The Security Companion Guide for Female Executives and Employees
Personal safety and the safety of ones’ family is likely top of mind following newsworthy events, whether they be manmade or environmental, local or international. Often it is not until incidents make headlines or affect a friend or family member that thoughts of crime, international terrorism, data loss, and travel safety come to mind or influence our behaviors.
Individuals who have public facing roles, interact with the media, or have a large online presence are potentially more exposed to bad actors and behaviors given their public personas, as are female executives and employees. Online Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is one of the most prevalent ways to physically locate people or disrupt reputations.
While safety is important for all employees, including those in highly public roles and positions, female employees and female executives often face additional risks as well as cultural challenges that their male counterparts may not be exposed to as frequently (or at all).
The following security companion guide can be followed by persons of all ages but was assembled from interviews and discussions with female figures in public facing roles for the primarily benefit of female employees and leaders.
This guide is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every precaution and safety measure that should be followed, nor does it guarantee that a bad event or incident will not occur if this guide is adhered to in its entirety.
Travel
As COVID restrictions are lifted around the world, companies will continue to ramp up corporate travel for face-to-face business meetings, consulting projects, and events and seminars. Employees will also use health requirement relaxations and border openings to plan their own personal trips to get away and decompress.
According to a 2018 insurance survey, 45 percent of female travelers felt less safe or much less safe about traveling that they did five years previously.[i] Given the current state of the world, it is both likely and possible that this perception of insecurity has increased.
The following best practices can be followed by both male and female travelers but will primarily benefit female executives and employees during business and personal travel.
• Entrust a coworker and/or family member with a complete travel itinerary, including hotels, dates, flights, photocopied travel documents, and important contact numbers.
• Keep in regular contact with family and business associates while traveling and notify trusted contacts of any itinerary deviations or last-minute schedule changes. This measure can ensure friends and family have the most up-to-date information in the event of unforeseen issues such as natural disasters or local security incidents.
• Select flight options that arrive at destinations during daytime business hours. Arrangements for rental car pickups and drop-offs should also take place during business hours and in public locations.
• Use a trusted source to coordinate transfers and transportation services to and from the airport and places of business using the hotel’s concierge service or an alternate planner. Request that driver and vehicle photos be provided ahead of time as an added safety measure. While the costs of doing so may be more than arranging a taxi upon arrival or as needed, the possibility of scams and safety issues arising will likely diminish. This option is also preferable for late-night airport arrivals and departures.
• It is always preferable to book hotel rooms through company travel departments. If no such department exists, female travelers should select rooms from major hotel chains that are in centrally located areas of their destination city that are close to company offices or places of business. Home share providers like Airbnb should be avoided. These options are often in more remote areas and/or lack safety and security features found at major hotel chains.
• Do not openly validate room numbers and personal details during the check in and check out process. It is always preferable to keep personal information exchanges to a minimum in public settings. When possible, visually confirm personal details on screens rather than audibly state or repeat personal details.
• Before settling into the room for the first time, conduct a walkthrough to ensure there is nothing suspicious or out of place within the interior areas.
• Always engage the main door deadbolt when within the room. As an added security measure, purchase a travel door jammer that prevents entry doors from being forced open. Select rooms that do not have adjoining room access.
• Do not disclose room numbers to clients and business associates. It is always preferable to relay hotel address and contact information and meet in person within hotel lobbies.
• Research local customs and religious preferences prior to departure. Some destinations have more stringent and conservative dress codes for women. Failing to recognize and observe local customs and cultural norms can potentially lead to increased scrutiny and harassment. When in doubt about proper attire, err on the side of caution by dressing more conservatively.
• Keep up to date on local news and regional developments in the city or country where travel is taking place. Local demonstrations and events have the potential to interfere with or delay travel.
• Select money pouches or small coin purses over large handbags and purses when traveling around town. Minimize the use of brand name labels which are often targeted and favored by thieves. Discrete carrying cases attract less attention and are easy to conceal, which can minimize the likelihood of pickpocketing in public areas.
• When traveling abroad, wear inconspicuous jewelry that will not attract attention.
• Do not consolidate credit cards and money in one location while traveling. It is always preferable to divvy up money and cards in multiple locations to prevent total loss in the event of a pickpocketing or theft. Keeping a backup card, debit card, and spare cash secured within the front desk safe is a practice that can help travelers continue with their trips without major disruptions.
