The Empath CEO

Mimi Nicklin is a leading empathy expert, best-selling author of Softening The Edge, the Founder of Empathy Everywhere and the Creative CEO of global branding agency Freedm. She is based between Sri Lanka and Dubai, and lives with her daughter and French bulldog.

Why choose Dubai / Sri Lanka?

I travelled for 16 years, following my work in advertising and understanding culture by living within it. I moved to Dubai, from South Africa, for a role with a corporate ad agency in early 2018 and later moved to Sri Lanka to run my own agency, Freedm, remotely.

What’s your daily routine?

I have the ongoing challenge of working across time zones so I start early and end late. Most days my mornings start pre-7 am with my daughter and getting her to school, but I don’t tend to start meetings until 10 am. Before, I walk my French bulldog under the palms, go to Pilates, and clear the day’s admin. I then work around 12 hours between my two businesses. I always take time out for my daughter’s bedtime and I always put her to bed. This was a promise I made to her when she was born and I have kept it. My evenings, tend to be filled with cross-time zone workshops, keynote presentations, meetings, and virtual events.

How did the concept of Empathy become a career?

I discovered the power of organisational empathy whilst sitting with a business coach in 2018. While trying to help me unpack the power of intuition in complex leadership environments, she ended up helping me discover the scale of the Empathy Deficit which has been globally impacting us for three decades. Once I discovered the power of Empathy – and the negative impact on us when it is in decline –I couldn’t stop writing. Before I knew it I had a book, a top 5 podcast and a global training platform.

I now have two businesses that are entirely different but share a common culture and commitment to empathy. Empathy Everywhere is one of the world’s only organisational empathy platforms and we are committed to training and inspiring empathy in businesses worldwide. We specialise in educating teams on the why and how to balance humanism and capitalism, corporate communication, and Regenerative Leadership. Freedm is a boutique branding and storytelling business of nearly 20 people worldwide working with large clients like Dubai Airport, Sandisk, Accor Hotels and Dilmah Tea amongst others.

Are you a pro at multitasking?

Multitasking is the only way to live in and across countries and time zones as we do. I find the admin of banking by far the most stressful part of life, but beyond the financial complexities of being a global citizen, where there is Wi-Fi, there is work and we make it work every day!

How does being a mum work with a nomadic lifestyle?

With a healthy dose of patience matched with equal levels of resilience. My daughter is a seasoned traveller and we have learnt to be flexible with our definitions of home and the need for ‘things’ to be around us all the time.

Any key turning points?

Finding out that my book had become a bestseller in four countries. This was not only fundamental in my personal and professional journey but led me to entirely shift where and how I work and led me to form Empathy Everywhere and start working with some of the world’s largest brands like Unilever, PlayStation, The Metropolitan Police Service and Standard Chartered Bank in building modules and content surrounding deepening human understanding and culture in the workplace.

Lessons learned?

Always trust your anxiety. It’s trying to tell you something. Either that you are heading into a challenge so you need to be prepared to learn and grow flexibly, or that you are heading for danger.

How is life in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has had a complicated year socially, politically, and economically but with those complexities comes very deep and powerful friendships. I wouldn’t say Colombo is a city with a huge infrastructure for expat life so this leads to creativity and deep connection within the opportunities that are there. The island has a long recovery ahead and life is not straightforward but underneath this is a deeply magical place with an unbelievably passionate youth who are ready to change the world. Oh, and unending delicious, fresh, and healthy vegetarian food options!

Plans for 2023?

I have just signed my second book deal and cannot wait to share it. It contains an inspiring set of interviews, examples, and opinions on how being more deeply connected to others leads to business shifts and success and many surprises! I am beyond excited.

Follow Mimi @miminicklin

Find out more at empathyeverywhere.co