Shermin Kruse is a negotiation consultant specializing in weaponizing empathy and stoicism training; a law professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, teaching complex negotiation, global transactions, and leadership; and a thought leader with a long history of civic engagement. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel Butterfly Stitching, inspired by the true experiences of the women in her family before and after the Iranian revolution. Before this, Shermin was a partner at the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano where she represented international and Fortune 500 companies for 17 years.

Her greatest joy comes from helping her clients and students augment their reality to the next level. She works with students to rise cognitive empathetic abilities to the superpower level while teaching emotional regulation.

Shermin often speak on issues relating to complex negotiation, tactical empathy, stoicism, change-agency, leadership, and professional development. She is also often asked to speak on issues of international relations, nonprofit management, and civil and human rights.

Shermin was recently named as the annual Woman Extraordinaire by the International Women Associates; featured by WomanScape magazine for her global humanitarian work; 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.

Shermin is currently a founder of Pasfarda Arts and Culture Exchange, a director of the international refugee center RefuSHE, and a founding member of the Chicago Council for the American Writers Museum. Previously, she served as a director of the ACLU of Illinois and a director of the Lincoln Park Community Services. Shermin is currently authoring a textbook on global transactions issues, to be published by Northwestern Library in 2022, and is a frequent columnist and commentator for a variety of international magazines, including WomanScape, Fete Lifestyle magazine, and The Huffington Post.

Shermin has a BS in psychology and philosophy from the University of Toronto and a JD from the University of Michigan.