Global Compassion Expert, Speaker, Author & Researcher

Compassion is trainable, measurable, and backed by more research than most leadership philosophies twice its age — and Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth has spent nearly two decades proving it. Since 2008, she has researched, taught, and published on the science of compassion in life and leadership, work that has taken her from Princeton and Boston University to Cambridge and Heidelberg, and now informs her collaborations with Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, universities, and nonprofits around the globe.

Her case is simple: in a world of change and challenge, compassionate leadership outperforms command and control on the metrics that matter most — engagement, productivity, retention, trust, and innovation. Dr. Hollingsworth brings this evidence to life through The Compassion Advantage™, her award-winning book and the framework she now teaches to leaders navigating burnout, uncertainty, and the pressures of an AI-driven workplace.

Trained as a psychotherapist, she designs every keynote as a space where audiences laugh, connect, reflect, learn, and practice — leaving with leadership strategies that sustain them and their teams long after the conference.

The Compassion Advantage™ — The Business Case for Compassionate Leadership

Compassion isn't just a soft skill — it's a measurable driver of business outcomes. Andrea shows leaders the evidence behind cultures of care.

What she teaches:

• Why 82% of employees say they'd leave a role to work for a more empathetic company

• Why 76% of workers who feel their manager is compassionate are highly engaged

• Why 85% of employees report that caring leadership increases productivity

• How to apply The Compassion Advantage™ framework in day-to-day leadership

Compassionate Agility — Balancing Care and Efficiency in Leadership

How can leaders maintain caring connection while boldly guiding people through difficult, unpopular, or stress-inducing circumstances? Dr. Andrea shares stories, science, and practical tools for practicing compassionate agility — doing and saying hard things in connected, genuine, human ways.

Audiences learn:

• Tools to manage stress and stay grounded yet nimble amid uncertainty

• How to lead with candor, clarity, and consistency

• Strategies for maintaining equanimity amid emotional struggle — one's own or others'

• Decision-making that's both inclusive and boldly decisive

Radical Self-Compassion as a Leadership Superpower

Mistakes can feel like monumental setbacks — but our insecurities and flaws may hold the key to unlocking our true potential. Dr. Andrea explores the transformative power of radical self-compassion in the workplace and beyond.

Audiences learn:

• Why self-compassion matters in work, life, and leadership

• Practical strategies for finding grit, grace, and resilience after setbacks

• How to transform failure into an opportunity for growth

• Tools for leaders seeking to excel while protecting their wellbeing