#56 The Art of Empathy in Leadership with Preston Zeller

Grief, Growth, Storytelling, Operations, and the Future of AIWhat happens when personal tragedy forces you to slow down, reflect, and rebuild?In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark Cundiff sits down with entrepreneur, consultant, filmmaker, and storyteller Preston Zeller to explore how one of the most painful seasons of his life transformed the way he leads, serves others, and helps organizations grow.After the loss of his brother, Preston embarked on an extraordinary journey—creating a painting every day for 365 days as a way to process grief. That experience eventually became the documentary The Art of Grieving and fundamentally changed his perspective on empathy, leadership, and human connection.The conversation also explores storytelling as a leadership skill, building trust inside organizations, operational excellence, AI adoption, and the habits that fuel long-term growth.Whether you're leading a team, growing a business, or navigating a difficult season of life, this episode offers practical wisdom and powerful reminders about what matters most.Listen now and discover how great leaders combine empathy, vision, trust, and execution to create lasting impact.Free Learning To Lead ResourcesFree Book: The Trust GapThe Learning To Lead NewsletterLeaderNotes🔎 About LeaderNotesLeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.Contact Mark at: [email protected]