End Toxic Culture With Empathy (ft. Dr Melissa Robinson-Winemiller)
Mon Feb 02 2026
Host Lee Jones and Dr. Melissa Robinson explore the critical role of empathy in leadership on Hindsight the Podcast. Dr. Robinson shares her journey from a professional musician to an advocate for emotionally intelligent leadership, discussing the challenges she faced in academia and the importance of fostering empathetic cultures in organizations. The discussion emphasizes that empathy is not just a soft skill but a vital component for enhancing communication, productivity, and overall workplace culture.
In this episode:
00:00 The Journey to Empathy in Leadership
05:58 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose
14:29 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership
17:46 Recognizing the Signs of Missing Empathy
23:46 Debunking Myths About Empathy
27:09 Defining Empathy in Practical Terms
27:39 Understanding Empathy vs. People Pleasing
30:32 The Importance of Kindness in Leadership
32:08 Self-Empathy: The Key to Effective Leadership
35:03 Measuring Empathy's ROI in Leadership
38:49 The Role of Self-Reflection in Leadership
40:53 Empathy's Impact on Society
43:31 The Empathic Leader: Insights from Dr. Melissa
47:39 The Future of Empathy in Leadership
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@hindsightthepodcast?sub_confirmation=1
👉 Watch the full playlist on Career Transitions:
About my special guest:
Melissa shares her powerful journey from a decades-long career as a professional musician to becoming an advocate for emotionally intelligent leadership after facing the challenges of toxic environments in academia. Together, Lee and Melissa explore how empathy connects to personal growth, communication, and professional development — and why self-empathy is the starting point for understanding and leading others.
They dive into the science of emotional intelligence, the different types of empathy, and the real-world impact of leading with compassion. From improving mental health and reducing workplace conflict to boosting employee retention and satisfaction, this conversation proves that empathy is not a weakness — it’s a measurable strength that drives performance and culture.
If you’re ready to rethink leadership and create a workplace culture built on emotional intelligence, this episode is for you.
Learn more about Dr. Winemiller at:
👉 https://eqviaempathy.com/
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@UCGqJzMD6gNwB5nZoI6Mu0MA
#HindsightThePodcast #Mindset #CareerChange #Resilience #SelfDiscovery
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Host Lee Jones and Dr. Melissa Robinson explore the critical role of empathy in leadership on Hindsight the Podcast. Dr. Robinson shares her journey from a professional musician to an advocate for emotionally intelligent leadership, discussing the challenges she faced in academia and the importance of fostering empathetic cultures in organizations. The discussion emphasizes that empathy is not just a soft skill but a vital component for enhancing communication, productivity, and overall workplace culture. In this episode: 00:00 The Journey to Empathy in Leadership 05:58 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose 14:29 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership 17:46 Recognizing the Signs of Missing Empathy 23:46 Debunking Myths About Empathy 27:09 Defining Empathy in Practical Terms 27:39 Understanding Empathy vs. People Pleasing 30:32 The Importance of Kindness in Leadership 32:08 Self-Empathy: The Key to Effective Leadership 35:03 Measuring Empathy's ROI in Leadership 38:49 The Role of Self-Reflection in Leadership 40:53 Empathy's Impact on Society 43:31 The Empathic Leader: Insights from Dr. Melissa 47:39 The Future of Empathy in Leadership 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@hindsightthepodcast?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Watch the full playlist on Career Transitions: About my special guest: Melissa shares her powerful journey from a decades-long career as a professional musician to becoming an advocate for emotionally intelligent leadership after facing the challenges of toxic environments in academia. Together, Lee and Melissa explore how empathy connects to personal growth, communication, and professional development — and why self-empathy is the starting point for understanding and leading others. They dive into the science of emotional intelligence, the different types of empathy, and the real-world impact of leading with compassion. From improving mental health and reducing workplace conflict to boosting employee retention and satisfaction, this conversation proves that empathy is not a weakness — it’s a measurable strength that drives performance and culture. If you’re ready to rethink leadership and create a workplace culture built on emotional intelligence, this episode is for you. Learn more about Dr. Winemiller at: 👉 https://eqviaempathy.com/ 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer/ 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@UCGqJzMD6gNwB5nZoI6Mu0MA #HindsightThePodcast #Mindset #CareerChange #Resilience #SelfDiscovery