TV interview on how to be a successful security professional
February, 2019
What does it take to be a successful security professional? SGA CEO and Chairman, Jules Delahaije engaged with Switch TV Presenter Mwenesi Musalia about his life and career in the security industry and why passion is an important aspect in becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Speaking on the Top Job Show, Jules had some advice to his 20 year old self that he hopes other 20 year olds and young people would emulate. In his 20s, Jules knew what he wanted and was eager to learn new things daily. He always thought beyond his scope and challenged himself to be better. He also emphasized on one thing: that in life, finding a balance between private life and business life is very important. Asked what he would do if he was to go back to his 20s, he says he would find a better balance between these two important aspects.
The passion he has always had for learning new things has made him stand out in his career. For Jules, the physical part of security is not the only important thing. The human factor and technology are some of the things that are important and quite intriguing. Being innovative not only helps an organization be better but also steers SGA to be the leader in the security sector.
To be a successful leader, one has to constantly connect their day to day experiences to their long term goals. With his long term goals being innovation, proactiveness, prevention and quality of service, Jules ensures that any decision he makes fits perfectly into his long term goals.
“Whatever I encounter during the day I try and connect that to my long term goals. If I need to make a decision, I do not handle like a black or white decision. I make a connection to how it fits into my goals.”
Being a security expert, the CEO cannot miss to advice on security matters. One of the most important things to do to ensure you are more secure, is to be alert at all times. You need to know what is going on around you at all times. It is certain that when you are constantly aware of your environment, you will always be able to tell when something is amiss or when something looks suspicious. He also has confidence that Kenya is making huge leaps in matters security especially with technology and innovation. He believes that in years to come, Kenya will be more secure and more technologically advanced to deal with any security threats.
It is very possible to have a personal life even when involved in the busy security industry. Jules occasionally takes time off to relax and be with his family. He is certain that when you take time off to focus on your private life you are going back to the basics of what really matters and there is no chance that you will experience or have to deal with stress.
Also featured on the show was the SGA’s dog section which showcased highly skilled and multi-disciplined canines trained to work under a variety of conditions such as tracking suspects from crime scenes, protecting assets and handlers and also in general patrol duties. Among the dog breeds are Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd and Rottweiler.
His advice to any young person interested in the security industry?
“Security is no longer about muscles and violence, it is more about being proactive than reactive.” The CEO believes it is important to get a good education and be passionate about security. While security has over the years been viewed as a masculine profession, he believes things have changed and has no doubt that women can do really well and maybe even better than men in this sector.