About this episode:

What does it really take to create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and perform at their very best?

In this episode, Chris Cooper is joined by Mehmet Baha, known simply as Baha, an international speaker, trainer, and author whose life’s mission has been to make a positive difference in people’s lives. With over 24 years of global experience across Europe, the USA, Turkey, and Central America, Baha has worked with organizations of all sizes—including being one of the first employees at Facebook in Europe.

A Fulbright Scholar with a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Online Executive Programme in Organizational Leadership, Baha is passionate about helping leaders unlock the power of psychological safety. His new book, Creating Psychological Safety at Work—praised by Daniel Pink as “a timely book filled with fascinating case studies, robust research, and practical tools for driving change”—offers a roadmap for building high-performing, engaged teams.

Baha has delivered talks and training in more than 28 countries across 5 continents, speaking four languages fluently, and bringing a unique perspective shaped by his multicultural journey.

Beyond his professional work, he is a percussionist, an avid traveller, and a father who enjoys playing basketball with his young daughter.

Join us for this conversation to explore why psychological safety is not just a “nice to have,” but an essential foundation for team performance, innovation, and wellbeing—and how you can begin creating it in your own workplace.

More about Mehmet Baha:

His full name is Mehmet Baha and everyone calls him Baha. Since his childhood, he has been fascinated by the question: “How can I make a difference in the lives of people?”

His interest leads him to win a scholarship from Fulbright and finish his master’s in the USA on the topic of Conflict Resolution. He has lived and worked in Germany, Turkey, Ireland, Guatemala, and the USA with more than 24 years of work experience. Baha was one of the first employees of Facebook in Europe.

Throughout his life, he has realized the importance of having psychological safety to create high-performing teams. So far, he has delivered training and given talks in more than 28 countries across 5 continents. Recently, he completed Harvard Business School’s Online Executive Education Programme “Organizational Leadership”. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Turkish, and German. In his free time, he loves to play percussion, travel with his family, and play basketball with his 8-year-old daughter. “Playbook for Engaged Employees“ is his first book. In September 2024, his second book “Creating Psychological Safety at Work“ was published.

Daniel Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author, describes it as a “timely book filled with fascinating case studies, robust research, and practical tools for driving change.”