“The conversations, mentorship, sponsorship and meaningful connections fostered this week are not only shaping individual careers; they are helping shape the future of the security profession,” said Rachael Paskvan, chair, ASIS Women in Security community and head of protective services, Ecolab. “We are proud to partner with SIA to create a space where leaders, allies and emerging professionals can learn from one another, share experiences and drive meaningful change across our industry. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive security community where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead and succeed.”

Candice Aragon, chair, SIA Women in Security Forum and chief experience officer, PSA, added, “Security LeadHER 2026 demonstrates the incredible momentum behind the advancement of women in the security industry. What makes this event so powerful is that it goes beyond inspiration: it creates meaningful connections, actionable insights and opportunities that continue long after the event ends. We are proud to see this community growing and grateful to everyone who contributed to making this year’s conference our most impactful yet.”

Attendees enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes tours at two iconic Minnesota destinations. At the Target Corporate Command Center — the 24/7 hub that monitors business, safety and security issues across nearly 2,000 stores and more than 60 supply chain facilities — attendees toured the center and saw a live demonstration of Target’s advanced analytics and automation. At the Mall of America Security Operations and the Axis Experience Center, they went inside the day-to-day management of the largest mall in America, learning how the team keeps more than 100,000 daily patrons safe and the next-generation technology that makes it possible.

The program was anchored by two powerful keynote addresses. Organizational psychologist, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor and status-and-negotiation expert Alison Fragale opened the conference with “Likeable Badass: The Science of Winning the Status Game,” unpacking why women are so often forced to choose between being seen as competent and being seen as likeable and how a science-based understanding of status can change that dynamic. On day two, author and workplace equity expert Minda Harts delivered “Your Voice Is Your Value,” blending her self-advocacy strategies with her “Seven Trust Languages” framework to help attendees strengthen self-trust and communicate their worth with confidence, even amid difficult power dynamics.

The conference closed with a leadership panel, “The Power of Sponsorship and Allyship,” in which women security leaders shared candid career stories about the advocates who opened doors, amplified their voices and helped break down barriers. Karen Frank, managing director and head of firm safety and security services, KPMG, moderated the discussion featuring panelists Kimberly Fearno, regional vice president, Convergint; Emy Johnson, vice president and chief security officer, Allina Health; Alaina Meyer, president, scDataCom; and Dawanna S. Witt, sheriff, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Beyond the keynotes, attendees chose from a slate of breakouts, roundtables and sessions spanning the challenges and opportunities facing women in security today. Topics ranged from executive presence, confident communication and mastering hard conversations to navigating nonlinear career paths, personal branding and strategic networking for a global security career. Sessions also tackled the field’s most pressing issues and challenges, including leading across generations in the age of artificial intelligence, recognizing bias in data-driven decision making, the role of psychological safety in high-performing security teams, women in executive protection and building the next-generation pipeline of women leaders.