Top 10 Under 40: Laura Percy, Senior forensic investigator, Canadian Tire

What do you enjoy most about security?

Everyday is different! Dealing with new and unique situations encourages creativity and problem-solving in effective and interesting ways. Pursuing a career in security has given more meaning to my work life; I enjoy the purpose my role gives me and the impact I feel my work makes.

Is there one piece of advice you have received that has helped you engage with your security role more effectively?

The most helpful piece of advice I’ve received is that creativity is integral to the security field. Problem-solving is a huge component of this job, and to effectively problem-solve, creativity is required. In my role, I work with fraud prevention and detection and the most obvious, yet important, piece of advice I’ve received is “to think like a fraudster.”

It is necessary to understand the mindset and intentions of a fraudster to recognize the scheme being committed and investigate effectively. I’ve also learned in my role that the skill of converting data analytics into effective storytelling is equally, if not more, important than the data itself! This skill relies heavily on creativity to convert data into a meaningful story and bring the data to life.

What do you do outside of your job that helps you manage stress or gain perspective on your work?

My brain is always going, so I like to do activities outside of work that help my thoughts slow down, including reading (mysteries and historical fiction genres are my favourite), completing jigsaw and logic puzzles, crocheting, or watching a good show or movie. I do realize that ironically these activities make me sound closer to 80 instead of under 40! However, the leisure of these activities helps me recharge and bring fresh eyes to work the next day. I also enjoy spending time with family, friends and of course my dog!

Do you have any advice for budding security professionals who are interested in launching a career?

There is no one path to launching a successful security career. Take your path to becoming a security professional one step at a time. If possible, build connections with security professionals to create a qualified network to seek career advice from. Education will always help you move forward. When I started my career, as what could be considered a “traditional” accountant, I never thought I would work in security. When I noticed an opportunity to enhance my work life, I pivoted career paths.

Recognizing my accounting skills could transfer and enhance the security field I strayed from “traditional” accounting and pursued the niche of forensic accounting. Diverse backgrounds and career paths help improve the strength of security teams by providing different perspectives in pursuit of the common goal to enhance security.