We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashlee Cervantes Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashlee Cervantes, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
In the Private Security Industry in the United States, even today in California – 2024, there are very few women in leadership. This highly male dominated industry carries notes of “Wild West” days into our modern era. The industry leaders are predominately compromised of older, white males. With that being said, when I entered the industry in my twenties as a Hispanic Female, one may be able to imagine there weren’t many folks who looked like me. In fact, there weren’t many people who sounded, dressed or talked like me either.
As long as I can remember, I was acutely aware of my exterior physical appearance, and mixed ethnicity. This certainly carried into my early career. Eventually, it was through that awareness that I was able to build my confidence and leverage my distinct differences to my advantage.
A few things that have helped me along this journey are:
(1) Never being afraid to call out the elephant in the room. I manage crisis situations by profession so this is something I am particularly well seasoned in. I believe this can be largely accredited with my success as the only one who looks like me in many of the circles I find myself in.
Being able to identify the “worst possible scenario” for yourself and eventually others becomes a prized skill. I am far from a pessimist, but I am certainly a realist. This trait allows me to be in tune with all the possibilities, from the best case scenario to the worst case scenario. And it has the added benefit that I am rarely surprised by things.
(2) Although I make it a habit to have awareness of the worst possible scenario, I am still an optimist. I focus on the best in people and situations wherever feasible. This lends itself towards positive energy generation and that can be magnetic.
(3) I am a proud life-long student and learner. I have worked hard to remain coachable. Thats not to say I shy away from my own inner wisdom, but I think its important to listen to both what others (especially those wiser than me) have to say as well as my inner expert.
The reputation I have built in this industry did not happen by accident. It was intentional. The hustle is only as meaningful as the thought and strategy put into it. The inner work is equally critical. Showing up to chase off “imposter syndrome”, self-doubt, negative self-talk and mental health battles is crucial.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I began my career in the Security Industry in Retail Loss Prevention almost two decades ago. I didn’t know it at the time, but I fell into a wonderful career I would become incredibly passionate about. Like most of us, my path here wasn’t linear. Several years later I found myself presented with an opportunity to take on an administrative role for a small security firm doing payroll, hiring and hr paperwork. Fast forward another year or so and my journey with Guardian Protection Force (GPF) began. And what a journey that has been. I am now part owner and CEO of GPF and Founder and CEO of Guardian Secure Solutions LLC.
The Guardian legacy is established by prioritizing core values each day to deliver the highest caliber security service to our communities and customers.
Our ultimate mission is to be the Guardians of the communities we serve. And it’s that mission that gets me out of bed every morning.
I am absolutely on fire about all things related to Security Solutions, Physical Risk Mitigation and Management. Passionate about bringing solution-based services to a broad range of clients and customers to ensure the safety of their employees, customers and property. I am proud to secure clients ranging from Small Business in our local community to global Fortune 500 companies.
Guardian Protection Force Inc., is a special place where our Guardians specialize in Armed Security and Executive Protection, which is an industry term for what most of you know as “Bodyguard” services. We provide a full portfolio of physical security services ranging from schools, churches, commercial businesses, retail establishments and personal protection for high net worth individuals, politicians, attorneys, CEOs and other public figures.
My newest venture is Guardian Secure Solutions LLC (GSS). I am 100% owner and founder of GSS and we had our soft launch just recently, March 1, 2024. This company will be a full service Security Operation Center (SOC). We will specialize in providing supplemental, technology based security solutions to our clients. These services will eventually include intelligence based security dispatching, alarm monitoring and response, CCTV monitoring and more.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I feel so fortunate to have fallen into a career that aligned so well with my God-given talents and strengths. With that said, the three key qualities, skills and areas of knowledge that have been most impactful along my journey thus far are:
Firstly, adaptability. While in many respects I operate best in very rigid environments and tend to lean into structured and disciplined schedules, I am equally able to pivot and adapt on a dime in most areas. Finding that balance was key to my success at so many various stages. What’s tricky about this skill is, as soon as you think you’ve gotten the hang of it it’s time to switch things up again,. The good news is thats a sign you’re doing it correctly!
Secondly, learning the art of protecting space. Protecting space for myself, my husband & children, my teams is critical to success in all things. Learning that “No.” Is a complete sentence. Understanding that every “Yes” is a “No” to something else. An extra “yes” at work may mean a “no” to family time. A “yes” to a night out with friends might mean a “no” to an early morning prospective client meeting. Along the road to learning this critical skill it was important to learn that there is simply no such thing as “balance” but rather all things come in waves and seasons. Lean in when it makes sense and you are able and trust your gut when its time to step back and let your teammates step up for you.
That leads to the most critical and final lesson I have learned. Everything is about who is on the bus with you. Everything you do in life comes back to this. And the cold hard fact is that humans are pack animals. We are designed to live and function in villages. On a very primitive level we are hardwired for this. So to deny or fail to understand it will only delay you on your path to success. For me, this lesson started at work. I kept hearing folks much wiser and more successful than me talk about, “you gotta get the right people on the bus”. For the longest time I kept wishing they would explain why the bus matters if I want a corvette? One day I was listening to my favorite HR professionals, #HeyAnne, talk about being “slow to hire but quick to fire”. It was that day the bus metaphor finally clicked for me. Too many times we take too long to remove someone from the team that just isn’t a good match. Maybe is an employee who is nice but unproductive. Maybe it’s a best friend who is an “energy vampire”. For whatever reason those toxic, unhealthy or even just unhelpful folks they can’t be on your bus. In the same vein, we need to be slow to select who we put on the bus in the first place. Unless you’re doing a rolling drop off, which I do not recommend, each time someone gets on OR off the proverbial bus – you’re STOPPING.
I’ll conclude with my favorite piece of advice, “Go big or go home”. And I’ll add this; its okay to go home too. Wouldn’t this world be such a better place if every single person was doing one of two things every single day; either giving their all or at home recalibrating and getting ready for the next great thing they were going to give to the world?
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Private Security and Public Safety are industries that never sleep. We operate three hundred and sixty five days per year. Twenty four hours per day. Seven days per week. We do not take holidays or “in service days”. We regularly mitigate life and death situations. On our best days we prevent incidents from ever even occurring, that means we rarely receive accolades for such critical work.
That said, it is easy to become overwhelmed working in this industry. Never mind, just being a full time (plus) working mom of two boys managing all that life has to offer. I find hope while learning to navigate those feelings of overwhelm because I know I am not alone. This skill is critical to so many of our roles, not just mine in this high demand industry.
Some strategies that have helped me on this journey include:
(1) Consistent therapy has been where I learn to sharpen my “tools of the trade”, especially learning to manage my anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.
(2) Physical exercise. Moving my body daily is a non-negotiable. Consistent workouts as many times per week as possible is also mission critical.
(3) Remember, feelings are not facts. While feelings are always valid, that does not make them facts. I am someone who does well when rooted in logic. Remembering my five senses is always a great place to begin grounding myself in the present moment to reclaim the facts of overwhelming situations.
Of course all the stereotypical things help tremendously as well; deep breaths, long walks, petting my dogs, listening to music and hot bubble baths. But the final piece of advice for anyone struggling with overwhelm is to remember, this too shall pass. There is seasonality to all things in this life. Trying to reframe and remember what will matter in the end is so helpful. My late grandfather always asked, “but will you see it from the freeway?”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gpfsecuritycorp.com
- Instagram: @guardian.ceo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpfashleecervantes/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GPFSecurity
