Episode 67: Closing the Empathy Gap with Kerry Chung

The SIXCOMMS Podcast

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Welcome to a special series ‘Conversations That Count’ featuring Singapore-based professionals. This sunny island has been my home since 2009, so I’m excited to shine a spotlight on the inspiring residents I share this sunny island with!

About our guest:

Kerry Chung is Group General Manager at the SUTL Group of Companies. He is the commercial head for its Consumer Goods distribution business as well as the Marina Division. This is under the ONE15 Marina brand, with its flagship Marina at Sentosa Cove in Singapore, and marinas in Indonesia, Phuket and New York.

He has over 20 years of finance leadership experience across Asia-Pacific in medical devices, life sciences and biotech and is passionate about people development, especially mentoring, training and coaching. He has a Coaching Certification with the Institute of Executive Coaching & Leadership. A native New Zealander, Kerry is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Here are just a couple of key takeaways from our conversation:

Empathy and Genuine Connection: Kerry reminded us that empathy isn’t just about liking someone; it’s about truly understanding and sharing their feelings. It doesn’t matter how you feel about the person—you can still empathize. We can all grow this skill by simply being curious and genuinely interested in others.

The Impact of Check-Ins: Kerry talked about how little check-ins—like asking, “Are you okay?” over a quick message or catching up over coffee or even ice-cream —can make a big difference. These small acts of kindness help people feel seen and supported and often spark the most meaningful conversations.

We cannot underestimate the importance of empathy and how it can transform our interactions. I encourage you to listen to this episode and reflect on how you can incorporate these practices into your daily interactions.

Timestamps:

[00:03:02] Defining Empathy
[00:05:15] Observing Empathy in Action
[00:09:49] Lack of Empathy: A Real-Life Example
[00:15:06] Factors Contributing to the Global Empathy Deficit
[00:19:32] Maintaining Empathy During Challenging Times
[00:24:18] Importance of Clarity in Communication
[00:26:05] Communication Tips to Close the Empathy Gap
[00:29:19] The Most Important 'C' for Empathy

Resources:

State of the Heart Report 2024 by Six Seconds

Connect with Kerry:

• Email: [e-mail]
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-chung-4883859

SUTL & ONE15 proudly run the Blue Water EduFest (BWE) in Singapore. BWE is a non-profit event on from 7 to 9 November 2024 is at the forefront of marine conservation and ocean advocacy. Please join our conference or come help celebrate the great work that eco-champions around SEA have been doing!

https://bluewateredufest.com/

Connect with Lisa:

• Website: https://www.sixcomms.org
• Email: [e-mail]
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasing/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixcomms_podcast/

Intro VO: Edric Poon
Podcast: Edric Poon In Company (EP.IC podcast)
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https://www.sixcomms.org/