ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What if uncertainty isn’t something to fear or even survive, but a skill you can train and a competitive advantage you can build?
Scott Stirrett has spent more than a decade helping people do exactly that. Scott is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and the founder of Venture for Canada, a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young professionals since 2013. He’s also the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a powerful guide for navigating the future of work that argues uncertainty isn’t a bug in the system. It is the system.
Scott walks us through how empathy and emotional skills play starring roles in his six pillars that help build real resilience, alongside some surprising mindset shifts and practical exercises you can start using right away. We also talk about why traditional career playbooks no longer apply and how leaders and professionals can turn volatility into opportunity instead of paralysis.
If you’re navigating change, rethinking your career, or leading others through uncertainty, this episode offers both reassurance and a roadmap.
To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.
Listen in for…
- The six pillars that help build real resilience and momentum in uncertain times.
- Seeing the opportunity in uncertainty and volatility.
- How to act when you don’t have perfect information.
- Why it is so important to build your uncertainty muscles.
"We don't choose what era we live in. We live in an era of rapid change. Learning to develop a positive relationship with uncertainty is one of the most important things that you can do, perhaps at any moment in human history." — Scott Stirrett
Episode References:
- Scott's Book: The Uncertainty Advantage
- Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
- MIT study on human skills that complement AI: mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/these-human-capabilities-complement-ais-shortcomings
About Scott Stirrett: Founder, Venture for Canada and Author, The Uncertainty Advantage
Scott Stirrett is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and the Founder of Venture for Canada (VFC), a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young professionals since 2013. Under his leadership, VFC raised $80 million and partnered with leading organizations to equip early-career Canadians with entrepreneurial skills to thrive in an uncertain world.
Scott is the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a guide for young professionals navigating the future of work, endorsed by leaders including Andrew Yang and Amanda Lang. The book draws on lessons from building VFC, emphasizing adaptability, entrepreneurial thinking, and lifelong learning.
A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Scott began his career at Goldman Sachs in New York. He’s been recognized as a Telus LGBTQ Innovator, Ashoka Fellow, and Globe and Mail Changemaker. His commentary has appeared in The Washington Post, Forbes, The Globe and Mail, and more. He currently co-chairs the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights.
Connect with Scott:
The Uncertainty Advantage: scottstirrett.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scottstirrett
Facebook: facebook.com/stirrett
Instagram: instagram.com/scottstirrett
Substack: substack.com/@scottstirrett
Connect with Maria:
Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books
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Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader
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