CIW Event: The Benefits of Psychological Safety to the Construction Industry

Psychological safety in a team exists when members feel they can freely share ideas or concerns without fear of negative consequences. For construction teams making daily critical decisions with potential safety and financial impacts, fostering psychological safety can significantly enhance both team effectiveness and project management execution. This webinar will introduce the core concepts of psychological safety, explain its benefits for construction teams, and outline initial steps to promote it within your organization.

Presenters:

Kari Heistad - CEO, Culture Coach International

Kari Heistad is the founder and CEO of Culture Coach International (CCI), leveraging over 25 years of experience in diversity, inclusion, and cross-cultural issues to help companies achieve their strategic goals through effective DEI practices.
CCI's practical and user-friendly diversity tools have been implemented globally. Kari has presented to more than 20,000 people through training programs and speeches, focusing on translating foundational ideas into actionable, easily implementable strategies.

A significant aspect of Kari's inclusion work involves psychological safety, which she has studied extensively to foster innovative and effective teams. As a certified psychological safety facilitator through Amy Edmondson's Fearless Organization, Kari brings valuable expertise to her clients.
Her experience extends beyond consulting; Kari served as CFO for Nordic Construction and has collaborated closely with Columbia Construction to design and implement their DEI program, with a particular emphasis on psychological safety.

 

Bill Aalerud - EVP, Columbia Construction (Retired)

Bill Aalerud recently retired after 13 years at Columbia and 43 years in the industry.

During his tenure, Bill has made a significant impact at Columbia. As Executive Vice President, he focused his efforts over the years on strategic planning, marketing and business development, human resources, IT, training/learning programs, Lean practices and continuous improvement. His recent endeavors have included launching a wellness program, oversight on initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at Columbia, developing the DEI strategic plan, and driving Columbia to be a continuous learning organization. 

Outside of Columbia, Bill has given back significantly to the profession through teaching, lecturing, and serving as the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts' (AGC MA) past Vice Chair and current Board Chair. He provides critical leadership, guidance, and oversight to help meet strategic planning improvement goals focused on Workforce Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Health and Safety, and Sustainability. 

 

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