Leanne Butterworth
Turning healthy empathy into a practical leadership skill
Areas of expertise
- Leadership and management
- Personal development
- Communication and influence
- Health and wellness
- The future and change
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Inspiration and storytelling
- Motivational
- Education and training
- The workplace
- Sales and customers
- Creativity and the arts
- Technology and innovation
- Society and culture
- Finance and economics
- Leadership
- Empathy
- Team Building
- Mental Health
Talks
Empathy Is Not Soft, It’s Strategic
Pressure is rising. Teams are stretched, emotionally exhausted, and expected to keep performing through constant change. Leaders are being asked to move faster, manage more, and somehow still keep people engaged and connected. Many leaders care deeply about their people — but no one has taught them how to do that in a healthy, sustainable way. In this session, Leanne Butterworth reframes empathy as a practical leadership skill for building trust, psychological safety, communication, and stronger team culture. Drawing on neuroscience, emotional literacy, and real-world leadership challenges, Leanne shares practical tools to help leaders navigate difficult conversations, reduce reactive communication, and create environments where people feel heard, valued, visible, and safe enough to contribute. This isn’t about being softer. It’s about leading better. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen connection, improve team dynamics, and lead with healthy empathy — without burning out, shutting down, or losing accountability. Because when people feel safe, they collaborate. When they feel understood, they engage. And when leaders learn how to combine empathy with clarity, performance follows.
How to Give Empathetic Feedback That Actually Works
Giving feedback is one of the most uncomfortable parts of leadership. Say too little and performance stalls. Say too much the wrong way and trust erodes. Most managers are never taught how to correct behavior without crushing confidence. In this talk, I break down a practical, human approach to feedback that strengthens relationships instead of straining them. You will learn how to prepare your mindset, choose the right language, regulate emotions in the moment, and create conversations where people feel respected and accountable at the same time. You will leave with clear tools you can use immediately. Your feedback will land. Your team will listen. And instead of tension and avoidance, you will build a culture where growth feels safe, honest, and energizing.
What people say
“Recently Leanne was our keynote speaker at our Chamber of Commerce breakfast event. Her presentation on "Empathy" was excellent. Leanne was engaging and very interactive with the audience. The feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees commented on how refreshing and thought-provoking Leanne’s insights were—and how they left feeling both inspired and empowered to make meaningful changes within their workplaces. Thank you Leanne.”
“Engaging, Practical and Cohesive” I found the content and delivery very engaging. I liked how Leanne provided resources, tools and take away messages that myself and attendees could incorporate in our lives. It also helps to understand concepts when real life examples are provided. Leanne was able to incorporate relevant examples to a university professional staff audience, as well as incorporating material from the session prior to hers. This connected the sessions and created cohesion. I also enjoy a bit of humour which was injected well at the appropriate points.
“Inspiring, Insightful and Immediately Actionable” Leanne was an absolute joy to work with! Her excellent communication skills ensured the entire process ran smoothly, showcasing her expertise and professionalism. Attendees left inspired by Leanne’s impactful advice on the importance of empathy in business, culture, and leadership. The knowledge she shared was not only thought-provoking but also immediately actionable for their teams. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a skilled and insightful professional.
“A Standout Session” Leanne's workshop on Curious Questions and Unconscious Bias as part of the Social Impact Fellowship was a standout session. Her ability to read the room and truly understand the needs of the group created a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. She has a knack for breaking down complex ideas into clear, relatable concepts, making them easy to understand and apply to the specific context of work in Social Impact. This session was important and much needed in the Social Impact space where there is an abundance of well intentioned work happening, but less awareness of how unconscious bias and empathy can influence its effectiveness. Leanne did a stellar job of getting the message across in a fun and accessible way.
On stage
Services and fees
- Keynote Presentation45-60 min
- Half-Day Workshop3-4 hours
- Full-Day Workshop6-8 hours
Terms
- Travel and accommodation costs are not included in the fee.
- A 50% deposit is required to confirm the booking.
- Cancellations made less than 30 days before the event are non-refundable.
About
When I step onto a stage, my goal is simple: I want people to leave leading differently than when they arrived. I help leaders build teams where trust runs deep, communication is clear, and human connection is treated as essential, not optional. Through stories, reflection, and practical frameworks, I guide audiences to see how healthy empathy sharpens leadership rather than softens it. They learn how to create space for honest dialogue and how to strengthen connection with teams and clients alike. The result is more than insight. It is a shift in mindset. Leaders walk away ready to develop inclusive teams that support one another and deliver meaningful results without sacrificing wellbeing.
My story
Leanne Butterworth is an empathy educator, TEDx speaker, university lecturer, and founder of Empathy First, a social enterprise helping leaders build healthier human connection at work. After experiencing postnatal depression and feeling deeply isolated despite being surrounded by people, Leanne began questioning why human connection can feel so difficult — even when care exists. That experience sparked a deep interest in empathy, emotional literacy, and the ways people unintentionally disconnect from themselves and each other. Today, Leanne uses both lived experience and evidence-based research to help leaders and organisations create cultures where people feel heard, valued, visible, and safe enough to thrive.
Contact Leanne Butterworth for more details
