Empathy in Leadership: How women are redefining corporate culture

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors prioritized the safety and well-being of employees, offering flexible work arrangements and providing resources to help workers navigate the challenges of the crisis. Barra’s empathetic leadership has helped GM foster a culture of trust and inclusion.
• Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM transformed IBM’s corporate culture during her tenure by fostering a more inclusive and empathetic environment. She championed initiatives to improve diversity and actively worked to reduce unconscious bias in the workplace. Her leadership style focused on building relationships and understanding the needs of employees.
• Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook (now Meta), has long been an advocate for empathetic leadership, particularly in the context of empowering women in the workplace. Her approach to leadership has always emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence, inclusivity, and open communication.
• The empathetic leadership of Jacinda Ardern, during her tenure as Prime Minister of New Zealand resonated with people across the world. She displayed remarkable compassion during crises, such as the Christchurch mosque shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her ability to lead with both strength and empathy helped her country navigate these difficult times while maintaining a sense of unity and social cohesion.
• Throughout her tenure, the former Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, demonstrated empathy for the German people's concerns while making tough decisions in the face of the economic and refugee crisis. Her approach to problem-solving, rooted in understanding and pragmatism, earned her global respect.

Even before the COVID-19 turned the world on its head and forced leaders in all walks of life, including in businesses, to question their leadership approaches, Jamil Zaki, a research psychologist at Stanford University had advocated for empathy in leadership, in her book: “ The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World”.

In fact, in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape and the resultant complexities, the qualities that define effective leadership are undergoing a paradigm shift. Autocratic, top-down leadership, which was traditionally perceived as the ‘norm’, is now almost passe, and today’s corporate world is increasingly recognizing the value of empathetic leadership— focusing on understanding, connection, and collaboration.

The attribute of empathy need not be the exclusive ‘domain’ of any one gender over the other, since these behavioral characteristics are demonstrated by both men and women. However, women have been at the forefront of this movement, bringing their unique perspectives to shape a more inclusive and compassionate corporate culture, as the above examples indicate. 

Empathetic leadership is characterized by the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, by genuinely engaging with their concerns, struggles, and aspirations. Empathetic leaders are more attuned to the emotional undercurrents in their teams, fostering an environment of psychological safety where individuals feel supported, understood, and valued.

An empathetic leader approaches challenges not only through a lens of business logic but also by considering how decisions will impact the people involved. This leadership style encourages open communication, transparency, and emotional intelligence, contributing to stronger interpersonal relationships and, ultimately, improved team dynamics and performance. In an era where corporate success increasingly depends on collaboration and creativity, empathetic leadership is proving to be an essential asset. 

Historically, leadership has often been associated with ‘masculine’ traits like aggressiveness and control. However, women leaders are challenging these outdated constructs. Instead of conforming to these norms, many women have embraced and demonstrated the power of empathy as being central to their style of leadership. 

The increased focus on issues of gender diversity and inclusion have seen a significant shift of the needle in terms of women’s participation in leadership roles. This has increasingly resulted in corporate cultures getting reshaped to be more inclusive, collaborative, and empathetic.

Women, by nature or social conditioning, are often more attuned to the needs and emotions of those around them. This ability to connect with others on an emotional level enables them to create work environments that are more supportive, human-centric, and emotionally intelligent.

Even in traditionally male-dominated industries, women leaders have shown a unique ability to cultivate inclusive workplaces, where diverse voices are heard and valued. This shift not only benefits employees but also contributes to better business outcomes.

In fact, research studies have consistently shown that companies with more gender-diverse leadership teams are more innovative, agile, and successful in navigating the complexities of the modern business world.

For women, empathy is not just a buzzword or a leadership trend—it’s often a deeply ingrained value that shapes how they interact with the world. Many female leaders approach their roles with a strong sense of responsibility toward their teams, understanding that fostering well-being and work-life balance is not just good for individuals, but for the organization as a whole.

Empathy allows women leaders to create environments where employees feel seen and heard, leading to higher levels of engagement and productivity. It also promotes trust, which is the foundation of any successful team or organization. When employees feel that their leaders genuinely care about their well-being and development, they are more likely to go above and beyond in their roles.

On the other hand, it is true that despite the undeniable progress women have made in the corporate world, significant barriers still remain – in the form of gender biases and prejudices, unequal access to opportunities, discrimination, etc. and pose additional hurdles to women as they struggle to rise to leadership positions.

However, these barriers cannot undermine the new era of empathetic leadership that is emerging. In fact, the challenges women face often make them more resilient and empathetic leaders. The ability to overcome adversity and navigate complex power dynamics gives many women leaders a unique perspective that informs their leadership style. Furthermore, the increasing recognition of the value of empathy in leadership is helping to dismantle some of these barriers. As more organisations prioritize emotional intelligence, diversity, and inclusion, they are creating opportunities for women leaders to thrive.