Speaker · Leadership · Psychological Safety
Gretchen O'Hair helps leaders build cultures of trust, curiosity, contribution, and innovation through practical strategies and the RISE Model of Psychological Safety.
People do their best work when they feel safe enough to contribute.
Meet Gretchen
Gretchen O’Hair serves as an Administrative Specialist Associate in the Michigan Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, supporting the Office of Culture & Engagement and IMPOWER — Inspiring Medicine to Promote Opportunities for Well-Being, Engagement, and Respect.
With 14 years of experience at the University of Michigan in a variety of administrative and leadership roles, Gretchen has a demonstrated commitment and passion for breaking down barriers, enriching the university climate, advocating for mental health, and helping others understand the importance of healthy culture, positive relationships, and supportive environments.
She serves on the IMPOWER Leadership Team and as Co-Lead of the Department of Internal Medicine Administration IMPOWER Council. Gretchen is also deeply involved in university-wide staff engagement and well-being initiatives as a Voices of the Staff Lead Facilitator, MHealthy Champion, Planet Blue Ambassador, Well-Being Collective Influencer, and Staff Well-Being Network Associate.
In her work, Gretchen seeks to inspire others to create environments where faculty, staff, learners, and community members feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Gretchen speaks to leaders, teams, and organizations about how psychological safety shapes communication, engagement, innovation, well-being, and meaningful change.
Her approach is practical, human-centered, and built to help people move from simply being present to actively improving the systems around them.
Signature Framework
Each stage builds on the previous one. Teams must RISE together.
Recognition Baseline
People feel safe to be themselves before they are expected to perform.
Building on Timothy Clark’s framework, the RISE Model shifts the camera lens entirely. Instead of focusing solely on what the environment permits, RISE maps how an individual’s internal sense of identity and agency actively scales up a staircase of responsibility. We transition from a state of foundational Belonging to a peak state of enterprise-wide Innovation.
We don't just ask, “What does the team allow me to do?” We anchor our growth in active personal metrics: from feeling safe to be seen in Recognition, to taking operational custody of the environment in Stewardship, and ultimately to co-authoring structural evolution. Each stage builds on the previous one; teams must RISE together.
Interactive Diagnostic
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Your RISE score
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Speaking & Workshops
Building cultures where people can speak honestly, ask questions, and take thoughtful risks.
Helping leaders create clarity, trust, and meaningful participation.
Moving teams from basic inclusion toward shared ownership and growth.
Making it safer and easier for people to share concerns, ideas, and feedback.
Creating the conditions that allow better ideas to surface and improve systems.
Applying psychological safety in complex, mission-driven environments.
Who Gretchen Serves
Testimonials
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