Mission Protectas: Martina Prudente

Who are you in a few words? 

My name is Martina Prudente, I am 25 years old and I am from Geneva. I hold a specialized Matura in social work and have been working at Protectas for five years as a Security Officer.

What motivated you to work at Protectas? 

My initial goal was to gain solid professional experience in order to eventually join the Geneva Cantonal Police. 

Protectas represented an excellent opportunity for me to learn the profession in the field, develop my skills, and face a wide variety of situations.

Can you tell us about your beginnings at Protectas? 

I started with small assignments, particularly in shopping centres during the Covid period, where I ensured compliance with health measures. 

I then quickly joined a small team responsible for the surveillance of a furniture store. After two years, I had the opportunity to move to the international organizations department, where I progressed to the position of Deputy Sector Manager. 

Today, I continue to develop my career within the company with great enthusiasm.

What are you responsible for today? 

I am currently responsible for a team of 14 security officers. 

In parallel, I also provide administrative support to my Branch Manager.

What do you enjoy about your job? 

I particularly appreciate the feeling of being useful, risk prevention, and teamwork. 

Contributing to a safe environment while collaborating with my colleagues is very rewarding.

What is your biggest challenge and how do you manage it? 

My main challenge is finding the right balance between professional and personal life. 

Being in a continuous development dynamic, with both work and training, I sometimes tend to take on too much. 

To manage this, I carefully plan my monthly schedule to have a clear overview of my commitments. This allows me to anticipate busy periods, better organize my tasks, and above all preserve essential rest time in order to remain effective and maintain my well-being.

Which value resonates with you the most and why? (Integrity, Vigilance, Helpfulness) 

The value that resonates with me the most is undoubtedly helpfulness. 

For me, it reflects a positive mindset and a natural willingness to help, support, and assist others whenever the opportunity arises.

How do you experience working as a woman in your profession? 

For me, it is a job like any other. 

I believe it is important not to put unnecessary pressure on yourself or constantly compare yourself to others. The number of women in the security sector is steadily increasing, making the profession increasingly representative of society. 

What truly matters is the quality of the work performed and the results achieved.

What advice would you give to women who want to work in the security sector? 

I would first and foremost advise them to listen to themselves. 

If this field appeals to them, they should have the courage to try it. Seizing opportunities and stepping out of one’s comfort zone can feel challenging, but it is often where the most growth happens. 

And even if the experience does not ultimately meet their expectations, they will have had the courage to try, and that in itself is already a success.