Mission Protectas: Arianna Vidoni

Who are you in a few words? 

My name is Arianna Vidoni, I’m a little over forty, I’m from Italy, and I will soon officially become Swiss. 
What no one knows about me: as a teenager, during a short gothic phase inspired by Poe, Brontë and Byron, I won a poetry contest. That phase didn’t last long, but it was enough to give me a love for carefully chosen words. 
Today I only write procedures, training materials, and emails. The creativity is still there; it has simply evolved and found its place in a professional context. 

What motivated you to work at Protectas? 

What motivated me most was the chance I had from the very beginning to have an excellent manager: a very human and competent person for whom no one was just a number. 
Thanks to him, I understood that I could learn a lot here. This motivated me to fully commit and pursue goals I would never have considered before. He believed in me. 

Can you tell us about your beginnings at Protectas?

 
The very first message I had to send my manager was that the chair I was sitting on suddenly collapsed and I fell to the floor. 
I asked if I could maybe get a new chair. 
Today, years later, we still laugh about it. It wasn’t a typical beginning, but it’s one I’ll never forget! 

And now, what are you responsible for? 

I am currently Site Manager of a data center, with solid experience in team management, security protocol optimization, staff training, and maintaining high vigilance standards. 
I’m responsible for access controls and for promoting a collaborative, efficient security environment capable of facing daily challenges. 
And yes, being a manager is not just about enforcing rules and procedures, but above all, taking care of the people behind those processes. 
You always need a plan B, but also a plan C and D. In security, as in life, it’s better to be prepared for any eventuality, even the unexpected. 

What do you like most about your job? 

What I particularly like is that it pushes you to notice details before they become problems. 
Over time, you develop a keen eye for what others might miss. That’s exactly what makes this job so exciting and valuable. 

What is your biggest challenge and how do you deal with it? 

The real challenge lies in managing the human component: keeping constant attention in very quiet environments, because that’s where true vigilance develops. 
This requires a balanced and understanding approach to various factors, such as people’s mood after little sleep or the occasional forgetting of key steps in daily procedures. 
At the same time, it is crucial to balance client needs, Protectas’ expectations, and employee well-being. 
Maintaining this balance requires sensitivity, flexibility, and a strong sense of responsibility – qualities I consider essential to ensuring a safe and efficient work environment. 

Which value speaks to you the most and why? (Integrity, Vigilance, Helpfulness) 

Integrity. Without it, you react to others; with it, you lead. With it, you make decisions not to please but to do what’s necessary. 
Integrity allows me to say no, even when yes would be easier. In my job, it’s a matter of reliability. I can tolerate mistakes but not opportunism. 
I act as I believe is right, not as would be most convenient. 

How do you experience being a woman in your job? 

I have never worked “as a woman” but with commitment and reliability. Determination, vigilance, and the ability to make tough decisions are human qualities, not male ones. 
I never thought being a woman was a problem. The real problem is that many still think so. 
It’s not about outdoing men but about overcoming the narrow expectations still tied to leadership and security. 
Nothing is more disarming than a result that comes when no one expects it. 
Being a woman in this field is an ongoing school and an opportunity to bring a different leadership style. 
Sometimes it takes humor, sometimes patience, but with competence, strategy, clarity, and firmness, you earn respect.