Pete Williams

In many companies, EHS professionals rise through the ranks based on technical expertise without developing the technical skills for leadership. This session explores how we develop the non-technical skills that truly define leadership: influence, communication, empathy, strategic thinking, and the ability to connect EHS goals with business outcomes. We’ll also tackle a hard truth, not every great EHS expert wants or is ready for leadership. So how do we identify, support, and shape those who are?

• Why do we keep promoting technical experts into leadership without leadership development?
• How do we differentiate between technical specialists who want to go deep vs. those who want to lead?
• What kind of development programs, coaching, or mentorship actually help build leadership capacity?
• Are we helping the people closest to the work do their jobs better?