Across North America, more than 121,000 Securitas employees show up every day to help protect people, businesses, and communities. They work in hospitals, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, data centers, critical infrastructure sites, and more. They are often the first person someone sees when entering a building and, in many cases, the person people rely on in moments of uncertainty, urgency, or need.
For Chief People & Experience Officer Chrissy Toskos, those responsibilities deserve far more recognition and investment than frontline industries have historically provided. “At Securitas, our people are the foundation of everything we do,” says Toskos. “The work our employees do requires professionalism, judgment, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and an incredible sense of responsibility. If people are dedicating their careers to helping protect and support others, we have a responsibility to invest in them in meaningful ways.”
That belief has become a driving force behind how Toskos is helping shape the future of workforce development at Securitas.
Since joining the organization, she has focused heavily on building strategies centered around employee experience, engagement, and career development. Her work reflects a broader vision for how organizations can create stronger cultures by investing in the people behind the business.
“What inspires me most is helping build an environment where employees feel valued, connected to purpose, and empowered to grow,” she says. “When organizations invest in their employees, it impacts everything: engagement, retention, leadership development, and ultimately the experience we provide to our clients.”
SecureU: Creating real opportunity for employees
One initiative that especially reflects that philosophy is SecureU, Securitas’ education benefit program developed in partnership with Guild. As the first security company to partner with Guild at this scale, Securitas is expanding access to education opportunities for employees across the organization.
For Toskos, however, SecureU is about much more than simply adding another employee benefit.
“This is really about opportunity,” she explains. “We have people throughout this organization with incredible potential, and many of them may not have previously had access to programs like this. SecureU is about creating pathways for employees to grow, develop new skills, build careers, and create better futures.”
That perspective reflects a broader philosophy Toskos has around leadership and workforce development, one rooted in long-term investment rather than short-term initiatives.
“Employees know the difference between programs that are performative and programs that are genuinely connected to a company’s values,” she says. “If we truly believe our people are our greatest differentiator, we have to back that up with meaningful investment and visible action.”
For years, conversations around professional development and career mobility have often focused heavily on corporate populations. Toskos believes that has to change and expand to frontline employees as well.
“There are so many talented people in frontline industries who simply haven’t been given the same level of access to growth opportunities,” she says. “I think organizations have an opportunity and responsibility to rethink that.”
Keeping the human at the center
That mindset is especially important in an industry like security, where the nature of the work continues to evolve rapidly. Technology and AI are becoming increasingly integrated into daily operations, changing how organizations think about safety, service, and risk management. But while technology continues to advance, Toskos believes the human element remains irreplaceable.
“At Securitas, we believe the human must always stay in the loop,” she says. “Technology can strengthen and support the work we do, but human judgment, empathy, trust, and presence will always matter. That’s why investing in our people is so critical.”
Rather than viewing technology and workforce development as separate conversations, Toskos sees them as deeply connected. As roles continue to evolve, employees need access to learning opportunities that help them adapt, grow, and prepare for the future.
“The future of work isn’t just about technology,” she explains. “It’s about making sure people are equipped, supported, and empowered to grow alongside that change.”
Contributing to broader workforce conversations
Beyond her work at Securitas USA, Toskos is also a member of Forbes Human Resources Council, where she contributes to broader conversations around leadership, workforce development, employee experience, and the future of work.
For her, the opportunity to engage with leaders across industries has reinforced many of the same themes she is focused on internally at Securitas.
“Being part of Forbes Human Resources Council has created opportunities to contribute to larger conversations shaping leadership and workforce development,” she says. “It’s also provided valuable perspective from leaders across industries who are navigating many of the same workforce challenges.”
Toskos believes those conversations have become increasingly important as organizations rethink how they attract, support, and develop talent in rapidly changing environments.
“The workplace continues to evolve very quickly,” she says. “There’s a growing recognition that culture, development, employee experience, and leadership are business-critical conversations.”
Elevating frontline careers
Through initiatives like SecureU and ongoing thought leadership, Toskos hopes to help broaden conversations around frontline work, career mobility, and employee investment, not only within Securitas, but across industries that have historically been underrepresented in discussions about workforce development.
As organizations continue navigating changing workforce expectations, Toskos believes companies that prioritize employee experience and long-term development will ultimately be the ones best positioned for the future.
As technology continues to augment and digitize how work gets done, employers have a responsibility to prepare and invest in their people and equip them with the skills, mindsets, and ways of working needed to succeed in a changing environment. Organizations that continue investing in learning, growth, and opportunity are the ones that will build resilient cultures and stronger, more future‑ready workforces over time.
For Toskos, that investment starts with recognizing the potential behind every employee and creating environments where people can continue growing personally and professionally.
“We talk a lot about investing in people,” she reflects. “But the most important thing is making sure employees genuinely feel that investment. Programs like SecureU are one way we can demonstrate that commitment in a very real and meaningful way.”
And in an industry centered around protecting others, she believes that commitment matters now more than ever.