Zaki sat down with Oscarlyn Elder, co-chief investment officer of Truist Wealth, for the latest edition of the podcast, “I’ve Been Meaning to Do That.” They talked about how his own family history influenced his research into the science of empathy, kindness, and cooperation; the “crisis of connection” found in modern society; and evidence that improved human connections aren’t just good for individual relationships but can also directly improve outcomes in personal and business negotiations.
Such negotiations often co-exist when families own or run businesses together, and the complicated dynamics mean that empathy skills that improve communication and understanding among family members are particularly important.
In his conversation with Elder, Zaki says he became interested in studying human relationships at an early age, since his father is from Pakistan and his mother is from Peru, and the two had little in common besides their immigrant backgrounds. When they divorced, Zaki says he became the “unofficial ambassador” between his parents at the age of 8.
“As a kid, it was just profound to know that these are two really wonderful people; neither of them is bad, but they see the world in fundamentally different ways,” he says. “I think that tipped me off to the idea that, oftentimes, connecting with people is not easy.”
