About Payal Beri, PhD
Immersive Experience Design Strategist • Organizational Psychologist • Founder • Global Speaker • Podcast Host
Vision
A world where empathy is no longer abstract—but a felt, lived, and transformative force that reshapes relationships, systems, and societies from the inside out.
North Star
To ignite a global movement through empathy-fueled storytelling, curating immersive experiences and curiosity-led conversations that expand our collective understanding and bridge the divides that keep us from fully seeing one another’s humanity.
Mission
RK Empathy is on a mission to empower people, leaders, and communities to realize we have more in common as humans than otherwise led to believe by those who benefit from our divide.
Values
Curiosity over judgement
We lead with questions, not assumptions. Whether in a podcast conversation, a founder’s retreat, or a corporate event, we seek to understand before we seek to solve.
Depth meets beauty
We create spaces that feel both soulful and elevated. We believe beautiful things can carry deep meaning—and deep things deserve to be beautifully held.
Connection is the point
No matter the format—1:1 immersion or a room of 100—the goal is always real, human connection. We prioritize making people feel seen, safe, and part of something.
Integrity is our foundation
We show up with care, honor our word, and center honesty in everything we do. We don’t force transformation—we trust it will come through truth and time.
About Dr. Beri
Organizational psychologist. Empathy storyteller. Cultural strategist. Third culture visionary.
I was raised between languages, borders, and expectations.
Born Indian, shaped by the Middle East, the U.S., and Australia — I moved through Dubai, Iraq, Egypt, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California, all before the age of ten. By the time most children are learning where they’re from, I was already learning how to adapt, observe, and code-switch to belong.
And for a long time, I believed I didn’t. Didn’t belong. Didn’t deserve to speak. Should stay quiet—because who wants to hear from the girl who’s too different to define?
But there was something else I saw along the way:
No matter where I lived or what language was spoken, people wanted the same things—to be understood, to belong, to love, to be proud of their work, to protect what matters.
That realization became the heartbeat of my work.
The framework was always there.
It’s no accident that I built a framework around compassion, empathy, and accountability. It’s how I’ve always seen the world.
As a former clinical therapist and organizational psychologist, I spent nearly two decades helping people untangle stories that weren’t theirs — stories shaped by bias, silence, and survival.
As a choreographer and performer, I studied the emotional intelligence of movement — how rhythm, breath, and presence can shift how people feel in a space.
Today, I bring those worlds together. Through immersive storytelling, strategy, and empathy-led experiences, I help leaders, changemakers, and communities reconnect to what’s real—and reshape what’s possible.
This isn’t about inspiration. It’s about transformation — personal, collective, cultural.
When I’m not designing keynotes or working with clients to produce In-Person Immersive Experiences for their purpose-driven vision, you’ll find me watching docuseries about empires, crying from laughter at stand-up comedy, seeking out the best meal in any city, or recharging through meaningful conversations that go far beyond small talk.
I’m here to help people remember who they are beneath the noise. And create a world that feels more like home for all of us.
Bio information
Standard Bio (110 words)
Dr. Payal Beri is an organizational psychologist, global speaker, and founder of RK Empathy — a human-first experiential organization reimagining leadership, connection, and cultural transformation through the lens of empathy. Known as The Empathy Storyteller, Dr. Beri brings nearly two decades of experience as a former clinical therapist and organizational psychologist for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and socially conscious brands.
A proud third-culture woman raised in the Middle East, U.S., and Australia, Dr. Beri’s worldview is shaped by global experiences, ancestral wisdom, and a deep understanding of human behavior across systems and cultures.
She is the host of Reframing Perspectives, a weekly podcast that explores personal evolution, social impact, and what it means to lead with both compassion and accountability. She’s currently working on a book that builds on her signature framework to offer a bold new approach to creating change that lasts.
Organizations like NASA, Google, and the University of Chicago have featured Dr. Beri’s work. Learn more at drpayalberi.com or by following Dr.Payal Beri on LinkedIn, Youtube and Instagram.
Contact
For all inquiries, please contact info@rkempathy.com
Weekly ponders & thoughts
The world feels disconnected. We get to change that.
Every week, I share raw stories, research-backed insights, and powerful reframes to help you navigate relationships, leadership, and identity with more clarity, curiosity, and connection.
It’s for anyone committed to navigating this world without losing who they are.
