Hi! I’m Rob Volpe, the Empathy Activist.
I’m glad you’re here!
My mission is to inspire connection and understanding through the use of empathy to achieve positive results.
For too long, men have been told that feelings make them weak. Women have been told that showing emotion makes them unprofessional. Both end up wearing masks that disconnect them from who they really are.
That disconnection costs us in sales, in leadership, in relationships, in life.
I know, because I’ve seen it firsthand. And my calling is to help fix it.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of confusion around empathy – what it is and isn’t, how to get it and how to use it – so by clearing that up and bringing awareness to the 5 Steps to Empathy, it empowers people to build empathy, improve connections and be better at the work they do and the people they are.
I’ve distilled my stories, experience and wisdom into enlightening, entertaining and easy to understand actions, steps and breaths to take in order to reach and apply empathy more effectively at work and in life.
My goal is to always inspire through stories while also informing. That means making the content relatable by sharing my personal (mis)adventures involving empathy. The failures and the successes.
Utilizing storytelling in this way helps people connect with the lessons in a more meaningful way and can draw on them when they need it.
Across my career, I’ve led teams, built businesses, and sat across from thousands of people in research interviews. I’ve heard the stories that reveal what people truly need. And I’ve seen what happens when empathy is missing. The walls go up, trust breaks down, we become disconnected and the potential of the relationship is damaged.
While I wasn’t always aware of my superpower, I’ve used empathy readily since I was a kid growing up bullied and teased in small town Indiana. Empathy helped me survive so I know it’s power first-hand.
In my adult career, I’ve guided some of the world’s biggest brands on how to meet consumer needs by developing new products, services and communications that resonate. Used wisely, empathy can contribute millions in new sales, improve productivity, enhance retention and create a workplace culture people want to be part of. When empathy is lacking or the EmpathOS breaks down, it leads to loss and layoffs.
Which would you rather have?
Today, I give keynotes, coach and train at organizations around the world. I also speak regularly with the media and podcasts about various aspects of empathy.
I’m honored and grateful to have the opportunity to help people better understand and learn about empathy. One conversation at a time.
I look forward to connecting with you!
Please don’t be judgmental. I’m also a writer, thinker, lover, baker and so much more…
Author of Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time - the Benjamin Franklin silver award winner for Best Self Help book 2022 by the Independent Book Publishers Association;
Founder and CEO of Ignite 360, an insights, strategy and training firm advising the world’s leading and emerging brands on the one big idea that will move their business forward, which was acquired in July 2024 by Dig Insights;
A “Laureate” with the Insights Association and a member of the invite-only Market Research Council;
An “Empathy SuperFriend” with dozens of other empathy practitioners sharing the latest research and resources to bring the best information to our audiences;
A gay cat dad to Barnabas, Solitaire and Domino
An #avgeek, having happily flown 2.8M miles on United and counting!
Husband to Charles – we’ve been together since May 2001 and first said “I love you” on 9/11 – yes, that 9/11.
A swimmer, Peloton rider and rower, yoga practitioner, avid reader (thrillers and non-fiction), political junkie, a good cook and a fabulous baker.
The latest from @Empathy_Activist on Instagram…
