Early-Career Pros Learn to Bridge Science and Strategy at AIHA Connect 2025
At AIHA Connect 2025, early-career OEHS professionals are gaining vital business communication skills to effectively advocate for workplace health and safety initiatives.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- May 19, 2025
As AIHA Connect 2025 continues this week, a standout session is drawing attention for its focus on one of the most critical—and often overlooked—skills in the field of occupational and environmental health: business communication.
Aimed specifically at early-career professionals, the session titled “Making the Business Case for OEHS: Communication Skills for Emerging Professionals” equips industrial hygienists and environmental health and safety (EHS) practitioners with the tools to translate technical work into strategic impact.
Led by a panel of seasoned experts, the program dives into how professionals can articulate the value of their work in ways that resonate with executives, managers, and stakeholders. The session explores how to align OEHS initiatives with business objectives, using data storytelling, return-on-investment framing, and proactive engagement strategies.
“Early-career OEHS professionals are often fluent in the science,” said one presenter, “but struggle to speak the language of business. This session is about helping them bridge that gap so their work gets the recognition—and the resources—it deserves.”
Participants engaged in interactive exercises that simulated real-world workplace scenarios, including pitching a safety program to leadership, analyzing cost-benefit outcomes, and handling objections from decision-makers. The training emphasized the importance of advocating for preventive safety measures in ways that align with organizational priorities such as productivity, compliance, and risk management.
The session is part of a broader initiative by AIHA to support the next generation of OEHS leaders by blending technical education with soft skills training. Throughout the conference, students and early-career professionals are featured in poster sessions, networking events, and dedicated workshops designed to accelerate their growth and influence within the field.
For attendees like recent graduates, interns, and first-time conference-goers, the experience offers a roadmap not just for technical excellence, but for career longevity and leadership.
AIHA Connect 2025 runs through May 22 and includes a packed agenda of professional development courses, general sessions, pop-up education, and innovation showcases across the occupational health and industrial hygiene landscape.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.