Welcome to my first solo episode of Making the Connection! I’m Angela Chong, and today I’m diving into something I care deeply about: empathy—especially in the remote and hybrid work environments so many of us live in today.

After nearly 10 years of working remotely, I’ve learned that building strong professional relationships takes more than just good intentions. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is key. In this episode, I share why empathy is more than being “nice”—it’s about creating space for trust, safety, and real connection, even when we’re separated by a screen.

There are small but powerful ways we can lead with empathy in our day-to-day work—through tone, timing, thoughtful communication, and being more intentional with how we check in with each other.

🎧 Talking points in this episode:

• Why empathy is a business advantage, not just a nice-to-have
• The role of emotional intelligence in remote collaboration
• How to communicate thoughtfully over Zoom, Slack, and email
• Practical ways to build a culture of connection, one interaction at a time

If this resonates with you—or if you have your own stories about empathy at work—I’d love to hear from you.

Find me on LinkedIn or Instagram @makingtheconnectionpodcast and let’s keep the conversation going.

Thanks so much for listening—and until next time, keep connecting.

Resources Mentioned:
Catalyst Report

HBR

HBR Books about Empathy (not mentioned but thought this would be helpful)