The emPOWER Breakfast’s 2024 Round Up

A few days into 2025, Athene Parker wanted to take a moment to reflect on last year’s emPOWER. 

Here is what she wrote: “I wanted to pinpoint what it is exactly that happens when we are in the room. We deal in empathy. True empathy extends far beyond simply feeling for others - or being ‘sympathetic’ which is what you might automatically assume, it's about developing a deep understanding of another person's experience without trying to fix, change, or judge it. When we truly listen with empathy, something remarkable happens: both speaker and listener enter a space of mutual regulation and growth. Active listening requires us to temporarily set aside our own experiences, and solutions. It asks us to be fully present with another person's story, their emotions, and their perspective. This practice isn't just beneficial for the person being heard - it's a profound exercise in self-regulation for the listener. When we listen actively, we must manage our own emotional responses, resist the urge to immediately offer advice, stay present with discomfort, navigate our own triggers, and practice patience. Each of these challenges provides an opportunity for developing stronger self-regulation skills. The more we practice holding space for others' experiences without trying to change them, the better we become at managing our own emotional responses.

This understanding forms the foundation of emPOWER's community. Every workshop, event, every conversation, every shared story becomes an opportunity to practice these vital skills. When we develop stronger empathy and listening skills, we become better equipped to navigate workplace dynamics, understand different perspectives, and build stronger communities. The ripple effects of this practice extend far beyond our events and we get better at communicating with our families and friends. True empathy, when combined with active listening, becomes a powerful force for personal and collective growth. It's not just about feeling what others feel - it's about creating spaces where people can be fully seen and heard, where self-regulation can be practiced and strengthened, and where genuine understanding can flourish.

This is why emPOWER exists - to create spaces where deep listening can flourish, where empathy can be strengthened, and where both speakers and listeners can develop stronger skills of self awareness through the profound act of truly hearing and being heard. All wrapped up with a healthy dose of deeply authentic networking.”

The first emPOWER 2025 session takes place on the 5th of February at Framestore and Company 3 and there will be opportunities for empathy building in spades. Thank you to our 2024 alumni, and we at emPOWER cannot wait to introduce you to the 2025 cohort.