“Leadership wisdom with heart and spine.”

Tony Fernando, PhD, psychiatrist, author of Life Hacks from the Buddha

Learn how a different kind of strength can transform your leadership

Leading with Fierce Compassion invites readers to rethink what it means to lead in times of uncertainty and strain. It brings psychological science into real moments of leadership, where decisions are complex and relationships matter.

The book offers support for leaders who want to stay grounded when pressure rises, communicate with more clarity, and strengthen the relationships that make teams resilient. Through relatable stories, therapeutic insight, and the NEW reflective learning cycle, readers learn how to step out of automatic reactions and choose responses that align with their values.

You will explore how to create spaces where people feel seen and supported, how to navigate conflict with integrity, and how to care for your own wellbeing as you lead. Every chapter includes reflective practices and personal stories from leaders that help you integrate compassion into your daily work.

This book is a practical companion for anyone who wants to lead with both courage and care. It speaks to leaders across sectors and cultures, and offers a human-centred approach that is relevant for managers, executives, and those stepping into leadership for the first time.

Available in hardback, paperback and e-book.

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Read the reviews

Audio Course & Workbook

Finding Fierce Compassion

Support for your compassion journey, whenever you need it.

The Finding Fierce Compassion audio course accompanies the book by guiding you through the reflective practices step by step. These sessions help you move from understanding the concepts to truly integrating them into your daily life.

You will learn how to regulate stress, soften reactivity, strengthen empathy, and take wise action in challenging moments. This is your space to reflect, reset, and grow at your own pace.

You can use this audio course as a stand-alone practice guide or in conjunction with the book.

“Fierce Compassion is leadership wisdom with heart and spine. Dr. Mary Miller shows us how to lead with clarity, courage, and deep care, without burning out or selling out. If you’ve ever felt torn between being kind and being strong, this book is your map. Compassion, it turns out, is power.”

Tony Fernando, PhD
Psychiatrist & author of Life Hacks from the Buddha
New Zealand
“Leading with Fierce Compassion lays out a framework for NGO leaders to navigate the twin challenges of addressing the external polycrisis while simultaneously navigating the internal identity conflicts that can occur in progressive organisations. Fierce compassion is an external act of resistance against neoliberal individualism and competition, but is also an unapologetic embrace of internal diversity to bridge internal differences. But it doesn’t let leaders just look outwards - it asks them to look inward also to develop the skills, empathy and wise action to deal with distress. It is a thought provoking guide to anyone interested in leadership in our troubled times.”

Dr Russel Norman
Executive Director Greenpeace Aotearoa
“Blending her powerful personal story with deep clinical insight, Dr Mary Miller brings rare humanity to the case for disciplined, Fierce Compassion — as both a way of living and leading. In a world so often marked by conflict, polarisation, and harsh self-judgment, this book is a timely guide. It’s written for all of us who’ve ever been too hard on ourselves or others.”

Galia BarHava, PhD
Organisational culture specialist & psychologist
New Zealand
“Leading with Fierce Compassion is a powerful guide for today’s leaders, blending psychological insight with practical tools to navigate complexity with integrity. There is wise advice for leaders dealing with a stressful position (that can be lonely) and stressed team members. There is a focus on acceptance of uncomfortable feelings — to be able to sit with them before rushing to fix things. This book is a must-read for leaders and team members, as both need the skills and tools within.”

Bruce Arroll
Professor, general practice and primary health care, director of Goodfellow Unit
New Zealand