Viewpoints by Equature

Leadership in Public Safety

In this episode, host Cherie Bartram sits down with Dr. Andre Jones to explore leadership in public safety and emergency communications. The conversation centers on a core idea: leadership is a mindset, not just a title. Dr. Jones covers the distinction between managing tasks and shaping culture, the value of strong followership, and how emotional intelligence helps leaders stay resilient. He also emphasizes mentorship, succession planning, and servant leadership — shifting the focus from being in charge to genuinely taking care of your team.

Dispatchers Who Saved Us

What if the reason you stayed in this career… wasn’t you? In this episode of Viewpoints, Kris Inman joins Cherie Bartram to reflect on the unseen moments that shape a dispatcher’s journey—the people who step in when doubt is at its highest and quietly change everything. From early career struggles to lasting impact, this conversation explores the “unsung heroes” of 911—the ones who see potential before it’s visible, and whose influence carries far beyond a single shift.

Finding Your Voice, Finding Your Power, The 911der Women Revolution

What started as a hope for 100 women has exploded into a 15,000-strong movement—and it's changing how women lead in 911. Host Cherie Bartram sits down with Sara Weston, founder of 911der Women, for a candid conversation about building community, breaking barriers, and redefining leadership in emergency communications. Sara shares her unexpected journey into the 911 world, the personal loss that fueled her mission, and why she's creating tangible pathways through leadership academies and mentorship programs. Discover why 70% of dispatchers are women but leadership doesn't reflect it, what "finding your voice" really means in a comm center, and how physical fitness unexpectedly connects to leadership strength. Sara tackles the real barriers keeping women from advancing and reveals how she's helping break through them—because navigating your career shouldn't be a solo mission. Whether you're a dispatcher feeling stuck, a supervisor ready to level up, or a leader passionate about psychological safety, this conversation will leave you energized, validated, and ready to claim your seat at the table. Spoiler: When women in 911 find their power, everyone wins—the professionals, the agencies, and the communities they serve.

Calm Decisions in Chaotic Moments

Your brain works against you during high-stress calls—but understanding the neuroscience can change everything. Join our host, Cherie Bartram as she sits with Drew Moldenhauer, a leading expert on situational awareness, to explore what happens in your brain when chaos erupts. Learn the three core components of situational awareness and why task fixation, time distortion, and fear derail even experienced dispatchers. He challenges how we train, explains why psychological safety is critical to catching mistakes, and shares practical techniques for managing panicked callers and multitasking under pressure. If you've ever felt tunnel vision during a critical call or wondered how to build a team that supports each other's awareness in real time, this episode delivers the answers. Better situational awareness doesn't just prevent errors—it saves lives

The Reality of Supervision - Lessons Learned in the Field

You've done the research, prepared yourself, and landed the promotion—but what happens when theory meets reality? In this final episode of our three-part series, hosts Cherie Bartram and Kerry O'Connell sit down with four experienced leaders who share the truths about their first days, weeks, and months in supervision. From unexpected challenges to the relationships that shift overnight, these candid conversations reveal what no training manual can fully prepare you for. Discover why attitude matters more than aptitude, what veteran supervisors wish they'd done differently, and how the best leaders continue learning long after that first promotion. Whether you're navigating your early days as a supervisor or supporting someone who is, this episode offers the real-world wisdom that only comes from those who've walked the path before you.