@PepsiCo EHS Leader Explains | Why Predictive Safety Beats Reactive |ft. Saliha Akram #TechPodcast
In this episode, a senior EHS leader at PepsiCo with over a decade of experience across complex FMCG environments explains why the future of workplace safety isn’t about more audits or stricter checklists, it’s about shifting from reactive response to predictive prevention. She shares the personal moment early in her career that turned safety from theory into purpose, why most organizations collect mountains of safety data but struggle to turn it into action, and how behavioral signals often provide the strongest early warnings before serious incidents occur. We unpack how AI, computer vision, and real-time alerts are changing how safety teams identify risk at scale, why trust and privacy matter more than technology alone, and how frontline workers become allies, not obstacles, when safety systems are introduced with transparency. We also explore why safety should be viewed as operational performance and risk management, not cost, and the leadership mindset required to build cultures where people go home safe, every day.
00:33 Leading EHS at Scale in FMCG
02:01 Why Safety Work Requires Real Passion
02:30 When Safety Became Personal: A Life-Changing Moment
03:58 Reactive vs Predictive Safety — Explained Simply
04:59 Why Organizations Still Struggle to Move Beyond Reactive Safety
06:35 What Traditional Audits Miss: The Human & Behavioral Gap
09:31 Modern Risk in a VUCA World: Why Old Frameworks Fall Short
11:50 How AI & CCTV Turn Massive Safety Data Into Action
13:56 Building Trust with Frontline Workers (Not Fear)
17:56 Early Warning Signals That Matter Most (Heinrich Pyramid)
20:50 Privacy, Responsible AI & Trust in Safety Technology
24:12 Should AI Intervene Automatically in Dangerous Situations?
26:53 Safety as Performance, Not Cost: The ROI Conversation
32:19 The One Non-Negotiable Step Toward Predictive Safety
33:29 Final Thoughts: Building a Proactive Safety Culture
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Website URL: https://techunhinged.com/
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In this episode, a senior EHS leader at PepsiCo with over a decade of experience across complex FMCG environments explains why the future of workplace safety isn’t about more audits or stricter checklists, it’s about shifting from reactive response to predictive prevention. She shares the personal moment early in her career that turned safety from theory into purpose, why most organizations collect mountains of safety data but struggle to turn it into action, and how behavioral signals often provide the strongest early warnings before serious incidents occur. We unpack how AI, computer vision, and real-time alerts are changing how safety teams identify risk at scale, why trust and privacy matter more than technology alone, and how frontline workers become allies, not obstacles, when safety systems are introduced with transparency. We also explore why safety should be viewed as operational performance and risk management, not cost, and the leadership mindset required to build cultures where people go home safe, every day.
00:33 Leading EHS at Scale in FMCG
02:01 Why Safety Work Requires Real Passion
02:30 When Safety Became Personal: A Life-Changing Moment
03:58 Reactive vs Predictive Safety — Explained Simply
04:59 Why Organizations Still Struggle to Move Beyond Reactive Safety
06:35 What Traditional Audits Miss: The Human & Behavioral Gap
09:31 Modern Risk in a VUCA World: Why Old Frameworks Fall Short
11:50 How AI & CCTV Turn Massive Safety Data Into Action
13:56 Building Trust with Frontline Workers (Not Fear)
17:56 Early Warning Signals That Matter Most (Heinrich Pyramid)
20:50 Privacy, Responsible AI & Trust in Safety Technology
24:12 Should AI Intervene Automatically in Dangerous Situations?
26:53 Safety as Performance, Not Cost: The ROI Conversation
32:19 The One Non-Negotiable Step Toward Predictive Safety
33:29 Final Thoughts: Building a Proactive Safety Culture
Subscribe for more episodes of @TechUnhingedPodcast
Catch more episodes here:
Website URL: https://techunhinged.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/techunhinged
Instagram: https://instagram.com/techunhingedpodcast
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/techunhinged
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