In this episode of SOTE Edge Talks, Malcolm Staves (Global VP of Health and Safety at L’Oreal and co-founder of SOTE) sits down with Jennifer McNelly, CEO of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), for a deep dive into the evolution of safety leadership. Jennifer shares her unique journey—from growing up in a political family in Alaska to leading one of the world’s most influential safety organizations. The conversation explores how safety professionals can transition from technical experts to influential leaders by leveraging personal strengths and focusing on organizational culture. Jennifer breaks down the Workplace EHS Coalition’s core principles, the critical role of leading indicators, and why mental health has moved from the “backburner” to front and center in the modern workplace.
Whether you are a seasoned executive or an early-career professional, this episode offers a masterclass in courageous leadership and the power of community in saving lives.
Key Topics Covered:
- The “Unicorn” Career: How a background in national politics and the U.S. Department of Labor shaped Jennifer’s mission-driven leadership style.
- Beyond Compliance: Why culture “eats strategy for lunch” and the importance of psychological safety.
- Strengths-Based Leadership: Using Gallup CliftonStrengths—like “Woo” (Winning Others Over) and “Strategic”—to build trust and hope within an organization.
- Leading Indicators: Shifting the focus from the “rearview mirror” of lagging statistics to proactive, business-driven safety practices.
- The Power of Community: How the ASSP’s 36,000 members collaborate to ensure safety is an inherent right for every worker.
- SOTE 2026: A look ahead to the upcoming Safety on the Edge forum in Baltimore.
About Jennifer McNelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcnelly/ Jennifer McNelly is the CEO of ASSP and a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths coach. With a career spanning the public and private sectors, she is a leading advocate for workforce development and global safety standards. Outside the office, she is a WSET Level 2 wine enthusiast and an avid pickleball player.
00:00 – Welcome to SOTE Edge Talks
00:47 – Meet Jennifer McNelly: From Alaska to the CEO of ASSP
01:46 – Wine Certification and Life Outside the Office
04:28 – Reflections on SOTE 2025 and Industrial Visits
06:12 – A “Unicorn” Career: Politics, Public Service, and Manufacturing
08:50 – How Safety Found Me: Joining ASSP as CEO
11:48 – The Passion of the Safety Professional
12:27 – The Power of Community: ASSP’s Global Chapter Structure
14:34 – CliftonStrengths: Building Influential Leaders
18:01 – Why Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch
20:38 – What is “Woo”? Demystifying the Top 5 Strengths
24:18 – Memories from SOTE: Living on the Edge
28:03 – Normalizing the Mental Health Conversation
33:44 – The Workplace EHS Coalition and Core Principles
38:51 – Leading vs. Lagging Indicators in Safety
44:07 – The Future of ASSP: Digital Transformation and Career Coaching
54:19 – Why ASSP Partners with SOTE
58:55 – Turning Back Time: Courage and Stewardship
1:02:29 – Closing Remarks