Diane O'Connell
Esq.
NY, USBE SAFE, BUILD MINDS - Avoid accidents by building a psychologically safer, mentally healthy & engaged workforce so you can get the job done!
While the isn't about me, I get it, you want to know more before you take the plunge. So here goes....
I come from a family of carpenters, plumbers, and mechanics, and I grew up wet-sanding cars after school! My husband and I have renovated houses for over 15 years, and I also worked in the film and design industry, building sets for large events. So, I understand the pressures of deadlines, client demands, and getting the job done according to plan.
While I eventually shifted careers to become an attorney and mediator, seeking a more stable path for my family, I found myself struggling with balancing work demands and personal needs. The traditional office environment just didn’t fit; I missed the hands-on, on-location work, and – yes, I developed my own case of Disgruntled Worker Syndrome!
That’s when I decided to go back to what I love: helping people feel safer at work and empowering leaders to build the right environment for their workforce to succeed. Psychological safety has become my focus because I’ve seen how critical it is in industries with high stakes and high stress, where a strong safety culture allows teams to work at their best. My life and career experiences, as an negotiator, mediator, employment law and risk management attorney, have shown me that supporting a culture of psychological safety goes beyond meeting quotas or satisfying clients. It creates an atmosphere where people feel valued and empowered, which not only boosts morale but also drives productivity and loyalty.
As a speaker and workplace reinvention strategist, I help leaders bridge the gap between business needs and the psychological safety of their teams, to help them create environments that support both. Psychological safety is key to maintaining a productive work dynamic while giving leaders the satisfaction of knowing they’re respected and appreciated by their teams.
Aside from my professional work, I sing and play the flute in a rock/blues band, I love traveling, cooking, and making handmade soap. I have two cats: Max, a Maine Coon who thinks he’s a dog, and Roxie, who gets bullied by him daily (we try to enforce psychological safety for Roxie, but it’s like herding cats!). I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where I still live, and I also spend as much time as possible in St. Croix, VI.
Qualifications:
- Certified Mental Health Coach
- Certified Reinvention Practitioner
- Master Practitioner of Neurolinguistic Programming
- Mental Health First Aid Certified
- Mediator & Attorney
While the isn't about me, I get it, you want to know more before you take the plunge. So here goes....
I come from a family of carpenters, plumbers, and mechanics, and I grew up wet-sanding cars after school! My husband and I have renovated houses for over 15 years, and I also worked in the film and design industry, building sets for large events. So, I understand the pressures of deadlines, client demands, and getting the job done according to plan.
While I eventually shifted careers to become an attorney and mediator, seeking a more stable path for my family, I found myself struggling with balancing work demands and personal needs. The traditional office environment just didn’t fit; I missed the hands-on, on-location work, and – yes, I developed my own case of Disgruntled Worker Syndrome!
That’s when I decided to go back to what I love: helping people feel safer at work and empowering leaders to build the right environment for their workforce to succeed. Psychological safety has become my focus because I’ve seen how critical it is in industries with high stakes and high stress, where a strong safety culture allows teams to work at their best. My life and career experiences, as an negotiator, mediator, employment law and risk management attorney, have shown me that supporting a culture of psychological safety goes beyond meeting quotas or satisfying clients. It creates an atmosphere where people feel valued and empowered, which not only boosts morale but also drives productivity and loyalty.
As a speaker and workplace reinvention strategist, I help leaders bridge the gap between business needs and the psychological safety of their teams, to help them create environments that support both. Psychological safety is key to maintaining a productive work dynamic while giving leaders the satisfaction of knowing they’re respected and appreciated by their teams.
Aside from my professional work, I sing and play the flute in a rock/blues band, I love traveling, cooking, and making handmade soap. I have two cats: Max, a Maine Coon who thinks he’s a dog, and Roxie, who gets bullied by him daily (we try to enforce psychological safety for Roxie, but it’s like herding cats!). I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where I still live, and I also spend as much time as possible in St. Croix, VI.
Qualifications:
- Certified Mental Health Coach
- Certified Reinvention Practitioner
- Master Practitioner of Neurolinguistic Programming
- Mental Health First Aid Certified
- Mediator & Attorney
The Power of Individuality: Negotiating Workplace Wellness Benefits to Reinvent Your Culture of Wellbeing
Format: Keynote
This program is perfect for:
- Business Leaders
- Professional services firms (law, accounting)
- Organization looking for solutions to workplace wellbeing
The audience will leave with:
Understanding:
- The importance of tailoring workplace wellness benefits to the unique needs and preferences of employees.
- The...
What's Sinking your Wellbeing? The Overlooked Business Costs of Psychological Safety
Format: 60 minute keynote
This program is perfect for:
- Leaders in the construction industry
- Construction Industry association events
Attendee Take-Aways:
- A new awareness of the hidden costs of ignoring psychological safety, with a few laughs and Titanic analogies to make it memorable.
- Insight into how the presence of Disgruntled Worker...
Member Of
