Revolutions in Safety
Home Revolutions in Safety How Dr. Johanna Pagonis is “Womaning Up” Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. March 5, 2025 By Luke Hillenbrand Dr. Pagonis Puts People and Psychology at the Center. ————————————————————————— “You can have the best systems and equipment. But, if people aren’t empowered to speak up, you’ll always fall short.” Dr. Johanna Pagonis ————————————————————————— That’s the philosophy guiding Dr. Johanna Pagonis, founder of Sinogap Solutions. Dr. Pagonis, an expert in leadership and psychological safety, has redefined how organizations view safety. Her approach is simple but profound; safety starts with people. Their voices, their courage, and their ability to lead from the heart. Falling Into Safety: A Career Reimagined When Dr. Pagonis launched Sinogap Solutions, her focus wasn’t on safety. But a conversation with a former colleague, Christopher Spasoff, changed her perspective. “Christopher is an occupational health and safety lawyer. He told me, ‘What you’re teaching—emotional intelligence, leading with the heart—this is what the safety industry needs,’” Dr. Pagonis recalls. That idea stuck with her. Dr. Pagonis’ early work focused on mental and psychological health, not physical safety. “I can’t tell you how to design an organization for physical safety,” she admits. “But I can tell you how to empower people to use the tools and systems you’ve already put in place.” For Dr. Pagonis, this is the core of the problem. “Checklists and high-tech gear won’t help. If people don’t feel safe challenging the status quo or proposing new ideas, you won’t achieve your safety goals,” she says. Her mission was clear: teach groups to create safe, innovative, and collaborative environments. Her leap into safety wasn’t just about identifying gaps; it was about bridging them. As she consulted with organizations, she found that psychological safety wasn’t a fringe concept. It was a foundation. “It’s not something you tack on,” she says. “It’s woven into every conversation, every decision.” Psychological Safety as the Foundation Dr. Pagonis’ work centers on psychological safety. The idea that people should feel safe to take risks without fear of punishment is a spearhead. “Organizations often focus on the tangible aspects of safety,” Dr. Pagonis explains. “But psychological safety is just as important. Without it, even the best tools and processes will fail.” Dr. Pagonis trains leaders, through Sinogap Solutions, to create safe spaces. Employees should be able to voice concerns and suggest solutions without fearing retaliation. She emphasizes that this isn’t about creating a “bubble-wrapped” workplace. ————————————————————————— “Psychological safety isn’t about avoiding hard conversations. It’s about having the courage to speak up and challenge the system when it’s needed.” Dr. Johanna Pagonis ————————————————————————— Her training programs teach leaders to be vulnerable, build trust, and listen with empathy. “If leaders don’t set the tone, no one else will,” Dr. Pagonis says. “Brené Brown says it best: what a leader does gives permission for others to do the same.” One of her favorite teaching tools is role-playing difficult conversations. “People often freeze when they’re in the moment,” she explains. “Practicing scenarios teaches them to face challenges without shutting down or escalating.” Dr. Pagonis also emphasizes the importance of consistency. “You can’t build trust with one grand gesture,” she says. “It’s the small, daily actions that matter most.” Key Takeaways Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also Breaking Barriers in Male-Dominated Industries Dr. Pagonis’ work often intersects with male-dominated fields like law enforcement, construction, and transportation. Her course, “Women Up: Ignite the Leader in You,” addresses the unique challenges women face in these environments. “When I started my career, I spent years in male-dominated spaces,” Dr. Pagonis shares. “As a female civilian in law enforcement, I had to earn credibility in ways my male counterparts didn’t.” Those experiences inspired her to create programs that equip women with the skills and confidence to lead. The Women Up course is on its seventh cohort. The program focuses on building confidence, fostering executive presence, and navigating difficult conversations. “One of the biggest challenges women face is confidence,” Dr. Pagonis says. “Whether it’s speaking up in meetings or advocating for themselves, the gap often isn’t in skills but in belief.” One success story stands out. A participant in the inaugural cohort was a senior executive. She was acting in a temporary role while competing for a permanent promotion. The decision-makers passed her over, claiming she was “stressed” and needed “protection.” Dr. Pagonis calls this a classic case of benevolent sexism. “Her male peers were never told they weren’t promoted because someone needed to protect them,” she notes. They denied her opportunities despite her clear qualifications. The program taught the executive to frame her concerns. It also helped her control her emotions in high-stakes talks. “She went back to her boss, asked him to advocate for her,
