Susanne Skov Diemer is an international specialist and advisor in risk mitigation, crisis management, intelligence, and security. Over the course of her more than 25-year career, she has worked globally with previous base in Washington, D.C., and London and is currently based in Copenhagen. For her efforts, while she was employed by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security, she has received many accolades from the American government. She has accumulated substantial consulting, managerial and crisis expertise over the past 3 decades and founded Praesidio Group 12 years ago.
The most elite corporate, private, and public sectors all over the world make up her impressive clientele. Susanne Skov Diemer is a security, crisis and risk specialist on the Advisory Committee for PACTESUR (Protection Allied Cities against Terrorism in Securing Urban Areas) within EFUS (The European Forum for Urban Security).
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Susanne Skov Diemer:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
I have a duty and a privilege more than a job and workplace. I am always on call for my clients and collaborators. That is the nature of the intelligence, risk and security world. I am the same person with anyone and anywhere, at work or at home, on vacation or on duty.
I am absolutely the same with a royal as with a guard, the president or postman. It is a strong conviction that I have – to treat everybody equal, with respect, and to always be the same. In my business, people who change in different situations and with different people can be seen as unreliable and it can be a warning sign.
By nature, I am very calm, attentive, instinctual, joyful – and prepared. As I am always prepared, I can enjoy life to the fullest.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
My company had a wonderful start. Smooth, organic and the timing was just right for my company, the industry and me. Creating my own company gave me the opportunity to help more people, companies, governments and organizations, rather than working exclusively for one part. It enables me to broaden my expertise globally as an advisor and crisis, risk and intelligence expert. I am also able to gather the best teams, the best experts in their field to work on a broad range of crucial projects close to me heart and field of expertise. I work globally with a base in Copenhagen, after being based in Washington D.C. and London previously in my career. The world is my workplace and I enjoy that to its fullest.
I have also fulfilled a lifelong dream as the author of two risk guides.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
Confidentiality, reputation and the highest moral standards and values are essential in my industry. To always walk the talk. I live and embody these standards and value them fully. I am the company – the company is me and the industry is my life and always will be. I also value my family life tremendously and fortunately; they go hand in hand and balance well.
My success is very much due to my reputation. It is a small world and a small industry. I surround myself with the best collaborators and value people and expertise of all fields. I thrive to become better and work with people who raise the bar and want only the best – not the easiest or the cheapest.
Expertise is key. I have a craft that I master within risk, intelligence and crisis management. That is a power and commitment that assures durable success.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
We prepare people, companies and organizations. We minimize risks and maximize
security. We constantly stay informed and updated at all levels and all aspects to foresee the present and future. What is at stake? What will be at stake? It is 360 degrees. 365 days a year, 24/7. Staying alert and informed. We provide protection in many shapes and forms. We provide expertise and knowledge so that people can focus on doing what they do best. We make businesses resilient and durable by contributing to assure turnover, brand and people.
From kidnappings to staff vetting, intelligence, emergency management, travel security, fraud and corruption, intellectual property, surveillance, espionage, and risk assessment, which at the end of the day is all about people.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
I am the company – the leader, the founder, the face and the foundation. I transmit a very strong culture of high morals and ethical standards, of trustworthiness, transparency, expertise, values and confidentiality. That is who I am, that is the foundation and core of the company. And it is our past, present and future.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
More than innovative, we are challenged, updated and upgraded. We develop along with the world and the risks at stake that are constantly changing. Meanwhile, our core values and foundation remain the same. We are not out to innovative. We are here to serve, to guide and to lead. For this purpose, I have written a guide to democratize my expertise and to serve more people: “Your Urban Crisis Survival Planner”. A practical crisis awareness and preparedness guide.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I work with the best in their particular field and together we thrive for excellence on an individual level as well as team level, local and global, present and future. As individuals, we work with consciousness for the team process. We contribute. We work cross sector, cross borders, cross culture. Together.
What are your responsibilities as the Founder/CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
I consider myself responsible for every single aspect of the company. Clients and culture, values and investments, development and execution, finances and recruiting, service and business.
I value my mornings, getting started before the rest of the world wakes up. I very much value my collaborators and our exchanges and execution. And the gratification of my clients.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Be yourself – the perfectly unperfect you. Be transparent, genuine and bold. Follow your instinct, intuition or gut feeling, whatever you call it. Let that be your compass and you will navigate successful through leadership and life. Goals, borders, maps and GPSs change and your inner compass will guide you through it all. Stay open, strong and connected. Balance and consciousness are key – staying balanced, staying connected – and relatively sane – through it all.
