In 2011, something inspiring began at Cianbro. Through a partnership with Behavioral Safety Technology, we launched a leadership development program focused on emotional awareness and the human side of caring leadership. It was through those conversations and unguarded vulnerability that the foundation for “Beyond Zero” began to take root.

By 2013, we moved from “Leading with Safety” to “Beyond Zero,” a commitment to send every team member home in better condition than when they arrived — physically, mentally, and emotionally. As part of this initiative, a simple but profound metaphor — what’s in my backpack — came to life.

We began asking team members, “What’s in your backpack?” We all carry an invisible load on our shoulders — some days it’s light, other days it’s crushing. This invisible weight shapes everything: our focus, our reactions, our safety, and our connections.

Read more in the 2026 edition of The Chatter.