How to be successful in safety – Rebranding Safety with Dr. Megan Tranter

Overview

In an insightful conversation on the Rebranding Safety podcast, Dr Megan Tranter shares her decades-long journey through the world of health and safety, leadership, and organisational impact. From her early technical roots in rural Australia to global EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) roles in multinational giants like PepsiCo, Amazon, and Netflix, Megan reflects on lessons in influence, business integration, and how care for people transcends traditional safety language.

How to be successful in safety – Rebranding Safety with Dr. Megan Tranter

When a CEO in the 1980s boldly claimed he’d make his company the safest in America, financial analysts panicked. Yet, ten years on, the company was thriving. This moment from Alcoa’s history sparked an important reflection from Megan: Why haven’t more leaders followed suit?
Her answer suggests that while safety may no longer be the go-to proxy for demonstrating care, the principle remains. Modern leaders may now leverage ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) metrics or sustainability initiatives to show the same intent—though they carry their own risks to share price and reputation if targets aren’t met.

Career Shifts and Learning to Lead

Megan’s career began in industrial hygiene and evolved through technical and leadership roles, spanning continents and industries. A major theme throughout her journey is adaptability. While early roles demanded technical depth, leadership required influence, communication, and above all, credibility.
She notes that understanding business context—capital expenditures, organisational structure, and operational constraints—has been far more impactful than simply reciting regulations or assessments.
“If all you bring to the table is technical talk, you’ll be left out of the real conversation.”

The Power of Storytelling and Human Connection

One of the most valuable skills Megan champions is storytelling. It creates emotional resonance, builds trust, and bridges gaps between technical professionals and business leaders.
She advises that effective communication isn’t about safety jargon—it’s about relevance. Whether it’s a shared laugh in a queue or a compelling narrative about risk, it’s the connection that drives influence.

Gender, Identity and Professional Growth

As a woman in a male-dominated field, Megan is honest about the internal and external challenges she’s faced. In the early stages of motherhood, she avoided talking about her children at work, fearing it would diminish her professional identity. Over time, she’s come to believe that true leadership means creating space for others to bring their whole selves to work—without apology.
She also shares how building technical credibility helped her challenge biases and earn her place at the table, but credits sponsorship—not just mentorship—as the true career accelerant. Sponsors, she says, are those who advocate for you in rooms you’re not in, opening doors to opportunities you may not even know exist.

Experience Over Education

Despite her PhD in occupational health and safety, Megan insists that her most valuable knowledge came not from courses, but from experiences—collaborating with HR, managing budgets, analysing fleet depreciation, and navigating international regulatory environments.
“The real learning happens when you step outside your comfort zone and dive into someone else’s world.”

Stacking the Wins: Aligning Safety with Business Goals

Megan introduces the idea of “stacking wins”: aligning safety initiatives with broader organisational objectives like productivity, cost-efficiency, and employee wellbeing. When safety delivers benefits across these domains, it becomes a strategic enabler rather than a compliance cost.
This approach fosters cross-functional collaboration, making safety part of the bigger picture—especially in environments where capital investment is constrained.

Influence, Impact and a Call to Courage

Impact and influence are two themes that Megan holds dear. Influence, she argues, is central to the success of safety professionals. It’s not enough to be technically strong; one must persuade, connect, and guide leaders with differing priorities.
Impact, meanwhile, is about recognising value—both short and long-term. Whether it’s an incremental culture shift or a sweeping policy change, every conversation counts.
“Sometimes finished is good enough. And sometimes, impact isn’t visible straight away—but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

Advice for the Next Generation—and Especially Women

To those early in their careers, particularly women navigating unequal standards, Megan offers heartfelt advice:
• Get comfortable with discomfort.
• Don’t over-optimise for perfection.
• Learn to process feedback neutrally.
• Advocate for yourself—and others.
Above all, don’t wait for the perfect moment or perfect plan. Create your own roles, your own path, and your own narrative.

Final Thoughts

Dr Megan Tranter’s story is more than a career retrospective—it’s a masterclass in evolving from technical specialist to strategic leader. Her reflections show that safety, when framed correctly, is a tool for transformation—not only of systems and processes but of people and culture.
And that’s something every business should aspire to.