Leading with Heart and Purpose
Dr. Johanna Pagonis shares how courageous, human-first leadership can transform psychological safety in the workplace.
Prefer To Watch?
What does it really mean to create a psychologically safe workplace, and how can leaders go beyond the buzzwords to build cultures where people actually thrive?
In this episode of Safety Spotlight, Dr. Johanna Pagonis, founder of Sinogap Solutions and author of Choose to Be a Leader Others Would Want to Follow, brings a bold and deeply human take on leadership. Drawing from her roots in psychology and a career spanning law enforcement and public service, Johanna shares how organizations can move from simply “managing” to truly leading, with empathy, courage, and intention.
“We talk about creating ‘safe spaces,’” she says. “But sometimes those are just echo chambers for the dominant group. Psychological safety starts with the self. You have to nurture the courage within to challenge the system.”
From confronting imposter syndrome to reframing safety as a team-based behavior, Johanna challenges conventional thinking on leadership, culture, and accountability, making the case that trust isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a measurable business imperative. For more on Johanna’s philosophy and impact, explore her feature article: Revolutions in Safety.
Her message? If your safety culture isn’t brave, it isn’t safe. And if you’re promoting leaders for their technical chops alone, you’re missing the mark.
Explore More From Here
Other Podcasts
Chris Vienneau of Clark Builders explains how crews are trained to spot the hazards that could kill them, sharing lessons...
Jason Ross of Bird Construction shares how a panic attack on a winter highway in northern Manitoba led him to...
Garrett Hill shares why crews take in the safety message once they know the person delivering it, and what ten...
Jacqueline Handy explains how she fell into safety from a marketing role, sharing lessons from New York City transit and...