The Role of Empathy in Leadership with Steph Porter
Empathy is often talked about in leadership. But in high-pressure environments, it is not always easy to practice.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we will welcome Steph Porter, Founder of Ink&Iron PR, a communications leader known for her empathy-driven leadership style and her ability to help brands show up loudly, proudly, and with purpose.
With over 15 years of experience across agency and in-house roles, Steph has led multi-million-dollar campaigns for brands like Walmart, New Balance, Playtex Baby, and Tim Hortons. She has also overseen corporate storytelling and communications at SpartanNash, navigating everything from executive messaging to high-stakes crisis response.
In The Role of Empathy in Leadership, we explore:
• What empathy looks like in fast-paced, high-performance environments
• How leaders can balance results with genuine care for their teams
• The role of communication in building trust and connection• Lessons from leading through pressure, change, and crisis
• Why empathy is a strategic advantage in modern leadership
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
Empathy is not a weakness in leadership. It is what allows leaders to connect, communicate, and lead with impact.
Founder
With over 15 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications and social media - spanning both agency and in-house roles - Steph has made a career out of helping brands show up loudly, proudly and with purpose. Her roots in public relations were forged working in PR agencies where she ran multi- million-dollar campaigns for clients like Walmart, New Balance, Playtex Baby and Tim Hortons. She also crafted award-winning experiential and marketing communications while in-house at Canadian Tire Corporation, Canada’s largest retailer. Before launching ink&iron PR, Steph led external communications and social media at Midwest Fortune 400 company SpartanNash, overseeing a high-performing team and all corporate storytelling across earned and owned channels. From executive communications and national media placements to high-stakes crisis response, she’s been in the trenches and thrived there. A reliable partner to both C-suites and her creative counterparts, Steph is known for her relentless follow-through, A+ client service, sharp instincts, fearless storytelling and most of all, her empathy-driven leadership style. Steph is based in Grand Rapids, Mich., with her husband, two kids and her golden retriever.
