MENDON, Utah — Alice DiSanto achieved a second life when she started her security industry career and she hasn’t looked back.
Here’s more from DiSanto, in her own words, as our celebration of International Women’s History Month stretches into April.
Security Sales & Integration: How did you get into the security industry?
Alice DiSanto: Sharp Electronics was launching its first-ever robot into the United States for autonomous guarding to augment the human side of security and safety. That was 2014. The Sharp Intellos robot was built to handle dirty, dull, and dangerous jobs, enabling people to focus on the increasing skills requiring human intelligence.
To this day, ground-based robotics is a stellar concept that protects the workforce and creates redundancy for the protection of industrial staff, assets, and infrastructure.
SSI: Have you encountered any difficulties or obstacles in your security industry career?
DiSanto: I consider myself a “second lifer” when it comes to the security industry. Entry into unfamiliar territory does present challenges, yet none have been insurmountable. As a person who started my career in technology for Toyota Motor Sales, I didn’t reenter tech until the Sharp gig came around.
In between, I took roles closer to home in other disciplines, balancing the complexities of motherhood with work. The nature of Sharp’s product pulled me into security, and the upward trajectory of the industry attracted me. What else enticed me was the quality of the Security Industry Association trade group. There was a sincerity to make inroads for women into the industry where men comprise 80% to 90% of professionals.
Then, like now, I view this as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Being at the forefront of creating a bolder presence for women in security is a positive challenge.
SSI: Whom would you point to as the most influential and helpful mentors in your career? What did they do to help you?
DiSanto: The blessing is I’ve had many. I call them “angels on earth” and they’ve appeared to support me personally and professionally. These individuals had proactively paid attention when I had my head down doing the work, thinking no one was watching.
Joe Rickard, president of Intellective Solutions, is a change agent and catalyst into security. His esteemed career, which included his tenure at Sharp as a division president, became my throughline back to tech. We met when he was a consultant while I worked for a direct marketing agency.
My marketing acumen and work ethic made an impression, so when Sharp reached out for his recommendation for a marketing director to oversee its upstart US robotics division aimed at safety and security, the only name Joe gave them was mine. His investment in me has been life-changing and career-altering.
SSI: What is your proudest career accomplishment?
DiSanto: The ability to give back is my greatest joy, and it has always been. The secret is that giving is the greatest gift to self. Being of service to others started as a child. It blossomed into endeavors, such as serving the Security Industry Association and its Women in Security Forum (WISF), for which I was a founding member in 2018 and now act as chairperson.
The platform allows me to connect with more like-minded and like-hearted people seeking to do more good for others in the collective.
SSI: What do you love most about working in the security industry?
DiSanto: I hinted at this earlier. What I love most is the Security Industry Association (SIA). Under the leadership of CEO Don Erickson, I have found a trade group purposefully fulfilling its mission. In my experience, trade groups can be lip service, acting in name only for constituents.
In contrast, SIA hardwires initiatives and supports them in education, advocacy, budgets, and staff. This fuels true action to better the industry with programs and communities, such as the Women in Security Forum.
SSI: How can the security industry become even better?
DiSanto: Sharing the vibrancy and upside career potential with others are key. SIA calls this Workforce Development. To increase awareness of efforts through the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) with outreach to colleges and universities is integral. SIA also has the Security Systems Technician Apprenticeship Program and Veterans in Security.
Another I’m particularly proud of is WISF’s PropelHER, which is focused on making inroads for collegiate and professional female athletes into the security industry. I founded and co-chair this WISF subcommittee with Shawn Ruddo.
Click here to check out our entire Women in Security Q&A series!
