Assistant Editor, Eve Goode hears exclusively from Rachael Paskvan, CEO and Founder of Femme Force about thriving in security as a female in the industry.
Breaking the stereotype
When people picture a bodyguard, they often imagine a six-foot-four man in a black suit, broad shoulders filling the doorway.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve walked into a protective detail and someone’s eyebrows raised, as if wondering: Her? Yes, me.
A five-foot-four woman who has spent over a decade in the security industry, protecting executives, overseeing logistics for high-profile events and managing international travel operations.
I have been the only woman in the room more times than I can remember but being underestimated has become one of my greatest assets.
While this industry may still be male-dominated in perception, women are not just entering it, we are thriving.
Overcoming obstacles
Last year, I experienced something that shook me in a way even the toughest detail never had, I was laid off.
Overnight, the work that had defined so much of my life, the long hours, the responsibility, the trust I had earned was gone.
I did what so many of us do, I updated my resume, polished my LinkedIn profile and hit “apply” once, twice, ten times and before I knew it, that number had ballooned to 502 job applications. Alongside them came 103 networking calls and over 200 cold LinkedIn messages.
The rejection was constant. Sometimes it was a polite “no,” but more often it was silence. Each unanswered application chipped away at my confidence.
Each automated rejection email felt like another door slammed shut, but I kept going because what choice did I have?
Turning rejection into a positive
The process reminded me of my earliest days in executive protection. Walking into a male-dominated industry, I was constantly told “no.” For example, being told ‘no, you’re not tall enough’ or ‘no, you don’t look intimidating enough’ or ‘no, clients won’t take you seriously.’
Security isn’t about looking the part, it’s about being prepared, it’s about situational awareness, anticipation, resilience and discretion.
Those qualities don’t show up in a mirror, they show up in the moment it matters most. Job hunting works the same way.
Every rejection forced me to prepare better, sharpen my approach and focus on the skills and value I brought to the table.
Every unanswered email became a training ground in persistence. Just like a security advance, where you might walk every hallway, map every exit and prepare for contingencies that never materialise, applying to 502 jobs taught me that preparation is invisible until it saves you.
Women in security
If you’ve never worked alongside a female bodyguard, let me tell you what you’re missing. We can blend seamlessly into environments where a hulking male presence would draw attention.
We can accompany female clients into restrooms, dressing rooms, or culturally sensitive spaces where men are not permitted.
We bring empathy to situations with children or families and most importantly, we bring emotional intelligence, a skillset often undervalued in security but essential for de-escalating situations before they spiral.
More than once, I’ve calmed a tense environment not with force but with a conversation. That is protection, too.
These aren’t secondary skills, they are critical and they are exactly why more organisations need to rethink how they utilise women in security.
Resilience
Being laid off taught me something I carry into every protective detail, resilience is the differentiator. In security, it’s resilience that keeps you calm when the plan falls apart.
In the job market, it’s resilience that keeps you sending out resumes after the 200th rejection.
In life, it’s resilience that reminds you that every “no” is not the end of your story, it’s a redirection. When people ask me how I got through applying to 502 jobs, I tell them the same thing I’d tell any young woman entering the security field, rejection is just data.
Each “no” is information that helps you refine your approach, stand taller and sharpen your edge.
The evolving industry
For the security industry to truly evolve, leaders need to do more than talk about diversity, they need to actively utilise women.
That means breaking stereotypes and stopping the reflexive assumption that protection requires size over skill.
It means recognising that the ability to read a room and de-escalate is as important as physical presence. It means creating pathways for women through intentional recruitment, training and advancement.
It means recognising resilience as an asset, not a liability.
Many women in security have already fought uphill battles to prove themselves. That grit is exactly what makes them effective professionals.
If I can apply to 502 jobs and still come back stronger, imagine what women who’ve lived that kind of persistence can do for your protective teams.
The next generation of women in security
If you’re a woman considering starting your career in this industry, here’s what I want you to know:
- Don’t wait for permission as you will be underestimated, step forward anyway
- Build your network because allies and mentors matter more than titles
- See rejection as redirection, because the “yes” meant for you will come but only if you keep showing up
- Carry your resilience like armour, it’s the one trait that will never fail you
- Every time you walk into a room where no one expects you to belong, remember the very fact that you’re there proves that you do
One step closer
I didn’t plan to apply for 502 jobs. Just like I didn’t plan to be one of the few women in executive protection.
But both experiences taught me the same truth, thriving is not about never hearing “no.” It’s about what you do next.
The security industry is shifting. Clients are demanding subtlety, discretion and empathy, qualities women bring in abundance.
Companies that recognise and embrace this shift will be stronger, safer and more effective. So, to every woman in security or considering this field, keep going.
Keep applying. Keep training. Keep showing up.
Every “no” is one step closer to the “yes” that will change everything.
And to the industry, the next time you picture a bodyguard, don’t just imagine the man in the black suit. Imagine the woman standing quietly at the edge of the room, watchful, prepared and ready.
She’s not just there to protect, she’s there to prove to herself and to all of us that women don’t just survive in security, we thrive.
