Empathy – A Successful Leader's Most Critical Trait
Doors open at 7:30 AM.
Empathy is one of the most vital competencies leaders possess. Creating a space where others feel seen, heard, and valued is key to retention, engagement, innovation, and inclusivity. As volunteer leaders charged with the incredible work of supporting an entire chapter, the need to receive and give empathy is magnified. Our roles as volunteers include balancing our professional and personal responsibilities. This is why now, more than ever, we need spaces where we feel encouraged to continue, supported in our efforts, and free to speak up when we're not okay.
In a captivating and information-packed presentation, April Simpkins, a leader, and dedicated SHRM chapter volunteer, will share her story of the impact of empathy on her mental health during the most challenging time of her life, the loss of her daughter, former Miss USA, attorney and TV correspondent, Cheslie Kryst.
As volunteer leaders, we are uniquely positioned to support our chapter and to support one another. During this presentation, you will learn how we, as empathetic leaders, can support others struggling with mental health. One of our primary roles as a leader is to develop and elevate others. We can accomplish this by creating an atmosphere that values mental health and encourages empathy.
Attendees of today's presentation will learn;
- The importance of creating a safe space where it's okay to not be okay.
- Five ways to protect your mental health so you can thrive in your volunteer and professional roles.
- Why leaders who establish empathy as a core value outperform their counterparts.
April Simpkins
April Simpkins is an HR professional with 30 years of executive-level Human Resources experience. She has worked with over 1,000 organiztions in 15 different industries helping to align people strategies with business goals. She is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer at Questco, a fast-growing national company that provides HR services to small and mid-sized companies. April, an international keynote speaker has shared her knowledge and expertise on the topics of leadership, culture, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and mental health.
April, a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)®, has created diversity initiatives for numerous medium- and large-size organizations. April is also a past Diversity Director For South Carolina SHRM. In 2020 April received the Unsung Hero Award from Greenville SHRM for her exemplary leadership in DEI. She has also received awards and honors for her business acumen including The 2020 Women In Business Achievement Award from the Charlotte Business Journal and being named one of Charlotte's 50 Most Influential Women by Mecklenburg Times.
Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP
Mary Cheddie, SHRM-SCP is Divisional Director, Membership Community.
Cheddie has more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in all aspects of human resources and training. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, M&As, and in starting and turning around businesses.
Prior to joining SHRM, she served as senior vice president of human resources for Interval Leisure Group, Inc. and its affiliated companies. The company was publicly traded on NASDAQ and the leading provider of vacation services with a global consumer membership base of nearly 2 million member families, more than 2,500 member resorts in over 75 countries worldwide, and has oversight for about 14,000 employees.
Cheddie also served as senior vice president, people with PRC, as well as vice president, human resources, strategic planning, office services, and facilities for The Orvis Company, Inc. in Manchester, VT.
She earned her MBA from Upper Iowa University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is certified as a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional.
Cheddie received the HR Award of Excellence, Hospitality in 2016 from South Florida Business & Wealth. Business Leader Magazine named Cheddie one of the 2011 Women Extraordinaire and in 2012 the National Diversity Council awarded her the Glass Ceiling Award.
She serves on the Board of Trustees for Upper Iowa University, Chairs the Human Capital Committee and is a member of the Governance and Advancement Committees, Chaired the Keiser Career College’s Advisory Board, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) from 2003-2008 and chaired SHRM’s governance and compensation committees. Cheddie has more than 35 years of SHRM volunteer leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels. She also served on the Waldorf College Alumni Board from 2004 through 2008 and was the President of the Dallas HR Association in 2000 (one of the largest affiliated SHRM chapters). She resides in South FL.