Shermin Kruse She/Her/Hers
Negotiation consultant, law professor, author, and TEDx producer.
Fields of expertise:
Shermin Kruse is a globally recognized negotiation consultant, law professor, author, and TEDx producer whose transformative work in empathy, stoicism, and complex negotiation has influenced audiences from corporate boardrooms to university classrooms and international stages. Born in Tehran during a period of profound social and political upheaval, Shermin began her writing journey at the age of 10, penning poetry in Farsi as a means of processing life under the intense pressures of war and governmental oppression. Her family later immigrated to Canada with little more than a few suitcases, marking the beginning of a journey that would see Shermin rise from a young immigrant to a celebrated thought leader and influential global voice.
With a background in philosophy and neuropsychology from the University of Toronto and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, Shermin launched her legal career with a specialty in international business law. As a partner at the prestigious law firm Barack Ferrazzano, she spent 17 years representing Fortune 500 clients, including giants like LVMH, Google, and Walmart. Her legal practice, grounded in resolution-oriented strategies, provided her with in-depth expertise in high-stakes negotiations, cross-border transactions, and corporate management. This experience became a foundation for her approach to tactical empathy, a method she pioneered that combines cognitive empathy with strategic action to create lasting impact and positive change.Shermin is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel Butterfly Stitching, which interweaves her family’s experiences in Iran with themes of resilience, love, and survival under oppression. The novel has resonated with readers around the world for its poignant and authentic storytelling, painting a rich tapestry of life and love amidst the Iranian revolution’s turmoil.
Beyond fiction, her work as a writer includes the textbook Global Transactions and Regulation, an essential resource for law students and business professionals alike, which provides insights into the ethical, political, and legal dimensions of cross-border commercial activities.
As the founder and executive producer of TEDxWrigleyville, Shermin has produced and scripted over 60 TEDx talks and performances, many of which have been featured on TED.com and garnered millions of views across 40 countries. These talks, often centered on resilience, cultural understanding, and the transformative power of empathy, reflect her dedication to curating ideas that promote social change. Shermin has also given TEDx talks herself, including her popular 2022 talk on “Negotiating from a Place of Weakness Using Cognitive Empathy,” which has been viewed by hundreds of thousands worldwide.
In addition to her role as a professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she teaches complex negotiation, leadership, and global transactions, Shermin frequently speaks on tactical empathy, leadership, and stoicism, sharing her expertise at academic conferences, corporate events, and through media outlets such as NPR, PBS, and numerous influential podcasts. Her recent engagements include talks for the David Axelrod Institute for Politics, NPR’s Illinois Public Media, and keynotes at prominent women’s leadership events.
Shermin’s impact extends beyond the academic and corporate worlds to the non-profit sector, where she has founded multiple NGOs and serves on the boards of organizations such as the ACLU and RefuSHE. Her humanitarian work has earned her accolades including the annual Woman Extraordinaire award from the International Women Associates, recognition as one of the nation’s top 100 “Women to Watch” by BizWomen Magazine, and numerous other honors that celebrate her dedication to fostering empathy, justice, and human rights.
In Stoic Empathy, Shermin offers a powerful paradigm for navigating life’s complexities by blending cognitive empathy with the resilience of stoic principles. Drawing on neuroscience, philosophy, and her own personal journey, she provides readers with actionable insights into cultivating influence, self-leadership, and emotional regulation. Whether you’re a corporate leader, educator, parent, or simply seeking tools to navigate personal and professional challenges with integrity, Stoic Empathy is a roadmap for achieving success through balance, compassion, and strength.
