Shermin Kruse

Shermin Kruse is an author, speaker, Northwestern law professor, and mother of four whose work sits at the intersection of Stoic philosophy, empathy, and resilience. Her first children's book, The Calm Inside: A Stoic Guide to Staying Steady (Fair Share Publishing, November 2026), brings ancient wisdom to kids ages 4–8. It's a picture book about the big feelings and ordinary heartbreaks of childhood, and about the small choices that help kids stay steady through them.

The book builds on her acclaimed Stoic Empathy (Hay House), and on nearly two decades as an international business lawyer, negotiator, and strategist advising public-company boards, global corporations, and Fortune 500 companies. At Northwestern Pritzker School of Law she teaches Negotiating with Tactical Empathy, Global Transactions, Cross-Border Deals, and Leadership. A four-time TEDx speaker, she has also spent a decade producing thought-leadership events, including TEDx conferences and a network of salon series. Her most recent talk, "The Calm Inside," which shares its title with the book, has been viewed more than 700,000 times.

Her journey began in Tehran during a time of war and upheaval. It informs everything she writes, including her conviction that children can learn to feel deeply and stay steady.

What Makes Shermin Great to Interview

• She brings philosophy to the kitchen table. As a mom of four, Shermin knows we can't protect kids from being left out, failing, or losing friendships. The Calm Inside is about what we can do: help them feel everything while knowing they still have a choice about what comes next.
• Her message already has an audience. Shermin has given four TEDx talks. Her most recent, "The Calm Inside," has over 700,000 views, and the book explores the same ideas.
• She challenges the "toughen up" myth. Stoicism is often misread as emotional suppression. Shermin makes the case that it's really about steadiness, empathy, and agency, and that kids are ready for it far earlier than we think.
• She has a remarkable personal story. Born in Tehran amid profound upheaval, Shermin immigrated to Canada with her family with little more than a few suitcases. She went on to become an international lawyer, professor, and global voice on empathy and leadership.
• She has deep credentials in both mind and practice. She holds degrees in philosophy and neuropsychology from the University of Toronto and a law degree from the University of Michigan. She pioneered tactical empathy, a method that pairs cognitive empathy with strategic action.
• Her impact goes beyond the page. She has founded multiple NGOs and served on the boards of the ACLU and RefuSHE. Her honors include the Woman Extraordinaire award from International Women Associates and recognition as one of BizWomen's top 100 "Women to Watch."
• She's a prolific writer. Her books include The Calm Inside, Stoic Empathy, Butterfly Stitching, and the textbook Global Transactions and Regulation.

About The Calm Inside

The recess game that ends in tears. The group project that falls apart. The meltdown that's right there. The Calm Inside follows Marc, a young boy modeled on the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, as he faces the everyday challenges of the classroom, told through the eyes of his classmate Amara.

Also by Shermin: Stoic Empathy (Hay House)

Stoicism and empathy may sound like opposites, but together they form a science-backed practice for leading with integrity and correcting power imbalances. Kruse outlines a cognitive form of empathy, understanding what others think and feel without being swept into their emotional state. She pairs it with Stoic tools for emotional control, for leaders, educators, parents, and anyone at a crossroads.