The Security Foundation

Bobby Louissaint is a noted thought leader in how security can better harness technical solution delivery. Today, he’s helping to lead Meta’s technical strategies for building technologies but began his career nearly three decades ago in security by installing home security systems for ADT in Los Angeles, his hometown. Progressive leadership roles led Bobby to excel as National Accounts Director of the West at ADT/Tyco/JCI.

It was in that role that he first became involved with the International Organization of Black Security Executives (IOBSE). Bobby has served on IOBSE’s Board of Directors as its Director of Communications since 2018. An ASIS member, he joined Meta in 2019. He also serves as director of Compton Youth Active, a nonprofit that provides P.E. programs to Compton public schools.

Here, Bobby shares his journey and vision for a more inclusive, diverse security industry:

I never thought about going into security. I was an audio person. When I was 12, I started putting in car stereos for people. It’s a big thing in L.A. I worked on a lot of low riders and still have friends who do it. I also dabbled with DJ equipment, so I thought I would go into audio and music production. But I had kids early and needed to work, so I went to work for ADT.

When I started working in management, I started seeing some pretty big gaps in how many minorities were in leadership. I would go to these big sales meetings with 300 to 400 people, and there might be two to five Black people in the room. What do kids call it today? Imposter syndrome? I had significant imposter syndrome. I was a kid from the hood who dressed differently from everyone, even my casual dress. My version of casual, which was from hip hop culture, was not accepted at the time in business.

I learned about IOBSE from an ADT client. Ross Dress For Less, a client, was hosting an IBOSE conference, and my boss at the time suggested that I check it out. I had no idea that there was an International Organization of Black Security Executives. I showed up to the welcome reception [for the 2012 IOBSE event], and for the first time, I was in a room full of Black people in the security industry. I am a confident person, and I remember my confidence jumping 500 percent. I saw companies like Ross, Gap and others that had security programs led by Black people.

IOBSE is the first place that I’ve been where I can drive impact and help young people. Coming up, I wish I had a network of people like me who could help me with my career. Now, I can call these leaders for their advice. For the first few years, I was an IOBSE member. After about five years, I supported the board with sponsorship by enlisting vendors to sponsor and showcase their products, and then I joined the board of directors. In addition to handling all communications as a volunteer, I help recruit students for IOBSE conference sponsorships from California State University Dominguez Hills and Pomona campuses.

I want young people to see that if someone like me can make it, they can. I want them to be inspired by my example, that I come from where they come from. That is a very big deal for me. When people see me, they probably see that I try to be different. I’m not a traditional suit and tie guy. If I am going to wear a suit and tie, it’s going to be different. It’s important for this next generation to understand that they don’t have to lose who they are in security. Working at Meta, I can be my authentic self. If an industry doesn’t respect you as a person and or your culture, you shouldn’t have to change who you are to bring your professional self. Yes, we all need to dress accordingly, but that doesn’t mean you need to dress like everyone else. Bring your professional version of you and make sure it’s reflective of who you are.

The lack of representation in security is obvious. Typically, I am the only Black man out of 50 people at a conference or a meeting. It’s gotten better over the years, but it’s been pretty minimal. There’s a lot of value in feeling like you belong. When your culture is not represented, you tend to feel like you don’t belong. It’s little things that actually move the needle pretty significantly [in] how people feel they are accepted within your organization because you accept their culture.

The 2023 IOBSE conference is the first conference I’ve ever been to that has celebrated hip hop. I’ve been to many conferences, meetings and sales meetings that celebrated country music and classic rock and roll, but never one that celebrated rap or hip hop. Last year, IOBSE celebrated the 50th year of hip hop by having our black tie event be a Sneaker Ball. I grew up in L.A. during the whole hip hop/rap era. People used to say that it isn’t real music and real dancing, that we’re not really musicians. For it to evolve into a significant music genre in today’s world and a culture, is a really big deal for someone like me. Sure, we all know that there are certain rap songs that are not appropriate. But it’s more than just those songs. It’s a culture of freedom and freedom of expression.

My ethos is to be the example of success for young people of color. It’s important that young people see that I am accepted. I struggled with a lot of that. Corporate America was very different when I was growing up. I want to tell them that you can come from the hood, and you can be successful and you can be yourself doing so. I come from a place where it’s very difficult to think about success when you’re trying to survive. Remember where you come from and try to bring that to your work.

The DEI Summit Group is absolutely unique. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to work together to drive one message across the industry vs. an individualized approach. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Working together advances the time scale of impact because the message and delivery are across the whole industry. It allows young people to see other opportunities. Early in my ADT career, I didn’t know that we needed legal people, data analysts and investigators. With the DEI Summit Group, there’s a broader opportunity to point young people in the right direction. We are so much better together.

Thank you, Bobby, for your leadership and example!

Learn more about the DEI Summit Group at securityfdn.org/DEI.

Learn more about IOBSE.