Organizations across every industry are trying to answer the same question: how do you prepare your workforce for a future that continues to change at an increasingly rapid pace?
Technology is often at the center of that conversation. Artificial intelligence, automation, and digital tools are changing how work gets done, creating new opportunities while also reshaping the skills employees need to succeed. With the focus on technology, though, many organizations are taking a closer look at something else that plays an equally important role in long-term success: their people.
That belief sits at the heart of Securitas USA’s new partnership with Guild, a career opportunity platform that connects employees with education and learning programs designed to help them grow professionally and personally. The partnership reflects a broader commitment to investing in employees and helping create opportunities that support career development at every stage.
For Chrissy Toskos, Chief People and Experience Officer at Securitas USA, the decision starts with a simple but powerful idea.
"When you think about education as infrastructure, our talent and our people are our infrastructure," she says. "It's the same way as investing in technology and operations, and it strengthens the entire system when you do that."
From the latest Security Connected episode
In our latest Security Connected episode, Securitas USA Chief People and Experience Officer Chrissy Toskos sits down with Bijal Shah of Guild to discuss why workforce development has become a strategic priority. Together, they explore the launch of Securitas' partnership with Guild, the importance of creating accessible education and career pathways, and the skills employees will need to thrive in a future shaped by AI and technological change. The conversation highlights how investing in people can strengthen organizations, create new opportunities for employees, and help raise the bar for the security industry as a whole. For additional context and insights from the discussion, watch the full episode before diving into the article below.
Looking at workforce development differently
Businesses regularly invest in new systems, equipment, and technologies to support growth and improve performance. Those investments are often easy to measure because their impact can be seen in operational improvements, efficiency gains, or financial results.
Investments in people can be more difficult to quantify, but they are no less important.
For organizations that depend on skilled, engaged employees, workforce development influences everything from retention and internal mobility to customer experience and long-term business performance. It also shapes how employees view their future within an organization.
That perspective is particularly relevant in the security industry, where responsibilities continue to expand. Today's security professionals are expected to combine observation, communication, technology, customer service, and sound judgment while adapting to changing environments and new tools.
Creating opportunities for education and career growth acknowledges those realities and gives employees additional resources to continue building their skills.
Making career growth feel attainable
Many employees are interested in continuing their education, earning certifications, or exploring new career opportunities. The challenge is often finding a path that fits alongside work, family responsibilities, and financial considerations.
Even when educational opportunities exist, they can feel distant or unattainable.
Bijal Shah of Guild says one of the most meaningful outcomes of workforce education programs often has less to do with a credential and more to do with how people begin to view themselves.
"One of the coolest things I think is not tangible in the beginning, but that you see over time is also the confidence increase people have," Bijal says. "Education provides an opportunity for people to try new things out and test their own capabilities."
That confidence can have a lasting effect. As employees develop new skills and gain exposure to different opportunities, they often begin to think differently about their career potential. A program that starts with a single course may eventually lead to a promotion, a leadership opportunity, or a goal that once felt out of reach.
For employers, creating those opportunities sends an important message: your growth matters, and there is a future here for you.
Building skills that last
The conversation around artificial intelligence has raised important questions about the future of work and the skills employees will need in the years ahead.
While technology continues to change how organizations operate, many of the capabilities that define strong performance remain deeply human. Security professionals still need to evaluate situations, communicate effectively, solve problems, and make informed decisions when circumstances change.
Technology can support those efforts, but it cannot replace the judgment and human interaction that are essential to security work.
Chrissy points to adaptability, digital literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication as skills that will continue to matter regardless of how technology evolves. These capabilities help employees navigate change, work effectively with new technologies, and pursue opportunities across a wide range of roles and industries.
They are also the kinds of skills that remain valuable throughout a person's career because they can be applied in many different settings.
Creating opportunities for employees and organizations
Organizations often evaluate education programs through measures such as retention, engagement, and internal mobility. Those outcomes are important because they help demonstrate whether employees are finding value in the opportunities being offered.
When employees can see a path for growth within their organization, they are often more likely to explore new opportunities, build additional skills, and invest in their long-term careers. Employers can benefit as well by developing talent from within and creating a stronger pipeline of future leaders.
Those investments have the potential to reach far beyond individual career outcomes. The impact can extend to teams, customers, and the communities employees support every day.
Raising the bar for the industry
Chrissy hopes the partnership encourages broader conversations about workforce development across the security industry and beyond.
"I'm hoping this sets the bar for others within the security industry to also want to help invest in this way," she says. "For us to be able to make a difference in their lives, for their families, the communities that they serve and protect at the same time, I think it's just a wonderful opportunity."
Her perspective reflects a growing recognition that organizations cannot separate business performance from employee growth. The two are closely connected.
As technology continues to change the workplace, organizations will continue investing in new tools and capabilities. Those investments are important, but they represent only part of the equation. The organizations that thrive over the long term will also invest in the people who use those tools, make decisions, build relationships, and help their organizations adapt to whatever comes next.