We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jamine Moton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jamine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to help make the world a safer place. I started my career as an officer and then as a sergeant in the Metro Atlanta police force, and while those eight years provided many invaluable lessons, I realized the kind of impact that I wanted to have was going to transcend the boundaries of law enforcement. I soon learned that private security is the predominant provider of security services, even more so than the police. I saw an opportunity to pioneer a change that would ripple across the entire industry, which is how the initial idea for Skylar Security was born. From my time in law enforcement, I realized that security isn’t just about physical protection – to feel truly safe, people need to feel psychologically secure. I founded Skylar Security on the belief that security is an emotion. From this mission, we prioritize communication strategies, de-escalation training, and a stringent recruitment and training regimen for our guards, redefining the very essence of safety for our clients. We’re setting a new standard of safety in the industry, where clients are active participants in their security solutions, rather than passive recipients. We want them to have genuine relationships with the guards they’re entrusting with their safety. By far, the most exciting part of my job is knowing that my team and I are going that extra mile to give our clients what’s rightfully theirs – a sense of true protection, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My passion has always been to protect others. I was often the tallest kid in school, and took pride in being what I called a “bully’s bully” – I stood up for the kids who couldn’t do so themselves. My physical abilities eventually led me to Clemson University, where I was a seven-time University Hall of Fame track and field athlete as well as a member of the 2004 Olympic team. I’ve made it a point to surpass boundaries and challenge limits, not only in my school years but also throughout my career. While my background in law enforcement initially led me to the private security sector, my true motivation stems from a fundamental belief in the universal right to safety. So, I set out to create a business that offers a personalized level of security that wasn’t even close to the norm in the industry. What sets Skylar apart is our tailored approach to meeting the unique needs of each client. My team of security guards is meticulously chosen through recommendations from trusted sources, so I know they can not only do their job well but do it in accordance with our mission. We believe in proactive security as opposed to reactive security, and have strategies in place to identify and mitigate risks before they become full-blown threats. But we go even further because we know that our guards should represent our clients’ brands as much as they ensure their protection. We’re intentional about how they physically show up when on-site, and work with our clients to make sure their uniforms and vehicles blend in with the environment. Due to this approach, I’m proud to say that we haven’t lost a client in our six years of business. We put our clients before our bottom line and our guards before our executive team, every single time.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Redefining how the world views security is at the heart of my mission, and it’s what led to the inception of Skylar Security to begin with. But more recently, as my vision evolved, I realized I wanted to find a way to further bridge communication gaps, optimize operations, and facilitate scalable change. And from that, the Skylar App was born. On the technology side, the app offers a range of functions to cater to every stakeholder in the security landscape, from the clients and agencies to the security specialists on the ground. This includes shift management services, agency-to-client portals, a team chat box, and more. Beyond that, in line with our commitment to provide tailored security solutions, we also extend support in areas such as cash flow management, industry best practices, and personalized coaching sessions with me. In embracing human connection every step of the way, the app has been a pivotal tool for Skylar Security as a whole to make this more compassionate approach to security a reality across the industry. But expanding into the tech sphere wasn’t without its challenges. I wanted to build a solution that would meet the infrastructure needs of small-to-medium-sized security guard companies. Our biggest concern was focusing too much on the technology and not enough on building the culture. But we committed to listening to the guards, clients, and other agencies to ensure we heard exactly what they needed. It took five years of studying the industry before we felt ready to launch the offering because we understand that while the right technology can be a game changer, truly protecting our communities is only felt when these three key stakeholders align.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

For a while, I thought I could do it all by myself. My sense of independence, usually one of my greatest strengths, often held me back from reaching out for help when times were tough. This became especially apparent when I was expanding Skylar Security while venturing into the tech sphere, all during a global pandemic. As a result, I was more immersed in the day-to-day operations of things rather than focusing on my role as CEO, as I would have preferred. This ended up taking a toll on some of my personal relationships, as the demands of entrepreneurship did not allow me much time for myself or my loved ones. It was a true test of my resilience and, looking back, I can understand that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. Nevertheless, although the path to success was a bit rocky at times, this journey taught me invaluable lessons about what it means to be a leader.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.skylarsecurity.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaminemoton/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaminemoton/

Image Credits
B. Eng Art & Photography