PHOENIX — Gina Sansivero certainly didn’t grow up thinking about a career in the security industry. Like most who joined the sector, it happened completely by accident for her, in fact.
Sansivero, the vice president of marketing & corporate communications at AtlasIED, started her tech-focused career path when she joined a startup that sparked her connection to the field. She views challenges as opportunities for growth, crediting mentors for expanding her perspective and shaping her leadership approach. Among her proudest achievements is building a talented, dynamic team at AtlasIED.
Here’s more about Sansivero, in her own words, as part of our ongoing celebration of International Women’s History Month.
Security Sales & Integration: How did you get into the security industry?
Gina Sansivero: I was looking for a new opportunity to continue to progress and expand in my career in marketing and came across a small start-up R&D company re-engineering projector light engines. They were looking for their first marketing hire and I was looking for my next step; little did I know at the time that this industry and the people in it would feel like home.
SSI: Have you encountered any difficulties or obstacles in your security industry career?
Sansivero: Of course, everyone encounters some roadblocks. How you allow it to affect your growth and progress is more important than what those roadblocks are. I haven’t allowed obstacles to stop me from growing; I just became more creative in how I leveraged those obstacles to make me a better professional, leader and marketer. I think it’s important to remember that roadblocks are an opportunity to fight complacency.
SSI: Whom would you point to as the most influential and helpful mentors in your career? What did they do to help you?
Sansivero: The best mentors I have had have opened my eyes to different perspectives. They have taught me strategies to see beyond my own experiences and viewpoint. I ask a lot of questions in an effort to understand a variety of thought processes, and that curiosity is a result of years of formal and informal mentorship from individuals both in and outside this industry.
SSI: What is your proudest career accomplishment?
Sansivero: I am most proud of the team I’ve helped build at AtlasIED. They are a group of brilliant people who challenge each other to be better every day. I truly love working with this team. I am learning to lead in ways that test my preconceptions about leadership, and it’s both uncomfortable and thrilling.
SSI: What do you love most about working in the security industry?
Sansivero: This is going to sound cliché, but it’s absolutely the people. This industry has a very strong and deep sense of community. You can learn the specifics of an industry, be it tech or medical components or fashion, but you can’t force a connection with the community. I personally and professionally feel real connection here.
SSI: How can the security industry become even better?
Sansivero: This is an easy answer but one that is not easy to execute. To be better, we have to diversify. We need more perspectives to help us become stronger and more creative and more voices to stay relevant and innovative.
Click here to read our entire Women in Security Q&A series!
