SHOLA RICHARDS
Workplace Kindness Expert
International Keynote Speaker
Best-selling Author
The real danger isn’t just the negativity we’re seeing everywhere. It’s the helplessness and hopelessness it creates, which means we’ve started to believe there’s nothing we can do.
That lack of agency is the real enemy.
Not the sunshine-and-rainbows kind where we put a poster on the wall and call it a day, but kindness with backbone.
The type of kindness that asks us to:
The type of kindness that makes us unstoppable.
And it’s the most urgent, strategic, and courageous choice we can make today.
Some people call me a “kindness extremist”—which, let’s be honest, sounds like the world’s least intimidating superhero. [Heroic voice] “I’m here to… hold doors open and say please and thank you!”
But you know what? If being an extremist about treating people like human beings is controversial, then maybe the problem isn’t with the extremists. Maybe the problem is with the people who think cruelty is strength, who think kindness is weakness, and who think caring about other people is somehow… weird.
I’ve testified before Congress on bringing civility to Capitol Hill and shared this message across three continents—from TEDx stages to Silicon Valley boardrooms to leading healthcare organizations around the world.
As the CEO and Founder of Go Together Global® and best-selling author of three books—Making Work Work, Go Together, and Civil Unity—I’m building a worldwide movement around a simple reminder:
This has transformed Fortune 500 companies, changed how healthcare teams deliver care, and even inspired elected leaders to show up differently for their communities.
We can’t give what we don’t have. Building our inner strength first fuels our capacity to stand up to unkindness, face hard conversations, and drive lasting change. This isn’t selfish; it’s the foundation that makes true kindness possible.
When the world feels overwhelming and your actions feel insignificant, you don’t have to save the world. You don’t have to worry about tomorrow. You can take the micro-actions within your control just today, and that’s enough.
If you’re waiting for someone more qualified, more skilled, or more thoughtful to save the day, remember: the hero you’re looking for is you. Leadership doesn’t require a title; it requires you to go first.
For the organizations that commit to it, kindness becomes more than an ideal.
The Kindness Extremist is where radical empathy meets real grit. In a world drowning in outrage, cynicism, and disconnection, Shola Richards offers a counter-narrative: kindness as a form of strength, not weakness.
Each week, he tackles the hard conversations that actually matter to help you navigate conflict, stop harm in its tracks, and lead with conviction. You’ll learn how to set boundaries without losing compassion, address difficult situations with courage, and turn moments of tension into opportunities for real change.
Whether you’re guiding a team, speaking up in your community, or trying to stay grounded when the world feels chaotic, this is your space for honest dialogue, practical strategies, and actionable hope.
