Ten things I learned while leading Corporate Security Innovation at Target

As the former Manager of Corporate Security Innovation & Design at Target, my role often put me at the intersection of technology, strategy, and change management.

Corporate security, a function traditionally seen as conservative and risk-averse, may seem like an unlikely place for innovation.

However, my experience at Target has taught me that it’s precisely in such domains that innovation can have the most profound impact.

Innovation in corporate security is about more than just adopting new technologies or gadgets. It’s about rethinking how we approach security, challenging conventional wisdom, and continuously seeking better ways to protect our assets and customers.

It’s about embracing the idea that even tried-and-tested methods can be improved, that failures are learning opportunities, and that technology can be a powerful force multiplier.

I want to share ten key lessons I learned while leading Corporate Security Innovation at Target in this article.

These insights were gleaned from multiple initiatives, experiments, and collaborations, representing the essence of my innovation journey.

I hope they will provide valuable guidance for other professionals looking to drive innovation in their fields, corporate security or any different domain.

Challenging Conventional Wisdom

In corporate security, conventional wisdom often serves as the bedrock of our daily operations. It forms a set of widely accepted principles that have been tried, tested, and proven their worth over the years.

For instance, it’s common knowledge that physical barriers and surveillance systems effectively deter unauthorized access. Or that robust firewalls and anti-malware software are critical in securing digital assets. Though effective, these principles can sometimes hinder innovation if not questioned or reassessed regularly.

During my tenure at Target, I learned that one of the most potent tools for progress is to challenge this conventional wisdom.

A prime example of this was our strategy around loss prevention. The retail industry has relied on human-intensive strategies such as employing security personnel and conducting manual checks to mitigate shoplifting for years. However, these methods were costly and prone to human error and limitations.

I challenged this approach by advocating a more technology and intelligence-driven solution, leveraging advanced analytics and data to predict and prevent theft. This was a departure from the conventional strategy and was initially met with considerable skepticism.

However, after a series of demonstrations and pilot programs, we were able to prove that this innovative approach was not only more effective but also more cost-efficient in the long run.

The impact of challenging the conventional wisdom was significant. This success story served as a reminder that even in a field as time-tested as corporate security, there is always room for questioning the status quo and introducing innovative solutions.

Challenging conventional wisdom is not about discarding old methods just for the sake of novelty. Instead, it’s about critically evaluating whether our current methods are still the best solution for the problems at hand, considering the advancements in technology and shifts in the corporate landscape.

It’s about courageously advocating for new ideas, even in the face of skepticism or resistance.

In the end, challenging conventional wisdom is a testament to the adage that innovation is not just about doing new things, but also about doing old things in new ways. It’s a mindset that has been instrumental in shaping my journey in corporate security, and one that I believe is essential for anyone seeking to drive innovation in their field.

Rapid Experimentation and Failures

Innovation is never a straight path. It is a journey marked by exploration, experimentation, and, inevitably, failures. One of the most critical lessons I learned while leading innovation was the value of rapid experimentation and embracing failures as part of the process.

In the realm of corporate security, it can be tempting to stick with tried-and-true methods due to the high stakes involved. However, if we always play it safe, we might miss opportunities for significant improvements and breakthroughs. To innovate, we must be willing to take calculated risks and experiment with new ideas and technologies.

For instance, in every single strategy shift we did, we didn’t get it right the first time.  They often didn’t yield the results we were hoping for – but each of those was an opportunity to learn and improve.  In each case, we gathered data, identified the gaps, and iteratively improved our approach.  With each iteration, our strategies got better, and we moved closer to our goal.

This process of rapid experimentation allowed us to learn quickly, adapt, and improve. It also underscored the importance of resilience. In innovation, failures are not roadblocks but stepping stones towards success. Each failure brought us valuable insights that helped us refine our approach and eventually build strategies that outperformed traditional methods.

However, it’s important to note that while we should embrace failure, we must do so responsibly.

In the context of corporate security, where a single failure can lead to significant losses or breaches, it’s critical to design experiments in a way that minimizes risk. This might involve testing new technologies or strategies in controlled environments and pilots before full-scale implementation.

In conclusion, rapid experimentation and embracing failures were key to our success in driving innovation.

It allowed us to test new ideas quickly, learn from our mistakes, and continuously improve.

As Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” This mindset is at the heart of innovation, and it’s a lesson that I carry with me in every project I undertake.

Leveraging Technology as a Force Multiplier

In the field of corporate security, we are often dealing with intricate challenges that demand a high level of vigilance, precision, and efficiency. Traditional strategies have typically been human-intensive, relying heavily on manpower for tasks such as surveillance, access control, and loss prevention. While these methods have their merits, they also have inherent limitations – they can be costly, prone to human error, and don’t always scale well.

One of the key lessons I learned at Target was the importance of leveraging technology as a force multiplier to address these challenges. By harnessing the power of technology, we can enhance our capabilities, increase efficiency, and often achieve better results than traditional methods.

