Over the past two years, Arianna Huffington, CEO of Thrive Global, and Tony Bates, CEO of Genesys and co-author of the book Empathy in Action. have been spreading the word that empathy-driven leadership isn't an afterthought, it is an essential business practice. They believe this approach not only makes employees happier at work but boosts productivity and other important metrics.

What does it mean to be an empathetic leader? How do you do it well? Why is it important, especially right now? Huffington and Bates share the details with Leadership Next hosts Alan Murray and Ellen McGirt.

Also in the episode: how Genesys software helps call center workers monitor and manage their stress levels, how the pandemic has fueled a focus on empathy at work, and why both Huffington and Bates have dedicated themselves to companies that center emotional wellness.

Thrive Global is a behavior change technology company that Huffington started in 2016 after she collapsed due to sleep deprivation and exhaustion. Bates' company Genesys is a software company with the vision of creating empathetic customer service experiences at scale.