Top 10 Under 40: Anna Stasienko, Loss prevention manager, Amazon Canada

What do you enjoy most about your security role?

With a customer-centric approach, I enjoy being able to keep people safe and secure in their environment. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to protect people from potential threats and to be able to respond quickly to incidents/crises as they may arise. I particularly enjoy being a people leader, navigating through ambiguity and the feeling of satisfaction when I am able to successfully identify and mitigate security risks. I also enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals — both internally and externally — to develop creative solutions to security challenges.

How has the industry changed since you became a security professional and what further changes would you like to see?

The biggest change has been the move from physical to network security. This has been driven by the increased use of technology, cloud-based services, and the increased adoption of forward-thinking risk mitigation. Going forward, I would like to see the industry focus more on automation through artificial intelligence and the development of tools and technologies to better protect people, products and data services. I would also like to see more collaboration between organizations and their vendors, fostering development in the security space. Finally, I would like to see more awareness and education on security topics, ensuring the organization is better informed and prepared to respond to security incidents.

Outside of professional training, what has helped you the most in terms of skills development?

I have developed my skills extensively through several approaches. First, networking and mentorship aids in relationship-building which provides valuable opportunities for learning and skills development. Secondly, personal development has significantly impacted the growth of my professional competency by refining the transferable skills such as communication, leadership, emotional intelligence and strategic thinking. Finally, adopting challenges and seeking feedback enabled me to overcome hurdles, ultimately building my confidence and elevating the learning curve.

How can the security industry encourage more participation and market itself as a viable and thriving career?

By driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the industry can actively promote the recruitment of candidates from diverse backgrounds, creating a workplace culture that values different perspectives and experience. Secondly, the security industry can leverage technology to improve efficiency, effectiveness and attractiveness to innovation. Examples of such systems can include AI-supported surveillance, access control systems and other cutting-edge technologies. Lastly, the industry can provide competitive compensation and benefits packages to attract and retain top talent.