Empathy-Driven Strategy for Better Brands, Teams, and Leaders

Empathy at Work is a bestselling guide to modern leadership. It shows that empathy, vulnerability, and trust aren't just moral choices, but strategic advantages that drive creativity, loyalty, and lasting success.

Drawing on Chris’s experience as co-founder of StockX and his research at Northwestern University, it offers real stories and practical insights for leaders who want to build workplaces where people thrive.

Chris Kaufman is a creative leader, entrepreneur, and investor with over 20 years of experience. He is dedicated to supporting women and minority-led businesses that positively impact the Detroit region, and actively advises and invests in over a dozen early-stage startups. As the Co-Founder and former Chief Creative Officer of StockX, a revolutionary global e-commerce platform, Kaufman helped drive the company's growth to over 30 million users and a valuation of $3.8 billion.

Kaufman’s multidisciplinary approach has earned him recognition as one of Techweek’s “100 Most Influential People in Technology in Detroit” twice. His innovative work in design, branding, and user experience has further been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, and earned accolades from the Webby Awards, TechCrunch, and WebAward, among others. In 2022 he was recognized as Eastern Michigan University’s first Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year.

Kaufman holds a BFA from Eastern Michigan University, a Master of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. He is trained through Brené Brown’s Dare To Lead program and serves on Harvard Business Review’s advisory council. In 2024, Kaufman delivered the commencement address for Eastern Michigan University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate in commercial science.

His bestselling book, Empathy At Work, was published by Forbes Books in 2025.