I often hear from security professionals who want to flex into volunteer leadership opportunities but don’t know where to start. What roles align with their experience and skills? How much day-to-day responsibility is required? How do you discover these positions? How heavy is the workload?
After almost 30 years in the security profession and industry, during which I’ve served in many volunteer roles, I present this summary of volunteer leadership roles that answers the foregoing questions. Most of these are unpaid, though some may come with honoraria and/or reimbursement for travel and other expenses. Before engaging in any of these opportunities, especially ones in which you represent an organization, obtain written clarification of duties and responsibilities, determine your exposure to liability and ascertain whether insurance is needed and available.
The list is organized by experience level/skill set required, from least to most. I also rank factors such as lift/workload and activity type (operational, tactical and/or strategic).
Mentor
Example: Formal and informal mentorship programs dot the security community, with the more rigorous ones establishing expectations and documenting activities and achievements.
Experience Level: Any.
Activity Type: Strategic and tactical.
Lift: Medium.
Source for article, report or survey
Example: Authors need experts to share their experiences, such as in this very column, where I often cite security professionals on leadership issues.
Experience Level: Any.
Activity Type: Operational and tactical.
Lift: Light.
Association ambassador
Example: The Latin American Security Association (ALAS) selects individuals such as Alfredo Yuncoza of Venezuela and Marcos Sousa from Brazil to promote the ALAS brand, stimulate greater participation in association activities that help members develop and grow, and attract new members.
Experience Level: Depending on the association, entry-level to senior.
Activity Type: Strategic, tactical and operational.
Lift: Light to medium.
Internal organizational team member/leader
Example: Many organizations assemble groups that cross departments, such as risk committees or diversity and inclusion councils.
Experience Level: Any.
Activity Type: Strategic, tactical and operational.
Lift: Varies by organization.
Security advisor
Example: Many houses of worship, community groups, clubs, etc. with limited budgets need security counsel or full-fledged security committees.
Experience Level: Any.
Activity Type: Strategic, tactical and operational.
Lift: Varies.
Blogger/poster/podcaster
Example: You can host your own blog, podcast, etc. on your own site, LinkedIn or elsewhere, or contribute to security outlets that solicit outside material, such as Security magazine.
Experience Level: Any.
Activity Type: Strategic, tactical and operational.
Lift: Varies by activity and frequency.
Higher education ambassador
Example: The California Cybersecurity Institute assigns professionals to assist students who are seeking to enter the cybersecurity field.
Experience Level: Any.
Activity Type: Strategic and tactical.
Lift: Commensurate with activity.
Author/contributor
Example: The many security publications that serve the industry and profession are always looking for new voices, stories and experiences.
Experience Level: Any, but content should match experience and expertise.
Activity Type: Operational.
Lift: Heavy during research, writing and editing.
Chapter leader/community leader/regional leader
Example: Among ASIS’s leadership opportunities are community chairs, council representatives for Women in Security and Young Professionals, such as Kobah Popnen Lar, a security professional who is the Young Professionals representative for ASIS’s Abuja, Nigeria, chapter.
Experience Level: Mid-level.
Activity Type: Strategic, tactical and operational.
Lift: Medium.
Presenter/panelist
Example: Hundreds of speaking opportunities are available every year at the likes of the Security 500, GSX, ISC West, IFSEC International, ESX, International Security Expo, the National Sports Safety and Security Conference, as well as dozens of smaller live and virtual events.
Experience Level: Generally mid-level to senior, but opportunities exist for new professionals.
Activity Type: Tactical.
Lift: Heavy during preparation and presentation.
Committee/council leader
Example: The International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) has committee and council membership opportunities for its Affiliation Council, Data Warehouse Committee, Education Council and so on. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) has regional and subject-matter committees such as Aviation and Energy.
Experience Level: Mid-level to senior.
Activity Type: Strategic, tactical and operational.
Lift: Medium.
Standards developer
Example: Several security associations, such as ASIS, Security Industry Association (SIA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), have bodies that develop standards and guidelines.
Experience Level: Mid-level to senior.
Activity Type: Strategic and operational.
Lift: Light to medium for oversight, heavy for standards creation, drafting and revision.
Corporate advisory board member
Example: Small security startups often pull together advisory boards for business advice, strategic direction and corporate matters. While some pay, others are not compensated but can be sources of business referrals.
Experience Level: Mid-level to senior.
Activity Type: Strategic.
Lift: Light to medium.
Judge
Example: IFSEC assembles judges who vote on nominees for influencer of the year in the security and fire professions. The 2022 version saw Grant Lecky as lead judge, but he is turning over his duties to Andrew Thorburn for 2023.
Experience: Senior.
Activity Type: Operational.
Lift: Light to medium.
Editorial board member
Example: Some industry publications have editorial boards that help set direction, review specialized content and provide gravitas.
Experience Level: Senior.
Activity Type: Strategic.
Lift: Light.
Regional or global board member
Example: I serve as president of the Global Life Safety Alliance, and many security foundations and organizations, such as the International Security Management Association (ISMA), the CSO Center and OSAC have boards composed of the most senior security executives at the largest global organizations.
Experience: Senior.
Activity Type: Strategic.
Lift: Medium to heavy.
In a forthcoming column, I will address how to approach these opportunities.
