"[Y]ou're four times more likely to find a psychopath at the top of the corporate ladder than you are walking around in the janitor's office"

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/21/136462824/a-psychopath-walks-i...

My experience backs this up. The most wealthy and powerful people I know are at least moderately callous, demanding, and manipulative. Instead of empathy I think being emotionally perceptive is crucial. You must know how others are feeling but not feel it yourself so you can choose to act on that knowledge or not.