Shermin Kruse is a speaker, professor, TEDx speaker and producer, writer, entrepreneur, lawyer, and idea curator. Shermin teaches tactical empathy and negotiation, leadership, and global transactions at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where law students use the textbook she wrote, “Global Transactions and Regulation” (Northwestern Library, 2022). Her recent TEDx talk on using empathy to negotiate has more than 120K views, and she has produced more than 60 different TED and TEDx talks by different speakers with millions of views. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel “Butterfly Stitching,” inspired by the experiences of Iranian women before and after the Iranian revolution. Unique among other speakers, Shermin has in depth experience and knowledge of the corporate world. Prior to her speaking and teaching careers, Shermin was an equity partner at the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano where she represented international and Fortune 500 companies for 17 years, and she is currently an entrepreneur and serves on the board of the National Association of Corporate Directors, advising directors of public companies on various governance and compliance matters.
Shermin is a frequent speaker on issues relating to tactical empathy, complex negotiation, stoicism, idea and vision curation, leadership, and professional development. She was recently named the annual Woman Extraordinaire by the International Women Associates, featured by Woman Scape Magazine for her global impact, and named one of the nation’s top 100 “Women to Watch” by BizWomen Magazine, one of Chicago’s most influential women by Chicago Business Journal, and one of Chicago’s Women of Inspiration by Today’s Chicago Magazine. Dedicated to her local and global community, she has founded multiple non-profits and NGOs. Shermin’s educational alumni institutions include the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., cumlaude), The University of Toronto (BSc, honors dual degree in Psychology and Philosophy), Northwestern University School of Professional Development (negotiation certification), and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs (Leadership Fellowship).
