Shelley Baber, CSP, began her career chasing perfection. She wanted to make an immediate impact and thought that if something wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t right. But after 25 years in the field, now serving as EHS Director for Eaton’s Electrical Engineering Services and Systems Division, she’s learned that real progress is made through baby steps, or, as she puts it, “Don’t let no progress get in the way of any progress.”

In this episode of My Big Safety Challenge, Shelley shares the lessons that have shaped her journey, starting with the power of building relationships in the workplace. She believes the best safety cultures feel like family, where trust and connection allow teams to grow together. At the same time, she’s clear that family outside of work comes first. For Shelley, it’s not about achieving a perfect balance between work and life. It’s about blending the two in a way that makes room for both.

You’ll also hear why mentoring is now at the heart of her mission and how safety professionals are in a unique position to make an impact at every level of an organization.

If you enjoy this conversation, keep an eye out for our next season of My Big Safety Challenge. Shelley will be joining us again, this time as cohost.