Empathy – The Keystone of Diversity and Inclusion

Facilitated by Neil Lewis, The Empathy Coach

In this 60-minute session, Neil will bust some myths around empathy, and demonstrate how empathy is the key skill when it comes to understanding and accepting realities different to our own. Empathy can be easy when there are similarities, but it becomes a more deliberate act where a choice is required when things feel different. We’ll explore the barriers to empathy and how to overcome them – two insights fundamental to understanding and accepting diversity, which in turn creates a culture of non-judgement and inclusion. There’ll be time to ask Neil anything, so bring your empathic challenges with you for us to unpick together!

About the facilitator 

Neil Lewis, known as The Empathy Coach, is an award-winning speaker, author, and personal development expert dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations through the transformative power of empathy. Since 2012, Neil has dedicated his career to helping others build trusted, credible relationships, cultivate emotional intelligence in both personal and professional settings and become better able to adapt their approach to influence and lead others, all by the power of becoming more self-aware.

Since 2015, Neil has worked closely with psychotherapists to understand the ways in which they use empathy and relational practice to create safe spaces that foster deep personal growth. For 5 years, he worked primarily with adult Public Service professionals, instilling empathic and relationship-based practice into their approach, enabling them to create more sustainable behaviour change in problematic individuals, families and those in crisis.

Through coaching, learning, speaking, mediation, consultancy and policy advice, Neil has inspired countless individuals to embrace empathy as a powerful tool for growth, leadership, resilience, and success. His approach blends research-backed strategies with real-world applications, enabling his clients to develop greater self-awareness, overcome barriers to emotional connection, and create environments of trust and collaboration.

Schooled in MBTI, NLP, Mindfulness, Yoga Instruction and a certified Level 7 Coach, Neil is committed to helping others rise above their challenges by fostering a deeper sense of empathy, emotional intelligence, and self-empowerment. In 2020, he established ‘The Empathy Coach’, the UK’s first coaching, learning and consultancy practice that specialises in empathic approaches. He works with individuals, families, and organisations to help them become more self-aware, more empathic, and foster stronger relationships for mutual gain.

As the author of Ready to Rise: The Self-Awareness and Resilience to Change Your Life, published in 2024, Neil encourages readers to tap into their inner strength and resilience through empathy and self-reflection. In 2024, he contributed a chapter to the academic resource, “Handbook of Quality of Life and Social Change”, edited by Dr. Cornelia Walther and published by Springer. Neil believes that empathy not only improves individual well-being but also drives positive change in communities, organizations, and leadership.