Mission Protectas : Samuel Chambron

Who are you in a few words?

My name is Samuel, I am 40 years old, and I am of Ethiopian descent. I grew up in the Paris suburbs, where I studied law. After passing the French police exam, I worked as a police officer for two years in Annemasse before settling in Switzerland. 

Family is central to my life, and I strive to maintain a harmonious balance between my professional career and my personal life. I have always worked in the field of security and enjoy varying my activities, whether it’s at Protectas or in my personal life.

What motivated you to work at Protectas?

I have worked as a security officer in the international organizations department at the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) site since 2006. At that time, I was already working at the WIPO site for a small security company whose mandate was coming to an end. 

In 2016, Protectas won the tender, and the existing teams remained in place. I then joined this large group without realizing the opportunities this would create for my work and my role as an officer. I quickly understood the benefits, such as being able to develop my career when opportunities arise.

Can you tell us about your early days at Protectas?

When Protectas won the tender, the existing teams were already operational and well-organized. I feared that the new management would want to impose changes, both in terms of the teams and within the reception and accreditation service. 

My objective quickly became to establish a relationship of trust with the new management by demonstrating the efficiency of the existing organization, while maintaining some autonomy in how we work.

And now, what are you responsible for?

My role within the accreditation service evolves based on the number and type of conferences organized each year. I plan and assemble teams tailored to the specific requirements of each mission, ranging from 20 to 1’500 accreditations to issue, by mobilizing trained and qualified staff. 

When the team is complete, I am responsible for 6 people. Alongside my duties as an officer, I was elected by my colleagues at Protectas to the Foundation Council of the Retirement Fund. 
In this role, I represent the employees and actively assist them by answering their retirement-related questions.

What do you like about your job?

I am passionate about the service field and particularly enjoy interacting with the international community, with whom I communicate exclusively in English. Engaging with these people, even briefly, allows me to better understand the causes they advocate for to make changes in their countries. 

The great freedom of action I have to carry out my missions is also an advantage.

What is your biggest challenge, and how do you handle it?

Large conferences, with their significant stakes and influx of guests, are a true challenge in my work. This requires rigorous anticipation and planning. We work closely with all the relevant services, establishing a trust-based relationship that is essential to our organization. Precision is key, as no mistakes are allowed.

To remain efficient, we learn from past experiences. For example, at events gathering more than 1’500 people, we have significantly reduced wait times for collecting badges: today, a visitor waits no more than 15 minutes, compared to an hour a few years ago.

Which value resonates with you the most and why?

Without hesitation, helpfulness. I consider security to primarily be a service. It involves communication, assisting people, and building customer relationships. I dedicate time, prioritize listening, and exchanging ideas. 

My goal is to understand needs, help, and guide in an effective and kind manner.

You have been an ambassador for the DEIB movement (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) since the end of 2023. What is your goal?

The main goal of the DEIB movement is to promote these four values in the business world, particularly within a global group. All employees, regardless of their hierarchical level, must not only be familiar with these values but also apply them and pass them on to their teams. 

DEIB's actions are a tool to spread these messages and encourage greater awareness. I believe that in the field of security, certain values need to be strengthened. As an ambassador, the primary challenge, in my opinion, lies in understanding different mindsets to sensitize and support the gradual evolution of awareness.

What is your role as an ambassador? 

This role allows me to implement various actions, such as: 

• Organizing internal events during key moments of the year, like Inclusion Day on October 10 or Pride Month in June. 
• Listening to people who need to express themselves or confide in someone. 
• Discussing and highlighting specific issues to redirect people to the appropriate and qualified resources to help them. 
• Presenting the fundamental role of Human Resources in this area. 
• Being proactive in growing the DEIB movement, recruiting more ambassadors, and involving all regions of Switzerland.

Which DEIB value resonates most with you? 

I would say diversity, because it is essential in a company like ours. At Protectas, we have the opportunity to exchange ideas about different cultures, genders, observe our differences, and learn from each other. 

These moments of sharing allow us to better understand everyone’s expectations. By prioritizing discussion, we better approach our differences. We don’t hesitate to show our clients or the public that we are a modern company, and that diversity and inclusion values are important to us. 

For example, 30% of Protectas staff working at the WIPO site are women, and we value origin, especially in front of an international audience.

What motivated you to become an ambassador? 

I am convinced of the importance of equal opportunities, rights, and tolerance in the workplace. I want the values of diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging to be known and respected by as many people as possible in our company. 

Even though living in an ideal world may seem utopian, I believe it’s possible to get closer to it by working together!