Chelsea Cochrane
District Manager, Plato's Closet
Chelsea has been with Plato’s Closet Ottawa since the company opened its first store in March 2015, joining the team while attending university and growing with the organization ever since. She now serves as District Manager, overseeing four retail locations and supporting approximately 80 team members across the business. Certified as a SafeStart trainer, Chelsea has played a key role in integrating SafeStart concepts into day-to-day retail operations, leadership coaching, and team development. She is particularly passionate about using SafeStart to improve how leaders coach, helping managers move beyond simply telling employees what to do and instead ask better questions that help team members recognize risk and think through decisions for themselves. Known for her approachable leadership style, Chelsea has helped build a culture where SafeStart terminology and concepts are used consistently to reinforce expectations, develop habits, and improve awareness in a fast-paced retail environment.
Chelsea's sessions
SafeStart Beyond the Plant Floor: Applying Human Factors Where You Least Expect Them
Tue, Oct 20, 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM - Salon 1/2 Fireside Chat
If information alone prevented injuries, safety would already be solved—yet incidents still happen. So, what are we missing? This engaging and interactive session will challenge the common assumption that people make mistakes simply because they “don’t know better.” Instead, it will explore how the brain is actually wired to rely on habits, shortcuts, and emotional responses—especially under pressure, fatigue, or distraction. Participants can expect to engage in some “brain exercises” as they explore the basic concepts of neuroscience and human factors and how they shape everyday decisions. More importantly, this session will reframe feedback—not as correction or criticism—but as a powerful tool that works with the brain, not against it. Participants will leave with practical, easy-to-use strategies to deliver feedback that sticks, influence behavior in the moment, and strengthen safety conversations across their teams. Expect to tap into your brain to reflect, participate, and walk away thinking differently about why people do what they do—and what can help them to do it better.
Presented by
Mark MacLellan, SafeStart
Chelsea Cochrane, Plato's Closet