Security serendipity

When looking back through his career, Michael Brzozowski says he got into the security industry by accident, calling it “serendipity.” Fresh out of college, Brzozowski was working as a bank teller at a local credit union unsure of where his next steps would lead, or what those steps would even be. Then he learned the credit union was looking to hire someone to assist with new anti-money laundering projects and Brzozowski volunteered.

“When I look back on it now, that was my initial exposure to risk management and it really ignited my passion for security,” he says. “This line of work is perfect for me because I have a very risk aware personality.”

Throughout his career, Brzozowski has had the privilege of being part of and eventually managing diverse teams across the country — and sometimes globally — on pre-employment screening, security operations, physical security, 3rd party risk management, executive protection, identity management, governance & compliance, , due diligence, audit activities, and more.

“What I've learned is how important it is to have a deep understanding of the organization that you're working for,” Brzozowski says. “If we understand what makes an organization successful, it makes it a lot easier to apply security principles to that organization, because you understand the risk universe in which you operate it.”

He currently serves as Director, Physical Security Operations at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), a global Fortune 500 financial institution with 49,000 employees and $800 billion-plus in assets. In addition, Brzozowski has been a volunteer leader for the better part of 15 years serving in a variety of roles with ASIS International and the ASIS International Toronto Chapter.

“This industry has given me a lot and to be able to give back to young professionals and help them on their professional development journey is something that's really important to me,” Brzozowski says. “I'm really passionate about professional development, not just for myself, but for my teams as well as for the industry.”

This industry has given me a lot and to be able to give back to young professionals and help them on their professional development journey is something that's really important to me.

In his role at CIBC, Brzozowski has accountabilities for physical security operations, as well as event security, identity management, and physical security operation center. Recently, the organization has been building out a new best-in-class security program, he says that being part of this team and project is one of the hallmarks of his career.

Growing a security team

While at CIBC, Brzozowski focused on building a team around gender diversity in security by elevating female representation to 48% at the organization, surpassing industry norms. He says the increase was the result of a deliberate strategic effort, and to champion diversity of thought on the team.

“Our intent has always been to reflect the communities that we work in, and recognizing that diversity of thought enhances problem solving, innovation, and really breaks down silos,” he says. “Growing up in Toronto – one of the most diverse cities in the world, has enabled me to get a first-hand appreciation of different perspectives. I think, by building this environment where different perspectives are heard and welcomed, we build a stronger and more cohesive team.”

Brzozowski says he and his team are going to continue these efforts.

“Not just because it is the right thing to do but because we have some amazing results to back it up with. We have an amazing team,” he adds. “Our intent is to continue to be very strategic and deliberate about continuing to champion diversity of thought.”

Securing mentorship

For Brzozowski, mentoring and supporting other security professionals is an important part of his success as a leader within the industry. The mentee/mentor relationship can look differently depending on where you are in your career, Brzozowski believes a good mentor is someone who provides guidance, support and constructive feedback while creating an environment of trust and mutual respect. He lives by the mantra often said to him by his mother that “a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

“I think especially in security, mentoring is imperative because it cultivates that sharing of knowledge, of experiences, and best practices,” he says. “I think mentorship enables that really open communication, sharing knowledge and experiences to help us continue to evolve and improve our industry.”