What makes a great security leader?

From my interviews across the security field, I have learned that the keys to successful leadership stay the same no matter the sector. In my conversations with dynamic security leaders, I have heard stories time and time again about the impact teamwork and mentorship can have on a security program and the enterprise as a whole.

In my conversations with the 2023 recipients of Security magazine’s Most Influential People in Security award, I asked each awardee to reflect on their proudest career achievements. Matthew Horace, Chief Security Officer at Pretium and Progress Residential, put it well when he said, “My greatest accomplishments are what I’ve been able to do for others.”

As he spoke about giving career advice to burgeoning security professionals and advancing new leaders in the field, I was struck by yet another security leader with numerous significant accomplishments under their belt — in Horace’s case, an impressive career that spans the federal government, Dominion Voting Systems, Mayo Clinic and more — that defined their career success as what they’ve given to others. Horace is not alone in this sentiment — I’ve lost count of how many security executives credit their success in security to their own mentors and commit themselves to passing on their knowledge.

At the 2023 SECURITY 500 Conference this past November, a panel of seasoned security executives including J. Nicole McDargh of Domino’s Pizza; PepsiCo North America’s Steven Antoine; Shannon Fariel-Mureithi of ChildFund International; Tammi Morton of UnitedHealth Group; and Starbucks Coffee Company’s Cheryl Steele discussed the importance of engaging future leaders and training them to prioritize resilience when faced with the security threats of tomorrow.

These five titans concluded the conference day with a candid, open conversation about their responsibility to shape and upskill the next generation of security talent. By giving opportunities to early- and mid-career professionals, security leaders can instill trust in their teams and develop a program that functions as a whole, rather than one leader lifting the weight of the group.

Through encouraging active teamwork and mentoring future leaders, today’s chief security officers are preparing the field for a resilient future — and demonstrating leadership lessons that can apply across all sectors.

With that, I must share that I am moving to a new opportunity outside of Security magazine. Working with the wonderful team behind Security and establishing connections across the physical security and cybersecurity professions have been some of the joys of my time at the helm.

Thank you to all of the security leaders willing to share their own insights for the good of the industry, their organizations, sectors and nations. I look forward to seeing the field continue to grow, evolve and support the mission of safety and risk management across the globe.