Articles

Member Spotlight - Alana Forrest

By Molly Guest

As an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equality, it was a natural choice to select Alana Forrest as our featured chapter member this month. Alana has been actively involved with ASIS for 11 years and is currently transitioning into a consulting role after serving as Director of Safety and Security for prominent companies including Pixar, Oracle, and Intuit. Alana has made significant contributions to our Women in Security event this month, which will focus on branding and reputation management.

When asked about her motivation to engage in philanthropic organizations, Alana attributes it to the values instilled in her by her upbringing. She has served on the boards of three non-profit organizations, including a six-year tenure with the YWCA which has a mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Among her proudest achievements is co-founding the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Foundation in 2004, which promotes leadership, career development, education, and mentoring opportunities for women in law enforcement. This initiative has gained traction nationwide, with participation from California's chief of police and members from various locations across the United States. The foundation's annual gathering has grown from 100 attendees in 2004 to over 2,000 in 2023.

Discussing the impact of her non-profit work on her career, Alana emphasizes the importance of reciprocal relationships. She recommends that your goal should not merely be networking, but rather making genuine connections. This advice is a great takeaway for a young professional. Alana goes on to advise reaching out and actively contributing to the relationships formed through those connections. She gave examples of sending articles of mutual interest or sharing photos from locations or conferences you discussed in past conversations. By doing so, you can show your attentiveness and comprehension of these discussions. Alana's suggests having at least five individuals to whom one can turn for running ideas by or to gain advice from. She emphasizes the invaluable role mentors play in one's career and encourages young professionals to seek at least one mentor. Alana recommends volunteering and actively participating in various opportunities to increase exposure and build connections. However, she cautions individuals to avoid overextending themselves, as this can have negative implications for their brand and reputation.

For those interested in becoming more involved with the ASIS San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA) Chapter or the Women in Security Committee, please reach out to a committee chair or board member.