• Request a travel destination briefing from the company’s security department or material that addresses local safety and security concerns. Businesses have a duty of care to watch out for employees on business-related travel.
• Consider travel insurance and emergency evacuation coverage that protects travelers for the entirety of the trip, including all destinations.
Online
Whether we know it or not, internet has become a repository for our personal information. Details about our hobbies, places of employment, political viewpoints, family and friends, and travel plans are captured by companies, data aggregators, and individuals. While much of this information is marketed for sales and targeted advertising, there are some who scrutinize this information with more nefarious intentions in mind.
Women who are in public facing roles or those that have an active online presence are more vulnerable to be directly targeted in response to their statements or actions or indirectly targeted by their company or extracurricular affiliations.
• Maintain separate social media accounts for business and personal activity. Ensure that both accounts do not contain information that can be used to identify home neighborhoods, office addresses, favorite restaurants and stores, or frequented areas.
• Social media posts that involve “tagging” specific locations should be minimized or avoided altogether. If locations are required or desired, consider additional precautions such as “posting” at the time of departure or tagging locations after visits are complete.
• Monitor Direct Messages (DMs) on social media accounts. If messaging from users becomes overly aggressive and/or increasingly hostile, notify application admins or block users. Use discretion when blocking users, as this could lead to escalating behavior (e.g., threats) from the individual that may not be seen if accounts are blocked.
• Be mindful of engaging in online discussions on contentious topics. When in doubt, take an objective stance or do not post at all. While free speech is welcome and protected in many societies, the media’s reach and politization can lead to people or groups targeting those who hold different viewpoints.
• Never accept requests from unknown persons, complete online surveys and questionnaires, or follow links from unknown sources within messages. Scams and phishing schemes are common on social media. Innocuous surveys may be ruses to obtain person details that can be used to crack account password information.[ii]
• Have conversations with children and their friends if they are traveling with you about what is safe to post and what should not be posted during trips.
For more information on this topic and online safety, please refer to our guide on “How to Safety Navigate and Post on Social Media”.
Everyday Safety (including workplace safety)
There are countless ways to enhance personal security, and it is easy to get out of hand or overthink personal behaviors and actions to the point where it can affect quality of life and personal wellbeing.
Often, projecting a confident demeanor, maintaining a heightened sense of awareness (whether at home or during travel), and following gut instincts can help avoid situations that put safety at risk.
• Always maintain a heightened sense of awareness, even when frequenting familiar businesses, popular local hangouts, and known neighborhoods. It is often the places where we let down our guard that we are most vulnerable.
• Get in the habit of locking front doors immediately after arriving at home. This ensures that criminals who follow people home cannot gain entry during the car unloading process or after-work arrival routines.
• Vary routes when commuting between work and home. If a vehicle appears to be following you, do not drive home. Reroute to a public area and notify police if trailing vehicles continue to mirror your routes and speeds.
• Keep vehicle doors locked at all times; this includes ride-share vehicles such as Lyft and Uber. Locking vehicle doors provides an additional measure of safety and can buy precious seconds when timely departures are needed.
• Consider sharing ride-share trip information with a trusted friend or family member or maintain an open line or call if a suspected issue arises. Ride share applications often have features that allow trip information to be shared as part of an enhanced safety feature.
• When utilizing multi-level parking garages, park on levels that are close to entrances and exits. These areas will likely still have activity after business hours and into the evening.
• Have car keys out and ready to use when returning to personal vehicles, particularly after dark and in remote areas. Better still, keep a finger on the key’s panic button should activation be required. Keychain panic buttons can also be purchased that emit audible alarms when activated.
• Check public restrooms and dressing rooms before use to ensure they are safe. A quick visual check prior to use is a prudent measure to ensure these areas are safe and do not contain people or equipment that do not belong.
• Look for certain red flags, such as individuals who repeatedly appear at frequented locations when they have no reason to be there. Frequented locations could include favorite restaurants, gyms, yoga studios, or the office parking lot.
As stated previously, follow your instincts when in doubt. If something does not feel right take appropriate measures to remove yourself from the situation or environment.
Sources:
i No Author, “Study Finds Women Feel Less Safe About Traveling Than They Did Five Years Previously”, Travel Guard, May 15, 2018.
ii Shelby Brown, “These Phishing Tactics Disguised as ‘Fun’ on Social Media. Here’s What to Look For”, CNET, March 27, 2022.
