Many executives are asked by their boards to retain the services of a professional risk, resilience, and security firm that specializes in executive protection. The best ones find a way to become a part of the value proposition of the executive’s personal and professional space. Many do this by integrating their staff and expertise with the executive’s administrative and travel staff. The ultimate goal is to naturally embed the protective mindset within the organization and the executive.

The alternative has been a pet peeve of mine since I began to service this community 21 years ago. Security is not overhead. It is essential to the fabric of the organization. It supports how people, perform roles, in a measurable process, using the tools the organization can provide with the express purpose to create organizational outcomes that create strategic value. If that process is constrained or disrupted by risk, the cascading erosion of value can occur with lightning speed. And velocity and efficacy are elemental to personal and professional value.

I start with this as a primer to a conversation I had with the founders and operators of NannyGuards, a division of LeMareschal. Denida Grow saw the value in personal childcare (like the administrative assistants of executives), but a gap between the caregiver and the child’s security created unnecessary risk. She responded by creating Nanny Guards.

NannyGuards are nannies/mannies who have all the skills, posture, and attitude of any caregiver that looks after children. The training they receive prepares them to meet unexpected risks that could cause harm to the child in their care.

They engage their client with the same professional approach to risk management as executive protection by assessing the needs of the client (business) and then the risks.

Then they build processes and procedures around emergency management, disaster preparedness, route management and identification of risky offenders near to their routes and schools.

We have a great conversation around this unique business model. And then we have the opportunity to witness the hearts of Chris and Denida Grow. They wanted their business to contribute to their industry with and through sponsorship of International Protective Security Board (IPSB), many other corporate sponsors, and a globally recognized children’s research organization that would allow the servant leaders in their industry to unite together and generously give their expertise and wealth to serve the greater good of the community.

They announced BodyGuards for Kids, a virtual online learning event on March 18-19, 2023 featuring top subject matter experts donating their time and expertise to sharing research and skills needed to protect human and material assets around the world. Every one of the speakers is donating their time and knowledge free of charge. The entrance fees, the corporate gifts, and the sponsorship revenue is 100% donated to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude is not only known for its acclaimed research, but also its fully paid child and family care. It applies 82% of all monies collected to its mission one of the top-rated non-profits in the world.

I can see all elements of the security ecosystem pitching in at some level to this wonderful cause. Consultants, service providers, manufacturers, integrators, and chief security officers and their teams. This podcast is for you. If we had 100 companies give $1,000 or more, and 200 executives give $50 or more, we could all send St. Jude a gift of immeasurable value from an industry that is known as stewards of care around the world.

Thank you Chris and Denida for a Great Conversation.