Why Empathy and Human Potential Are the Future of Leadership - DisrupTV Episode 316: Caitlin MacGregor & Chris Shipley

In Episode 316 of DisrupTV, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar welcomed two powerhouse voices in leadership and innovation: Caitlin MacGregor, CEO & Co-Founder of Plum, and Chris Shipley, author of The Empathy Advantage.

This episode explored the intersection of leadership, technology, and human potential—offering fresh perspectives on how empathy, skills intelligence, and future-ready talent strategies will shape the modern enterprise.

Key Takeaways

1. The Rise of Skills-Based Talent Strategies

Caitlin MacGregor emphasized the critical need for organizations to move beyond resumes and credentials. Plum’s platform is helping companies identify, measure, and leverage innate human potential—enabling more equitable hiring, better role alignment, and stronger workforce agility.

Takeaway: Skills intelligence and human potential data will be the foundation of tomorrow’s most competitive organizations.

2. The Empathy Advantage in Leadership

Chris Shipley highlighted that in an era of automation and disruption, empathy is no longer a “soft skill” but a leadership imperative. In her book The Empathy Advantage, she outlines how leaders can create value by centering human needs, fostering trust, and enabling more inclusive decision-making.

Takeaway: The future of leadership is empathetic, human-centered, and deeply adaptive.

3. Human + AI Collaboration

Both guests noted that the future isn’t “humans vs. machines,” but humans and machines together. Organizations that thrive will be those that design workflows where technology augments, rather than replaces, human potential.

Takeaway: Augmentation, not automation, will create the next wave of enterprise innovation.

Standout Quote

“Empathy is not a soft skill—it’s the superpower that will define the next generation of leaders.” – Chris Shipley

Final Thoughts

Episode 316 of DisrupTV underscored an essential truth: the most successful organizations in the Age of Intelligence will be those that invest in human potential while embracing technology as a partner. Caitlin MacGregor and Chris Shipley remind us that leadership is evolving—and the path forward requires empathy, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on people.

Related Episodes

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:

 

Business Research Themes

Future of Work, Innovation and Product-led Growth, New C-Suite

Roles

Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer