Psychological Safety in Risk Leadership: Culture, Inclusion and Change, With Sharon Sharples

Feb 27, 2026

Psychological safety gets talked about a lot in risk circles, but what does it really look like when you move beyond policy documents and into real culture change? A conversation with Sharon Sharples at Risk Europe sparked a refreshingly honest exchange about inclusion, leadership, and the human side of risk. From employee resource groups to speaking up processes and the reality of hybrid working pressures, Sharon shares practical insight shaped by years inside a heavily regulated financial services environment. What stood out most was the reminder that risk professionals are not here to block progress but to enable better outcomes for people, customers and the wider Organisation. If you care about culture, collaboration and building workplaces where people feel safe to contribute, there is plenty here to reflect on.

Highlights

• Risk as opportunity: balancing protection with business growth
• Psychological safety culture: people first, not just compliance
• Employee resource groups: building belonging and inclusion
• Staff surveys and listening groups: tracking early warning signals
• Hybrid working challenges: supporting carers and working parents
• Risk leaders as partners: adding insight rather than blocking
• Test and learn mindset: piloting ideas before full investment
• Collective progress across industries: sharing initiatives openly 

Resources and actions:

• Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/
• Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-sharples-44829b21/
• Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/