Women In Executive Protection
This panel aims to move the conversation about women in Executive Protection beyond theory, optics, and inspiration, and into lived reality. Featuring women who are actively working in executive protection roles across corporate, private, and high-risk environments, this session will provide an unfiltered, experience driven look at what it truly takes to build and sustain a career in EP.
The objective is threefold. First, to demystify the profession by breaking down the real day to day responsibilities, career paths, and operational demands of executive protection, what the job actually looks like versus how it’s often portrayed. Second, to address the unique challenges women face in EP, including credibility gaps, physical and psychological expectations, leadership dynamics, and navigating male dominated teams, while highlighting the strategic advantages women bring to protective intelligence, advance work, communication, and risk mitigation. Third, to offer practical guidance for those aspiring to enter or advance in the field, training pathways, career pivots, common mistakes, boundary setting, and how to advocate for yourself without compromising safety or professionalism.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of executive protection as a viable, demanding, and rewarding career, and with actionable insights grounded in real world experience from women who are doing the work, not just talking about it.
- At the end of the session, participants will be able to identify core executive protection responsibilities, career pathways, and required competencies to assess readiness and plan actionable next career steps.
- At the end of the session, participants will be able to apply practical strategies for credibility, communication, and risk mitigation within male dominated teams and high pressure protective environments.
- At the end of the session, participants will be able to evaluate training options, common entry mistakes, and advancement strategies to build sustainable, professional, and safety focused executive protection careers.”
Speakers
-
Paskvan, RachaelFounderRachael Paskvan is an accomplished security leader, entrepreneur and community advocate dedicated to empowering others through her work and platform, Femme Force. With over a decade of experience in the security industry, she has held global leadership roles, including overseeing executive protection and travel operations at Meta. Paskvan began her career as one of the few women in the bodyguard profession, providing protection at high-profile events worldwide. Beyond her corporate career, she is the founder of Femme Force, a platform amplifying women’s voices through a podcast, workshops and speaking engagements. Deeply committed to philanthropy and leadership development, Paskvan lends her time and expertise to initiatives that uplift communities and create opportunities for growth. Known for her resilience, vision and passion for inclusion, she continues to inspire the next generation of leaders.
-
Gilbert, MalindaExecutive ProtectionWith over 9 years of experience in Executive Protection, I specialize in safeguarding high-net-worth individuals, Fortune 500 executives, and international diplomatic delegations across complex and high-threat environments. My expertise covers the full spectrum of protection services, including covert/overt operations, residential security management, VIP transportation, corporate campus event support, and high-profile event security—ranging from global diplomat events to red-carpet functions.
-
Bannister, PamelaExecutive Protection
Accomplished Leader in Executive Protection: With a proven track record in safeguarding high-profile executives at leading global organizations, I specialize in creating comprehensive security frameworks that align with corporate values while staying adaptable to emerging threats in today’s dynamic environments.
-
Stringer, ReneeProgram Manager
I serve as a Program Manager in Executive Protection and Security Operations with Pinkerton, leading teams, developing protection strategies, and conducting threat assessments that combine tactical expertise with human behavior analysis.
My mission is to bridge tactical expertise with behavioral insight, enabling us to anticipate and disrupt danger before it unfolds.