Empathy at Work with Michael Ventura

In the Making

Teresa Au chats with author, speaker, and entrepreneur Michael Ventura about what empathy really is and how it can help your design work and your business. Michael describes applied empathy–the idea that empathy isn’t just putting yourself in someone else’s shoes–it’s about better understanding what it’s like to be someone else in their own shoes. They also discuss how car designers rely on somatic empathy, strategies for time-strapped solopreneurs, and an easy way to shake up your video meetings.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How Michael’s brand and strategy used empathy to improve their work
• Somatic empathy as a way to understand your clients’ physical experiences
• The importance of reflecting on the impact of your work
• A quick trick for learning about the people you meet
• Why working more hours is not working better
• A tool for comparing competing priorities
• How empathy and self-knowledge can help you find your purpose

Remix a template created by Michael Ventura in Adobe Express: https://adobe.ly/ITM-Michael

Michael Ventura founded the strategy and design consultancy Sub Rosa, where he advised clients such as ACLU, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, Nike, The United Nations and the Obama-Biden Administration. His book, Applied Empathy (Simon & Schuster 2018) explores the intersectionality of business and personal development through the practice of empathy for the self, and for others. Michael has served as a board member and advisor to organizations including Behance, The Burning Man Project, The Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, and the United Nations' affiliated Tribal Link Foundation. He is a visiting lecturer at Princeton University and the United States Military Academy at West Point. An ardent steward of personal and professional development, Michael is frequently engaged as an advisor to individuals, leaders, teams, and corporate boards at moments of transformation and change.

Teresa Au (@tautastic) is an executive for community engagement at Adobe, where she focuses on empowering creatives and students via workshops, panels, and podcasts. On creating In the Making, Teresa says “I knew I wanted to amplify the incredible personal stories of the talented and unique humans I’ve been meeting online and at our Create Now events across the world.”

In the Making is made possible by Adobe Express, the all-in-one content creation app included in your Creative Cloud membership.

Learn more about this podcast, and find transcripts and links, at adobe.ly/inthemaking. Want to leave us a voicemail? Go to https://www.speakpipe.com/inthemaking

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