#56 - Bryce Griffler - The Hidden Cost of Hiding: Authentic Leadership, Imposter Syndrome & Workplace Safety

What if the shell you've built to protect yourself at work is actually the thing holding you back — and putting others at risk?Bryce Griffler is the co-founder of Safety Is For Everyone and Global Program Manager, Safety & EHS Assurance at Google. His journey spans systems engineering, leading critical national infrastructure manufacturing at BAE Systems through COVID, and building EHS programs at AWS.His conviction: authenticity isn't a soft skill — it's a safety-critical one. The workers most likely to prevent your next incident are often the ones who don't feel safe enough to speak up. And imposter syndrome is quietly draining your highest performers every single day.In this episode, Bryce shares the moment a senior leader challenged him with three words — "Why you, though?" — and how that shaped everything. He breaks down why psychological safety and physical safety are the same conversation, how to get buy-in from resistant supervisors, and tells the remarkable story of a Pride flag at a union plant during COVID that reminded him exactly why he does what he does.Follow or connect with Bryce on LinkedIn | Learn more at safetyisforeveryone.comIn This EpisodeYou are not employee number 789054: why who you are is what makes you effectiveThe "Why you?" moment: the challenge that changed Bryce's careerAuthenticity as a safety tool: how being yourself reduces incident riskThe shell we build at work — and why it's exhausting to maintainImposter syndrome vs. self-doubt: knowing the difference mattersWhy imposter syndrome hits hardest on your highest performersGetting resistant managers on board: lead with data, not ideasDiverse tiger teams: why the uncomfortable room produces the best solutionsThe Pride flag story: what true inclusion looks like in a union plant during COVIDChapters(00:00) — Welcome & introducing Bryce(01:27) — Bryce's core philosophy: you hired the whole person(03:52) — How Bryce got into EHS from engineering(05:13) — "Why you?" — the moment that changed everything(08:15) — Authenticity as a daily risk assessment(09:09) — Bryce's career: BAE Systems, AWS, and Google(14:04) — Management systems as a specialty(21:31) — Psychological safety and speaking up(25:45) — Building diverse teams for better safety outcomes(29:18) — How to get line manager buy-in(35:24) — The power of authenticity at work(36:32) — What imposter syndrome really is (and isn't)(38:24) — Telling your team "I have no idea what I'm doing"(43:07) — COVID at a critical national infrastructure plant(45:14) — The Pride flag story(53:48) — Bryce's closing message: get comfortable being uncomfortableSend us a message! If you like this podcast episode, subscribe here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest from our HSE community and guests. Connect with our CEO and host, Mousa, today to stay updated on Safety Heroes, Pixaera, and more. Do you want to be a guest on Safety Heroes, or know someone who would be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on LinkedIn or email [email protected].