But leveraging technology is not just about implementing the latest gadgets or software. It’s about strategically selecting and integrating technology that directly addresses the challenges at hand. It requires a deep understanding of both the security landscape and the capabilities of different technologies.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to understand that technology is not a silver bullet. While it can greatly enhance our capabilities, it should complement, not replace, human expertise and intuition. The most effective security strategies often involve a balanced combination of technology and human elements, each playing to its strengths.

In conclusion, my experience at Target reinforced the idea that technology, when used appropriately, can be a tremendous force multiplier in corporate security. It has the potential to replace outdated, human-intensive strategies, making our operations more efficient, effective, and scalable.

As we move forward in this digital age, the ability to leverage technology will undoubtedly continue to be a key driver of innovation in corporate security.

Identifying and Working with Allies

Innovation, by its very nature, is a disruptive process. It often involves challenging the status quo, introducing new ideas, and driving change. As such, it can sometimes be met with resistance or skepticism within the organization.

One of the key lessons I learned while leading Corporate Security Innovation at Target was the importance of identifying and working with allies within the corporation. These allies can play a crucial role in promoting and supporting innovation initiatives.

Allies in innovation are those who understand the importance of change and are willing to champion new ideas. They can come from various parts of the organization – from senior leadership to frontline employees. They can also be found in different roles – from those directly involved in security operations to those in completely different departments like IT, HR, product development, merchandising, or marketing.

Identifying these potential allies is just the first step. It involves building relationships across the organization, understanding different stakeholders’ perspectives, and finding those who share a common vision for innovation. This can be achieved through regular networking, cross-departmental collaborations, or even informal coffee chats.

Once identified, the next step is to work together to promote and drive innovation. Allies can provide valuable support in various ways. They can help gain buy-in from other stakeholders, provide diverse perspectives and ideas, assist in implementing new initiatives, or even champion the innovation agenda at higher levels of the organization.

Working with allies is not always easy. It requires open communication, collaboration, and sometimes, compromise. But the benefits are immense. With a network of allies, you are no longer a lone voice pushing for change, but part of a broader coalition driving innovation together.

In conclusion, identifying and working with allies was a critical part of our innovation journey. It allowed us to build a supportive environment for innovation, overcome resistance, and drive change more effectively. It’s a lesson that I believe is vital for anyone looking to lead innovation in any organization.

Other Key Lessons from the Role

While challenging conventional wisdom, embracing rapid experimentation and failures, leveraging technology, and working with allies were central to my role leading Corporate Security Innovation at Target, there are a few additional lessons that I’ve learned throughout my journey.

Emphasizing the Importance of Communication

Innovation often involves change, and change can be unsettling for many. It’s essential to communicate effectively about what the changes entail, why they’re necessary, and how they’ll impact everyone involved.

Clear, consistent, and transparent communication helps alleviate fears, builds trust, and gets everyone on board with the innovation agenda.

Encouraging a Culture of Learning

Innovation thrives in a culture that values learning and growth. Encouraging employees to continuously learn, whether it’s about new technologies, industry trends, or different ways of thinking, fuels innovation.

We promoted a learning culture by providing training programs, organizing innovation workshops, and creating platforms for knowledge sharing.

Keeping the Guest (Customer) at the Center

Innovation should ultimately serve the needs of the customer. In the context of corporate security, this might mean creating a safer shopping environment, protecting customer data, or reducing disruptions to the shopping experience.

Every innovation initiative we undertook at Target was guided by the question: “How does this benefit our guests?”

Balancing Innovation and Operational Excellence

While it’s important to pursue new and innovative ideas, it’s equally crucial to ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly. Balancing the drive for innovation with the need for operational excellence can be challenging, but it’s essential for sustainable success.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned that leading innovation is not just about introducing new technologies or strategies. It’s about fostering a culture that embraces change, promotes learning, puts the customer at the center, and balances innovation with operational excellence. These lessons have not only shaped my tenure leading corporate security innovation but also continue to guide me as I navigate the ever-evolving landscape of resilience.

My Key Takeaways

Innovation, at its core, is about adapting to change and continuously striving for improvement. My experience leading Corporate Security Innovation at Target has underscored the fact that no field, not even one as traditionally conservative as corporate security, is immune to the need for innovation.

Indeed, with the rapid advancements in technology and the ever-evolving security landscape, innovation is not just desirable—it’s essential.

The lessons I’ve shared—challenging conventional wisdom, embracing rapid experimentation and failures, leveraging technology as a force multiplier, and working with allies—are not just applicable to corporate security. They hold true for any domain seeking to innovate.

They’re about fostering a culture that embraces change, promotes learning, and puts the customer at the center. They’re about balancing the drive for innovation with the need for operational excellence. And most importantly, they’re about understanding that innovation is a journey, one that requires resilience, collaboration, and a willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone.

As I look back on my journey at Target, I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to drive change and innovation. I hope that sharing these lessons will inspire and guide others on their innovation journeys.

After all, in the rapidly changing world of today, we are all innovators in our own right, each with the potential to challenge the status quo and make a difference in our fields.

Here’s to our collective efforts in pushing boundaries, driving change, and shaping the future through innovation.

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