In this episode of Agents of Nonprofit, I sit down with Jennifer Gardner, a former trial lawyer turned leadership coach, to discuss the vital role of emotional intelligence, empathy, and storytelling in effective leadership. Jennifer shares her journey from the courtroom to coaching, revealing how neuroscience and persuasion techniques can help nonprofit leaders engage stakeholders, influence change, and drive impact. Through real-world examples and research-backed insights, she explains why emotional intelligence isn’t just a soft skill—it’s the foundation of true leadership.

Topics We Cover:

• How Jennifer Gardner transitioned from law to leadership coaching
• The science behind empathy, mirror neurons, and human connection
• Why sensitivity and emotional awareness are key to persuasion
• The role of emotional contagion in political and nonprofit leadership
• Balancing logic and emotion for effective persuasion
• Using storytelling, case studies, and data to inspire action
• Ethical influence: using persuasion for positive change
• How nonprofit leaders can develop emotional intelligence for greater impact

To Learn More & Connect with Jennifer:
JenniferBGardner.com
Jennifer B Gardner on LinkedIn
@iamjenniferbgardner on Instagram
Empathy, mirror neurons and SYNC article
Emotional Intelligence book by Daniel Goleman

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