Foster the Future of the Security Industry by Being a TIME Mentor

Security leaders wanted! Give back to the industry and build meaningful relationships by mentoring a young security professional.

Want to give back and help cultivate the next generation of security industry leaders? Don’t miss the opportunity to become a TIME mentor! The Security Industry Association (SIA) is seeking seasoned security industry professionals to serve as mentors in the 2025 cohort of Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME), a mentorship program presented by the SIA RISE community for young security professionals. TIME is designed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion and empowerment of underrepresented identities in the security industry by creating a well-defined pathway for learning and development.

SIA’s TIME mentorship program offers meaningful developmental opportunities for both mentees and mentors. As a mentor, you’ll help TIME strengthen the future of the industry through:

• Career development: Connecting early and mid-career professionals and students with established industry professionals to further career growth and talent development
• Skill enhancement: Building a sustainable community of support through collaboration, networking and skill building
• Recruitment: Attracting students to the security industry by providing insights on the wide array of career opportunities available
• Executive leadership development: Promoting leadership development opportunities that will encourage diversity within the ranks

Video: Is Time the Best Security Mentoring Program Out There? (Spoiler: We Think So.)

Want to hear even more? Here are a few stories from past TIME participants:

“The TIME mentorship program has proven to be one of the most effective and rewarding mentoring programs I have encountered during my decades in the security industry. Everything about TIME mentorship supports well-rounded and inclusive interactions between professionals yielding significant tangible benefits equally for both mentors and mentees. I’m proud to have been selected to serve as a mentor and look forward to continuing to take advantage of this fantastic and unique professional development opportunity within the security industry.”

Jim Black, director, senior director, security architect, Microsoft (mentor)

“The mentorship program has been incredibly valuable to me. [My mentor] has been a fantastic sounding board for so many decisions during my first year in the industry. Her guidance has greatly boosted my confidence, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this resource. Thank you for supporting such a wonderful program!”

Eddi Bradley, account executive, Telaeris (mentee)

“As a mentor, I have had the privilege of guiding numerous individuals in their personal and professional growth; however, my experience with my mentee has been particularly rewarding, as I have witnessed significant transformations in their approach to challenges, relationships and overall well-being. From our initial conversations, it was clear that my TIME mentee was eager to learn and grow. They were open to feedback, willing to take risks and committed to self-improvement. As we navigated various topics, including emotional intelligence, communication, decision making, conflict management and relationship building, I observed remarkable progress in their ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. … As a mentor, it has been a privilege to play a role in my mentee’s growth and development. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my knowledge, experience and insights with them, and I look forward to continuing our mentorship journey together.”

Adam Donato, area manager, data center physical security, Meta (mentor)

“I absolutely love the mentor/mentee program. The ability to help my mentee open doors and push forward in an industry that was new to her was incredibly rewarding. Every conversation with my mentee was worthwhile and exciting. Not only did she learn but I did as well. Being able to see the industry in a new perspective from a younger individual was eye-opening and refreshing. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back and for what I have learned.”

Janet Fenner, chief marketing officer, Sentry Enterprises (mentor)

“The TIME program has been great so far! Both [my mentor] and I have gone through such dramatic changes in our jobs this past year, so it’s been so great just having time to talk to someone with a different perspective on our situations.”

Ashley Means, event specialist, regional marketing Americas, Milestone Systems (mentee)

“I absolutely enjoyed every minute of the mentorship program. [My mentor] has been wonderful, giving me endless encouragement and guidance. I understand I am a special case as I went back to school during the mentorship to further my education and obtain a bachelor’s degree; however, the support and knowledge Kelly has provided in regard to doing such a change as well as appropriate ways to talk to my bosses about topics that include my future with the company has been knowledge that I will keep with me. She has also helped with finding ways to organize my work and personal life in a better and more efficient way. I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to learn from [my mentor] and get to be a part of this program!”

Kennidy Riedemann, technology systems designer, T.I.E. Consulting (mentee)

TIME mentor applications are open until Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. What are you waiting for? Complete your application here.

SIA RISE is a community that fosters the careers of emerging leaders in the security industry. Membership in SIA RISE  – which offers fun networking opportunities, career growth webinars and education tracks at ISC West and East, scholarships, award and mentorship offerings and the annual AcceleRISE conference – is open to all employees at SIA member companies who are young professionals under 40 or have been in the security industry for less than two years. Learn more about RISE and how to get involved.