For this installment of On the RISE, the Security Industry Association (SIA) spoke with Ghaida Alkhateeb, security area manager at Amazon and a 2025 honoree in SIA’s 25 on the RISE Awards.
Security Industry Association: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career path.
Ghaida Alkhateeb: I’ve always been drawn to languages and communication…drawn to how people connect and understand each other. Working in the field shaped that passion into something bigger and education helped me see it with more clarity.
Coming back to work in a space that blends both was a full-circle moment for me. I never planned to end up in the security world, but it turned out to be exactly where all my skills and purpose came together.
SIA: What first got you interested in security and safety as a career choice?
Alkhateeb: Honestly, I didn’t plan to work in security; it found me. My background in communication made me realize how much clarity and empathy matter during moments of crisis. The more I saw how information can shape safety and response, the more I wanted to be part of that world.
What started as a focus on people and language turned into a passion for protecting them. And that’s what keeps me here.
SIA: Who has influenced or mentored you — either within the security industry or outside?
Alkhateeb: I’ve been fortunate to learn from mentors who lead with purpose and authenticity. Through the SIA Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) program, I’m honored to be mentored by Kathleen Carroll. Her guidance reminds me that innovation means little without accountability and trust.
Outside the security field, I deeply admire Indra Nooyi, for her unapologetic authenticity and people-first leadership. She showed that strength and empathy can — and should — coexist and that true influence comes from leading with both head and heart.
SIA: What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Alkhateeb: Most people don’t know that my career began with a bold leap, launching my own translation company in Jordan while still in my early 20s. I was one of the youngest sworn translators to appear in court, often underestimated and constantly having to prove myself.
I started from zero because I wanted to learn everything: every process, every challenge, every voice. That experience became my greatest teacher, shaping how I lead today: with curiosity, resilience and a deep respect for people who build their success from the ground up.
SIA: What are some challenges and advantages of being a young professional in the security industry?
Alkhateeb: One of the biggest challenges is earning credibility in a field often shaped by long tenure and traditional paths. Coming from a communication and cultural background. With a shorter tenure in security, I had to prove that impact isn’t defined by how long you’ve been here; it’s defined by how you think, learn and lead.
The advantage is perspective. I bring a people-centered approach that connects empathy, data and cross-cultural awareness to drive better decisions.
SIA: What advice do you have for young professionals just starting out in the industry?
Alkhateeb: Say yes to learning before leading. Ask questions fearlessly but also listen deeply. Build trust. Stay curious. And don’t hide what makes you different: your background, your story, your voice. It’s your greatest asset.
SIA: What do you enjoy most about being at your company — and in the security industry?
Alkhateeb: At Amazon, I love that innovation is expected. Every challenge is a puzzle with real-world impact. And the security industry, at its best, gives us a chance to protect people through systems that value both efficiency and empathy. It’s where technology meets humanity, and I love living at that intersection.
SIA: How do you define success?
Alkhateeb: Success, to me, is influence with integrity. It’s creating change without losing yourself in the process — and leaving every space a little stronger, safer and kinder than you found it.
SIA: How do you think the SIA RISE community can help foster the careers of young people in the industry? What does RISE offer that is most important to you/your company?
Alkhateeb: RISE gives young professionals visibility, mentorship and a seat at the table. It helps us connect across generations, share lessons openly and shape the future of the industry together. The most powerful thing RISE offers is belonging; it reminds us that our voices matter.
SIA: What are some key components of your role with Amazon?
Alkhateeb: In my role, I focus on strengthening global security operations through people, communication and process. I work on initiatives that enhance readiness, streamline response and build resilience across diverse teams.
It’s a balance of strategy, collaboration and leadership development, ensuring that every decision contributes to a safer and more connected environment.
SIA: What key challenges, opportunities and/or trends do you see as most important to the industry – or more specifically to those in the security operations space?
Alkhateeb: Technology is moving faster than people — and that’s both the challenge and the opportunity. We talk a lot about innovation but what truly matters is keeping empathy, ethics and human understanding at the center of it.
For me, the future of security lies in bridging communication gaps, reducing cognitive load and designing systems that support people rather than overwhelming them. When we get that right, we build not just safer operations but stronger connections.
SIA: What drew you to your past roles in translation, language services, media and the public sector and how have you leveraged those skills in your current role?
Alkhateeb: I’ve always been fascinated by how people communicate, especially under pressure. My earlier roles in translation, media and the public sector gave me a front-row seat to how information, when delivered clearly and with empathy, can change outcomes.
Those experiences taught me to listen first, simplify complexity and build trust across cultures. All of that translates directly into my work today — where leading teams, managing risks or handling crises still come down to one thing: clear communication and human connection.
SIA: What has been the most rewarding accomplishment or experience in your career in the security industry?
Alkhateeb: Leading teams through global crises — and watching them grow stronger and more confident along the way — has been deeply rewarding. Being recognized with the Amazon Women in Security Inspire Award and the SIA 25 On the RISE Culture Award reaffirmed for me that kindness and performance aren’t opposites; they amplify each other.
SIA: What are your predictions for where the security industry may be headed in the next five to 10 years?
Alkhateeb: The future of security is holistic. It’s shifting from reaction to resilience, from control to collaboration. In the next decade, success will belong to those who can merge data with empathy and design systems that protect people by understanding them.
SIA: How do we sustain inclusion beyond conversation?
Alkhateeb: For me, inclusion isn’t a one-time initiative; it’s a daily practice. It’s how we hire, mentor and make space for voices that haven’t always been heard. In my own teams, I try to build that consistency by listening first, being transparent and giving people room to grow in their own way.
True inclusion doesn’t start with a program; it starts with intent. It’s about choosing, every day, to lead with empathy and fairness, even when no one’s watching.
On the RISE is a column by the Security Industry Association (SIA) in partnership with Security Sales & Integration profiling the next generation of security industry leaders. This column is part of SIA RISE, a community that fosters the careers of young professionals in the security through networking and career growth events, education and professional development offerings and scholarship and mentorship opportunities.
