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Outside of her corporate work, Kruse has made significant contributions to both literature and public discourse. Her debut novel Butterfly Stitching, which intertwines the stories of women navigating the Iranian revolution with themes of survival and love, was met with critical acclaim for its emotional depth and cultural authenticity. Her academic contributions include the textbook Global Transactions and Regulation, used widely by law students and professionals to explore the ethical and regulatory challenges in cross-border commerce.
Kruse is also a prominent voice in the TEDx community. As the executive producer and founder of TEDxWrigleyville, she has curated and produced more than 80 TEDx talks and performances—many of which have been featured on TED.com and have garnered viewership from more than 40 countries. Her own TEDx talks, including “Negotiating From a Place of Weakness Using Cognitive Empathy” (TEDxReno) and “Stoic Empathy: The Synergy of Compassion and Resilience” (TEDxOshkosh), have collectively reached hundreds of thousands of viewers, demonstrating the public’s growing interest in leadership models rooted in compassion and strength.
In Stoic Empathy, Kruse introduces a new lens through which leaders, educators, and changemakers can view their roles. The book explores how emotional regulation, self-leadership, and strategic influence intersect in real-world scenarios, with accessible tools designed to improve both interpersonal relationships and internal resilience. With examples from Kruse’s own legal career, academic instruction, and international humanitarian work, the book connects theory to action.
Currently a professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, Kruse teaches courses on complex negotiation, global transactions, and leadership. She also continues to serve as a speaker and workshop leader at institutions such as LinkedIn, Protiviti, Caterpillar, the David Axelrod Institute for Politics, NPR’s Illinois Public Media, and various international women's leadership forums. Her insights are regularly featured across media platforms including NPR, PBS, and major podcasts.
Her humanitarian efforts are equally notable. Kruse is a co-founder of several nonprofit initiatives and sits on the boards of the ACLU and RefuSHE. For her advocacy and service, she has received numerous accolades including the Woman Extraordinaire award from International Women Associates and recognition as one of BizWomen Magazine’s “Top 100 Women to Watch.”
Through the Stoic Empathy brand, Kruse continues to expand the reach of her message, fostering a deeper discussion on leadership, identity, and the role of empathy in societal progress. Listeners and readers alike are drawn to her nuanced, non-performative approach to leadership—a style she believes is essential in today’s culture of high-speed communication and chronic misunderstanding.
As the April 8 release date approaches, anticipation is building not only among Kruse’s existing followers but also among organizational leaders and educators seeking a new framework for engagement and growth. “This book is an invitation to view strength and softness not as opposites, but as partners,” Kruse notes. “We need both, now more than ever, to lead ourselves and each other with clarity and grace.”
The release of Stoic Empathy signals a shift in how leadership literature defines success. By anchoring influence in the dual forces of resilience and compassion, Kruse provides readers with tools not just to adapt—but to thrive—in environments marked by uncertainty and division.
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