Radical Empathy
Description
Most of us believe we are empathic people. That belief is part of the problem.
Radical empathy is not a way of being, it is a practice and can even be a political act during times of upheaval and uncertainty. It asks us to see the humanity of the person in front of us, when it isn't easy to do so.
Kon Karapanagiotidis, founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, argues that the opposite of empathy is not hatred. It is numbness. And numbness, for most leaders, is the default.
This dialogue will challenge that default.
We will move through what radical empathy actually demands of us personally, and of the organisations we lead.
We will leave with a commitment: one thing we will do differently in the week ahead, and one change we will make in how our organisations operate.
Facilitated by Dimitri Antonopoulos and Damian Karaula, this is a 90-minute dialogue for people who want to lead with more honesty than comfort.
Format: Online, Google Meet
Pre-reading will be sent to all registered participants prior to the session.
FAQs
- Who is this for?
Anyone for whom leadership is something they live, not just a role they hold. We work with people at every stage of their career and from every discipline: designers, educators, scientists, writers, organisational leaders, policy makers, artists. There is no seniority requirement and no industry. If the question resonates, you belong in the room.
- Do I need to prepare anything?
We will send pre-reading material ahead of the session. Beyond that, the only preparation that matters is arriving with an open question; something you are genuinely sitting with about your own leadership. You don't need to share it. But having one will make the time more useful.
- Do I need to be a March First member?
No. This event is open to everyone.
Members attend free as part of their membership.
Non-members are warmly welcome too.
If you come and find yourself wanting more, membership is a natural next step and you can learn more on our website at https://marchfirst.com.au/membership
- What is March First?
March First is a school of creative leadership. A learning community built around the belief that leadership is a lifelong, ethical, and creative practice. We run events, dialogues, masterclasses, and in-person gatherings, alongside a growing library of tools, courses, and resources.
- Will this be recorded to view later?
No. We made a deliberate choice not to record these gatherings. The quality of conversation that becomes possible when people know they won't be quoted, replayed, or taken out of context is different, and that quality is the whole point.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
