Leanne Butterworth is the Empathy Realist.
I make healthy empathy accessible, actionable and genuinely human for future-focused leaders, organisations and teams.
Through engaging keynotes and practical, bespoke empathy training, I demystify healthy empathy — showing leaders and teams how to build trust, strengthen culture, and improve engagement without burnout or overwhelm.
Let's chat!
Engage Leanne Today
I partner with forward-thinking, human-centred leaders and teams
who need practical, evidence-based strategies to make
healthy empathy a daily practice
across
• leadership • teamwork • customer service • design • innovation
• feedback and • risk.
So you can
Attract great people and customers,
Retain talent, trust and reputation, and
Thrive as a more connected, high-performing, future-ready organisation.
The days of profit-at-all-costs is over.
But that time is over.
The Great Burnout is here.
In Australia 66% of the workforce are
QUIET QUITTING*.
Employees deserve to feel
Heard, Valued, Visible and Safe
Empathy drives
engagement, innovation, retention, and resilience.
Does your organisation put Empathy First?
Can you afford the alternative?
Our Vision
Our Impact
As of May 2026
3600+ Audience members
3150+ Workshop Hours
328+ Online workshops
After Empathy Training:
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92% of participants report that they are MORE empathetic.
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94% of participants report that their customer service skills have improved.
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93% of participants report a positive impact on their social relationships.
Engage Leanne Today
Inspire change. Spark connection. Lead with empathy.
Whether you’re booking a keynote, workshop, online course or coaching session, Leanne presents more than just information—she delivers transformation.
Through engaging, relatable, and science-backed content, you’ll learn:
✨ WHAT empathy truly is
💡 WHY it matters for leadership, culture, and wellbeing
🗣️ HOW to communicate with clarity, confidence, and compassion
From boardrooms to classrooms, Leanne's memorable approach empowers people to feel seen, heard, and understood—and gives leaders the tools to create workplaces where people thrive.
Empathetic leadership not a nice-to-have "soft skill",
it's a business imperative.
Engaging, memorable content
Our unique WISER framework for Empathy Training is personally relevant and inspires attendees to reflect on how effectively they made others feel heard, valued and visible.
Learn anywhere
Engage Empathy First at your workplace for a memorable keynote, group workshop or take an online course.
Delivering Positive Results
Simple, easy-to-implement practical skills and insights will improve your personal and professional relationships.
Empathy Training - An Impactful Change
Through inspiring keynotes, in-house consulting, interactive workshops, online training and personal coaching, I help leaders and future leaders develop their empathetic communication skills and the emotional architecture required to build rapport with their teams. My clients leave feeling empowered and assured to implement small changes that will make an immense personal and professional impact. The absorbing modules allow attendees to easily learn WHAT Empathy is, WHY it matters and HOW to communicate empathetically.
Who we've worked with
The change...
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"I am a better listener when people are talking about their mental health and have been able to comfortably ask them if and how I can help them".
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"A student said she was having very concerning self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She said I made her feel like she wasn't alone after speaking with her".
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"I have not been afraid to approach the subject. I know not to say I am sorry that has happened to you, but to let them know that some things he/she has experienced would make anyone struggle and that struggling is a normal experience and there is help".
Healthy Empathy at Work is Crucial
A lack of Compassionate Empathy in the workplace can look like:
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High staff turnover
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Disengaged or burnt-out employees
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Non-consultative decision making that doesn’t consider how it impacts employees
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Disjointed or stiff interactions amongst employees
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Friction or low engagement in meetings and group exercises.
Empathy Training helps you to make others feel heard, valued and visible, whilst setting personal boundaries that prioritise your own mental health and wellbeing.
At Empathy First, I teach you WHAT empathy really is, WHY it matters to you personally and professionally and HOW to empathetically communicate in a healthy and safe way.
Engage Leanne today
Hello! I'm Leanne Butterworth, TEDx Speaker, Empathy Educator, Social Enterprise Business lecturer with the Queensland University of Technology and a huge proponent of empathetic leadership being the most effective, sustainable pathway to personal and professional success.
Research tell us empathetic leadership is the foundation of a successful organisation and by practicing empathy on a daily basis, we can foster healthier relationships and extend the profitability of our businesses.
However, very few of us have been taught what healthy empathy really is and why it matters, let alone how to empathetically communicate in a way that is safe and doesn't burn us out. Empathic Education must go beyond meaningless checklists and listless “action plans”.
Empathy training is about bridging the gap between how we, as leaders and future leaders, understand and demonstrate empathy and how these everyday interactions are perceived by our colleagues, clients, family and friends.
It is about cultivating and honing the forgotten skills in leadership and managerial toolkits to build a healthier, happier workforce, resulting in a more profitable, sustainable company culture.
Contact me today and let's talk about how you can put Empathy First.
What actually is Empathy Training?
My unique WISER approach to Empathy Training has been deliberately crafted to demonstrate how to build authentic connections with your colleagues, clients, family and friends. Regardless of your industry or mode of delivery, I help to transform your workplace to be happier, healthier and more successful. Learn more
What our students say
Queensland Social Enterprise Council - Member
Social Traders Certified
Certified Female Owned
LocalBuy Prequalified Supplier LB327
Professional Speakers Australia - Member
As per our Social Enterprise Constitution we commit to reinvesting 50% of our profits each year into the ongoing operations of the enterprise with a majority of annual profits used towards fulfilling the company's Purpose and Objectives of providing Empathy Training and Resources.
2023 Women Changing the World Awards Winner!
Women in Social Enterprise - People's Choice Award.
Our Empathy Training has been deliberately crafted to show you how to build connection with your colleagues, customers, clients, family and friends. Regardless of your industry, we can help you transform your workplace to be happy, healthy and successful.
It starts with you and it starts with Empathy First.
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The Empathy Edit.