Building a Business with Grit and Revolutionizing Workplace Safety
In this episode of Get Vertical!, host Mike McCalley speaks with Wally Steidley, founder of Indigo Compliance and co-founder of The Safety Sherpa, about his entrepreneurial path and mission to transform workplace safety. Steidley discusses how technology—particularly mobile-first training platforms—can embed a true safety culture into organizations of any size. He also shares hard-won lessons on business resilience, leadership buy-in, and the grit required to scale in a demanding industry.
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Key takeaways
Wally Steidley built two companies—Indigo Compliance and The Safety Sherpa—around the conviction that zero workplace injuries should be every organization's non-negotiable standard.
The Safety Sherpa is designed as the world's first fully mobile-friendly safety training platform, making training accessible to workers regardless of location.
Real culture change in safety happens slowly but accelerates dramatically when senior leadership genuinely commits to it.
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In this episode of Get Vertical!, Wally Steidley shares his entrepreneurial journey, from building Indigo Compliance to launching Safety Sherpa, a mobile-first safety training platform. He discusses the importance of embedding safety into company culture, how to drive real change in organizations, and what it takes to scale a business in a tough industry. Wally also dives into lessons learned from business challenges, the role of technology in workplace safety, and the grit required to keep going when things get tough.
Memorable quotes from the episode:
1. "How many people are you willing to hurt to make your product? If the answer isn't zero, we've got a problem."
We're the phone call you make after 911. That's when safety gets real.
2. "We're the phone call you make after 911. That's when safety gets real."
3. "A good safety program doesn't just prevent injuries—it makes everything about your business better."
I don't quit. I may rethink, I may adjust, but I don't quit.
4. "I don't quit. I may rethink, I may adjust, but I don't quit."
5. "Culture changes slowly, but when leadership buys in, the impact is transformational."
Wally Steidley is the founder of Indigo Compliance and Co-Founder of The Safety Sherpa, bringing over 25 years of expertise in workplace safety. His consulting firm provides high-touch, hands-on safety solutions that protect workers and reduce workplace incidents. Meanwhile, The Safety Sherpa provides the world's first fully mobile-friendly safety training platform to bring safety training to the workforce regardless of location. A business builder, innovator, and safety advocate, Wally's mission is to keep people safe while driving operational excellence.
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Vertical market strategy and revenue growth for B2B companies.
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About the author
Mike is a leading marketer with expertise ranging from start up ventures to fortune 50 companies. With a passion for B2B and community building, Mike has evolved how traditional companies go to market and truly educate, inform, and inspire their community. When Mike isn't building out media and strategy plans for companies you can find him announcing his local high school football games and spending time with his family in Plano, TX.
