Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Your Unique Leadership Style to Thrive in the Security Industry

As a woman who has spent nearly 20 years in the security industry, Katherine Podolas will share how women can leverage unique leadership strengths to overcome barriers and excel in a male-dominated field. Speaking from her journey, Podolas will highlight the power of collaboration, emotional intelligence and strategic thinking in leading high-performing teams and navigating complex challenges within security operations.

This presentation will provide strategies for managing gender dynamics, building credibility and overcoming bias while maintaining confidence. Participants will learn to harness emotional resilience and lead with empathy in high-pressure, fast-changing environments. We’ll also discuss the vital role of mentorship and networking in career advancement and how women leaders can create inclusive, high-performance cultures within their teams.

Key points:

1. The power of diverse leadership styles
2. Navigating gender dynamics in a male-dominated field
3. Building emotional intelligence and resilience in leadership
4. Mentorship and building a network of allies
5. Creating inclusive, high-performing teams
6. Thriving in a rapidly evolving industry
7. Inspiring future generations of women leaders