Edward Dragos: Why asking "why" matters

"The team openly discussing the topic at length, challenging notions, showing compassion, empathy and interest. They had inadvertently knocked down the walls that allowed me to exist as my authentic self in my professional life as I do in my home life," he recalls.

That one meeting reshaped how he saw workplace inclusion in action.

The difference between "having to" and "wanting to"

For Edward, psychological safety connects directly to how we feel about work each day.

"Psychological safety for me is the difference between 'having' to show up and 'wanting' to show up," he explains.

He believes workplaces should help people grow, contribute and challenge themselves, without fear of failure or judgement. When work gives our ideas, needs and mistakes room to breathe, it encourages each of us to want better for the whole team.

That sense of belonging, he says, comes from small daily behaviours. Interest. Involvement. Curiosity.

"When your co-workers genuinely want to know who you are, what your story is and how they can be part of this chapter, it quickly changes the dynamic from obliged proximity to teammates," Edward says.

"And good banter," he adds. "There always needs to be some quality banter in the mix." 

Allyship in action

For Edward, allyship is active and ongoing. True allyship, he says, means standing up for those who may not have found their feet yet.

"It is asking the right questions of yourself, of others, but more importantly listening to the answers."

He knows many people want to be supportive but worry about saying the wrong thing. His advice is simple. Slow down. Think it through. Approach the conversation with respect and an open mind. Words carry real weight.

"Take a moment to be mindful of the words you use and never presume to know anything about others."

Even small shifts in language help, he says. Asking someone if they have a "partner" instead of using a gender-specific word lets that person choose how and when they want to respond.

The importance of asking "why"

Edward believes teams do better when people feel free to ask questions openly and with genuine curiosity. Conversations about inclusion, community and identity are where that curiosity matters most.

"What is the need for a community and why do they get a parade? What's the point of a pronoun and why does it even matter?" he says. "When we ask these 'why' questions openly, transparently and with genuine curiosity, we invite alternate views, stories and perspectives."

These conversations aren't about having every answer straight away. They're about building understanding. By questioning what we think we know, we remove the doubt that feeds fear.

Looking ahead

When asked what gives him hope, Edward doesn't point to policies, programs or headlines. He thinks about his nieces and nephews.

"The last few years have been turbulent," he says. "But when I spend time with them, I'm reminded of the purest form of human nature."

"It is in that spirit why we put one foot in front of the other each day — for their tomorrow."

As Sodexo Australia recognises Pride Month, Edward hopes more of us keep approaching conversations about inclusion with openness, curiosity and care.

Because for him, creating workplaces where people feel safe to be themselves starts with something simple: being willing to ask why, and genuinely listening to the answer.