Leanne Butterworth, an Empathy Educator, TEDx speaker and Social Entrepreneur, is dedicated to creating healthier, more connected workforces and communities through accessible Empathy Training. Her personal experience with postnatal mental health challenges led her to recognise the life-changing impact of empathy-based communication. As the founder of Empathy First and a lecturer of social enterprise at QUT, Leanne is actively involved in the startup, mental health, and social enterprise communities. She has presented her empathy work internationally and holds degrees in Applied Science and NonProfit Business. Leanne has received several prestigious scholarships and awards, including the 2023 Women Changing the World People's Choice Social Enterprise Award and the George Alexander Foundation Scholarship. She is also a contributing author in the upcoming anthology Women Making a Difference.  Leanne believes empathetic leadership is not a nice-to-have but a business imperative in the modern world. Her passion drives her to create compassionate environments where healthy empathy thrives.