Why Empathy Matters in Today’s Workplace and How It Builds Better Teams

Empathy has become a business competency, not a soft nice-to-have. With hybrid teams, rapid AI adoption, and a workforce increasingly vocal about identity and inclusion, companies are being pushed to rethink what effective leadership looks like right now. Research and workplace trend reports consistently show that employees who feel seen and supported are more engaged and more likely to stay—raising the stakes for leaders who are hiring, managing, and shaping culture in real time.

What does empathetic marketing really look like in practice—not just as a buzzword, but as a way of working and leading?

In this episode of Professional Quotient, Jason Winningham sits down with Diana Codispoti, a director of marketing who’s built a rich, non-linear career by combining curiosity, strategy, and a deep concern for people. Together, they explore what inclusive leadership looks like in practice, how to hire and build teams without ego, and why learning—especially in the age of AI—has to stay deeply personal.

Diana shares how an early plan for a very different profession turned into a long-term path in marketing, what it taught her about listening first, and why hiring for personality and potential can matter just as much as technical skills.

They also explore:

• How empathy can sharpen your marketing, not soften it
• The role of self-advocacy and clear communication at work
• Using tools like AI without losing the human element
• Building your PQ through continuous learning and real relationships

Diana Codispoti is the Director of Marketing at a Houston-based architecture firm, with more than 20 years of marketing experience spanning architecture, nonprofit disability advocacy, and television. Originally on a pre-med track toward neonatology, she pivoted after discovering graphic design and recognizing how her health journey would shape her professional path. Diana is also an identical twin, a former runner turned fitness advocate post-surgery, and a passionate voice for disability visibility and respectful representation in professional spaces. Her leadership style blends high standards, team-first collaboration, and a deep commitment to equity through understanding.

If you care about doing meaningful work and treating people well along the way, this conversation is for you.