Security on the RISE: Insights From the Industry’s Emerging Leaders

An important element of workforce development is for companies and the security industry as a whole to grow young and emerging talent. For this month’s Workforce Strategies column, the Security Industry Association (SIA) spoke with some of the honorees of the first-ever 25 on the RISE Awards — a program presented by SIA’s RISE community for emerging security leaders, with support from Brivo and the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST), and honoring 25 security leaders of today and tomorrow for their impactful contributions to advancing the security industry. 

Here are what some of these inspiring leaders had to say about how the industry can propel young talents’ careers and their advice for other professionals who are new to security.

How Companies Can Foster Their Young Talents’ Growth

Here are some tips from the 25 on the RISE honorees on what companies in the security industry can do to better grow, develop and empower their emerging leaders:

• Grow the talent pipeline by focusing on students: Ruben Cuevas, lead technician at Preferred Technologies, recommends student outreach to draw future professionals into the industry. “Create summer programs for students interested in this field of work,” said Cuevas, “to show and teach them what this industry is about.”
• Expand the candidate pool when hiring: Alex Czoschke, learning and development manager at Arcules, recommends that companies look outside of “traditional applicants” when hiring as a way to grow the talent pool and foster innovation. “My background is in education and hospitality. I use the skills learned in those industries to focus on teaching our customers about their video security options,” said Czoschke. “The main goal of our industry is to help keep people safe — opening job opportunities to nontraditional applicants allows for more innovative ways to solve security dilemmas!”
• Offer mentorship and development opportunities: “To foster the next generation of security industry leaders, companies need to prioritize mentorship programs and provide avenues for continuous learning,” said Constantine Tremouliaris, integration solutions specialist at ASSA ABLOY. “Encouraging young professionals to be curious, take risks and adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of the security industry will be instrumental.” Beth Burnsed, senior manager of marketing communications and programs at Genetec, similarly encourages companies to promote mentorship for their employees, whether that is “through internal resources or organizations like SIA,” as “having mentors and making connections within the industry can help young professional grow, engage and learn.”
• Foster young leaders’ career growth and fulfillment: Ryan Leithead, senior sales manager, solutions and service at Siemens, encourages companies to not just identify who could be a future leader, but provide challenging and fulfilling opportunities for them and “remember to reward them as well.” Too often, Leithead says, “we see future leaders ‘grow up’ in one company and lead at another, which is a loss for fostering company. Provide the opportunity for these potential leaders to hone their skills in the real business world.” 

Similarly, Lindsay Martin-Nez, CEO of BadgePass, urges companies to “just give [young professionals] a chance!” Security companies often make the mistake of getting “wrapped up in the idea that past experience is somehow indicative of future performance,” said Martin-Nez. “I think that’s why you show up to ISC West every year and see so many of the same people, but with different logos on their shirts.”

Finally, Tremouliaris suggests that companies emphasize the importance of diverse thought and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration, “as it is through these interactions that the most innovative and transformative solutions emerge.”

How Young Talent Can Take Initiative and Empower Their Own Growth

Here are some tips and advice from the honorees, geared toward other young professionals who are hoping to grow their security industry careers:

Be confident: Martin-Nez encourages young professionals in security to be themselves and not be intimidated. “I remember walking into my first industry event at 22 years old and wondering what the heck I was even doing there. As a young female with zero industry experience, I definitely didn’t fit the mold,” she said. “But 14 years later, there’s nowhere else I’d rather work, and I’m glad I had the confidence to stick it out, learn and grow in this industry.”

• Be connected: Leithead recommends cultivating relationships with company and industry colleagues to grow your career. “Always look for ways to help others success — these actions bring forth trust, and to be a good leader in any industry requires trust,” he said. Additionally, Leithead suggested that young professionals find mentors outside of their managers and supervisors to get “a different perspective [from] the direct report relationship.” 

Tremouliaris urges emerging leaders to “build strong networks” both within and outside the industry. “Such relationships can provide invaluable insights, opportunities and perspectives that can help navigate the complexities of the industry and offer unique avenues for growth,” he said. 

Burnsed recommends taking advantage of communities like SIA RISE for network and relationship building. “Making connections not only helps you feel more engaged, but it also opens opportunities to grow and learn,” said Burnsed. “The industry peers I met through [RISE] have been encouraging and supportive. It’s nice to now see them at events or reach out for advice.”

• Be curious: Czoschke urges emerging leaders to “speak up” and “authentically ask questions,” stressing that “a curious professional is the professional who will make a difference at their organization. Young leaders should take initiative to grow their own skills and learn from their colleagues and fellow industry professionals if there are topics they don’t understand. “The more you understand about the industry as a whole, the more you can discover about how to integrate yourself into building a safer world,” says Czoschke. 

Leithead suggests “[learning] your business from everyone involved — sales, operations, technicians, engineering, service support, etc.” 

Cuevas recommends carving out some free time to prioritize professional growth, as “investing…in your own learning and development aside from work will get you faster to your future long-term goals.” 

Finally, Tremouliaris recommends that young professionals “never stop learning” in this vast, multifaceted industry. “The professionals who excel are those who are perpetual students of the craft,” he said. 

Want to get your young talent involved and engaged? Encourage them to join the SIA RISE community, which offers networking and professional development designed just for emerging leaders and those new to the industry. To learn more, click here.