Empathy is in short supply. Alienation and tribalism are rampant. Research shows that people are less caring than we were just ten years ago, but most of us don’t need a study to tell us that. It doesn’t have to be this way. In this powerful talk, Jamil Zaki, a world leader in empathy science, argues that our ability to care is not a fixed trait, but a skill we can grow through practice. Drawing on cutting-edge research, including experiments from his own lab, he demonstrates how empathy-building can overcome toxic cultural divisions. He shares stories of people—from cops to teachers to ex-neo Nazis—who are living these principles and fighting for kindness among the toughest of circumstances. Based on his highly anticipated forthcoming book—called “gripping, groundbreaking, and hopeful” by Carol Dweck (Mindset)—Zaki’s talk offer a bold new challenge: to empathize with purpose.

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