We pick up the Best Advice Q&A series with Joseph Oliveri, who recently retired as president and chief executive officer at Pavion to become advisor to new CEO Andy Bierer and the company’s board of directors. He shares the best advice he’s heard, gives tips to young security industry pros and names his ultimate business muse.
Security Sales & Integration: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Joseph Oliveri: The best advice I received came from George Pierson, one of our board members. Early on, before we began our acquisition strategy, I was hesitant to invest in integration resources before we actually needed them.
George told me, “If you don’t build the team and create the playbook before you start acquiring companies, you’ll fail.” He was right. That advice helped shape our approach to mergers and acquisitions and was a key factor in our ability to scale successfully.
SSI: What advice would you give to those looking to achieve success in the security industry?
Oliveri: Take care of your customers and communicate proactively. Keep them informed, provide regular updates and never hide bad news. When issues arise, share them early, explain the path forward and continue communicating. Customers may not always like the news but they appreciate transparency and outcomes are almost always better when they’re kept informed.
SSI: If you could point to one person in the security industry and tell up-and-comers, “Make sure to listen to what they have to say,” whom would you pick and why?
Oliveri: Bobby Louissaint, who was with Meta and is now with Alcatraz. He knows the importance of diversity. He has been a great mentor to young people entering the security industry. He is loyal to integrators who perform and is always looking at cutting-edge technology to stay ahead.
Click here to check out the entire Best Advice series!
