This podcast episode features Chris Schembra discussing how he started his business facilitating meaningful connections through dinner parties that sparked vulnerability and gratitude. His path wasn’t paved with traditional milestones. Instead, it was his experiences with loneliness, healing, and rediscovering community that shaped the foundation of his company—an organization that has helped forge over 500,000 workplace relationships through the principles of gratitude and empathy.
Chris explained that while AI and automation will continue to transform business, the future belongs to those who blend efficiency with authenticity. He pointed to the concept of “automation with a human touch,” originally from Toyota’s production system, as a guiding principle. AI can help leaders listen better, respond with empathy, and use their newfound time for creative, human-centered work.
Gratitude and empathy, Chris emphasized, aren’t “soft” skills; they are business essentials. Companies that foster real emotional connections—internally with employees and externally with customers—build loyalty, inspire innovation, and create lasting impact.
For young professionals, Chris’s advice is simple but profound: connect people. Even if you’re early in your career, introducing two people who can help each other builds social capital, grows your confidence, and strengthens your community.
As business evolves, the human touch will be what sets great companies apart. Gratitude isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a strategy for sustainable growth in an increasingly digital world.