Leading with Empathy: From Patrick Sutton's Unicorn Myth to Legendary Leadership

In this “25 Leaders to Follow in 2025” edition of Becoming Better with StartupExperts, Jesse Freese spotlights Patrick Sutton—his pivot from film to people leadership, two decades across Fortune 500, public sector, startups, and back again, and the people-first philosophy that anchors his work. Patrick opens up about the habits that shaped him (including his “1% better every day” lens), hard-won lessons on balance, and his forthcoming book inviting leaders to trade the unicorn myth for legendary leadership—with a teaser from the chapter “The Seduction of Complacency.” This conversation is all about Patrick’s story, his craft, and how he’s helping leaders show up with empathy and intention.