Mimi Nicklin

Mimi Nicklin is a British author, podcast host, and executive whose book Softening the Edge: Empathy in an Age of Understanding, Creativity and Innovation (2021) argues for empathy as a critical business and leadership competency in an era of increasing disconnection and polarization. Based in Dubai, Nicklin has spent her career in the advertising and creative industries, and brings a practitioner’s perspective to questions about human connection, listening, and organizational culture.

Her work argues that empathy — the genuine capacity to understand and share the feelings of others — is not merely a personal virtue but a strategic asset for leaders, teams, and brands. Drawing on her experience working across cultures in global advertising, she argues that the most effective creative work, the most loyal customer relationships, and the most cohesive teams are built on a foundation of genuine listening and understanding rather than the performance of connection.

Nicklin hosts the podcast Empathy for Breakfast, in which she speaks with leaders, creatives, and thinkers about the role of empathy in work and life. She has spoken at conferences on leadership, creativity, and organizational culture in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, and has been featured in regional and international business media.

Her book is positioned in a growing body of literature arguing that the so-called “soft skills” — empathy, emotional intelligence, listening, and psychological safety — are in fact the hardest and most valuable capabilities for leaders to develop, and that organizations that neglect them do so at their peril. She continues to consult, speak, and advocate for more human-centered approaches to work and leadership.