team where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best.
Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways Empathy Will Affect Your Leadership”?
1 . Deeper connections: Empathy allows you to connect with your team on a human level. While operating the law practice, there was a paralegal who was extremely capable but hesitant to take on more responsibility. Instead of simply pushing her to do more, I took the time to understand her concerns and listened to her aspirations. By showing her that I genuinely cared about her growth and challenges, she gradually gained the confidence to step up, eventually taking on a leadership role within the firm. Empathy built that bridge, fostering trust and deeper connection.
2 . Creates Decision Making with a Human-Centered Focus: Empathy in leadership fosters an environment where people feel safe to be themselves. When my clients describe my approach as “Jedi-like,” it’s because they feel truly seen and not judged. This approach allows them to open up and tackle their challenges head-on because they know they are in a supportive space. By leading with empathy, you create a culture where trust and safety are the norm, empowering your team to take risks and grow.
3 . Growth and Development is Enhanced: Empathy encourages you to see the potential in others and support their growth. When I was leading my team, I didn’t just focus on the tasks at hand; I also focused on each team member’s personal and professional development. By understanding their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, I guided them in ways that aligned with their goals, leading to their growth and, ultimately, the team’s success as a whole.
4 . Resilience and Adaptability Expands: Empathy strengthens your resilience as a leader by helping you stay connected to what truly matters — your people. Empathy kept me grounded during challenging times, like when I faced significant skepticism about my business. I listened to my own needs and the concerns of those around me, which allowed me to adapt and keep moving forward with clarity and purpose. This resilience, born from empathy, helped me navigate tough times and inspired those around me to stay committed and positive.
5 . Safety and Trust Creates Growth : Empathy in leadership fosters an environment where people feel safe to be themselves. When my clients describe my approach as “Jedi-like,” it’s because they feel truly seen and not judged. This approach allows them to open up and tackle their challenges head-on because they know they are in a supportive space. By leading with empathy, you create a culture where trust and safety are the norm, empowering your team to take risks and grow.
Are there potential pitfalls or challenges associated with being an empathetic leader? How can these be addressed?
While empathy is a powerful tool in leadership, it’s important to recognize that, like any strength, if it’s leaned into too heavily, it can become a weakness. One potential pitfall of being an empathetic leader is becoming too emotionally invested or overly accommodating, which can sometimes blur the lines between understanding and decision-making.
The way through this is by :
Balancing Empathy with Boundaries: Empathy can sometimes lead to overextending yourself to meet everyone’s needs, which isn’t sustainable in the long run. It’s essential to set clear boundaries — not just for your well-being but also to ensure that decisions are made with the organization’s best interests in mind.
Avoiding Decision Paralysis: Another challenge is the potential for decision paralysis, where the desire to consider everyone’s feelings makes it difficult to make tough choices. While it’s important to understand how decisions impact your team, keeping the bigger picture in focus is also crucial. To address this, I remind myself that empathy doesn’t mean avoiding difficult decisions — it means making them with a full understanding of their impact while still moving forward with clarity and purpose.
Preventing Over-Accommodation: Empathetic leaders might also fall into the trap of over-accommodating individual needs, which can sometimes lead to inconsistency or even unfairness in how decisions are applied across the team. The key here is to maintain a balance between empathy and fairness.
Emotional Overload: Lastly, there’s the risk of emotional overload. As an empathetic leader, you can sometimes absorb the emotions and stresses of those around you, which can lead to burnout. To address this, it’s vital to prioritize self-care and establish practices that help you manage your emotional well-being.
Off-topic, but I’m curious. As someone steering the ship, what thoughts or concerns often keep you awake at night? How do those thoughts influence your daily decision-making process?
My thoughts and worries often revolve around my impact on others — whether the people I’m leading, my clients, or even my family. What keeps me awake at night is the question: Am I showing up in a way that makes a positive difference? I’m deeply committed to ensuring that how I lead and interact with others leaves them feeling valued, supported, and empowered.
These thoughts profoundly influence my daily decision-making. Each day, I make it a point to reconnect with my core values and ground myself in what truly matters. I start my day by centering myself, often through mindfulness or reflection, to ensure I approach each situation from a place of alignment and authenticity. It’s not just about making strategically sound decisions; it’s about making decisions that are aligned with who I am and the impact I want to have.
When you lead with a focus on values and groundedness, it helps to clear away the noise and keep your actions intentional. This daily practice of reconnecting with my values allows me to navigate challenges with clarity and confidence, knowing that I’m staying true to what’s most important. So, while those late-night thoughts might stir up worries, they also remind me to stay rooted in what drives me — making a positive, lasting impact in everything I do.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
The movement I would work on centered around true self-acceptance and the release of trying to fit into others’ expectations or striving to be just like someone else. So many people get caught up in conforming to what they think they should be, whether based on societal norms, family expectations, or the images they see on social media. This constant comparison and striving to fit a mold can lead to so much toxicity — self-doubt, anxiety, and disconnection from who we are.
My movement would encourage people to embrace their true selves and let go of the need to fit into someone else’s version of success or happiness. It would be about celebrating our unique strengths, quirks, and flaws and recognizing that our individuality makes us powerful. When we stop trying to be something we’re not, we create space for real growth, genuine connections, and an authentically fulfilling life.
This movement would shift the focus from external validation to internal peace, from comparison to self-compassion. I believe that when people are free to be who they are, they find their happiness and contribute more meaningfully to the world around them. It’s about breaking free from the toxic cycle of comparison and stepping into the fullness of who we were always meant to be.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Follow what I am up to on www.kaminiwood.com and on social media www.instagram.com/itsauthenticme or LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/kaminiwood
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About the Interviewer: Cynthia Corsetti is an esteemed executive coach with over two decades in corporate leadership and 11 years in executive coaching. Author of the upcoming book, “Dark Drivers,” she guides high-performing professionals and Fortune 500 firms to recognize and manage underlying influences affecting their leadership. Beyond individual coaching, Cynthia offers a 6-month executive transition program and partners with organizations to nurture the next wave of leadership excellence.
Kamini Wood Of Live Joy Your Way: 5 Ways Empathy Will Affect Your Leadership was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.