Who are you in a few words?
Olivia Dionisio
Security Officer
My name is Olivia Dionisio, I am 36 years old and of Portuguese origin. I started as an auxiliary officer in the events sector before moving into the migration field. Today, I work as a security officer.
Christophe Couratin
Sector Manager, Vernier
Christophe Couratin, Sector Manager in Vernier. I have 22 years of experience in retail and 15 years in the security sector, with a specialization in profiling and theft prevention.
Mathieu Virgili
Head of Controlling and Business Development Lead, Lausanne
Mathieu Virgili – Head of Controlling and Business Development Lead in Lausanne.
Laurie Bayard
Recruitment Expert, Geneva & Lausanne
My name is Laurie Bayard, I am 41 years old and work as a Recruitment Expert at Protectas. I mainly work from our offices in Geneva and Lausanne.
Samuel Chambron
Reception and Security Officer, Geneva
My name is Samuel Chambron. I work for an international organization in Geneva, where I manage reception services and access control for conference speakers throughout the year.
What motivated you to join Protectas?
Olivia Dionisio
Above all, it was the strong values upheld by the company: integrity, vigilance, and its solid reputation in the sector. Joining Protectas means contributing to an essential mission within a team that shares my convictions.
Christophe Couratin
Team spirit, the opportunity to exchange experience, and continuous development through essential training.
Mathieu Virgili
Simply finding a job, but also the opportunity to contribute to a fulfilling professional environment.
Laurie Bayard
I wanted to join a company with strong human values that promote diversity, inclusion, and equity. At Protectas, people are at the heart of the strategy. The wide range of roles also attracted me and allowed me to broaden my recruitment expertise.
Samuel Chambron
I was pleasantly surprised by the possibility of open dialogue with management and HR. This accessibility motivated me to get involved for my company and to promote priorities such as DEIB values.
Why did you choose to become a DEIB Ambassador?
Olivia Dionisio
I strongly believe that everyone deserves their place in the workplace. Becoming an ambassador is a concrete way to uphold this belief, raise awareness, and help create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Mathieu Virgili
I believe in diversity as a strength and wanted to contribute as much as possible to making it a natural and healthy reality at Protectas.
Laurie Bayard
As a recruiter, it felt natural to become a spokesperson for our values of inclusion and diversity. I meet candidates from very diverse backgrounds and am convinced that everyone can find their place with us.
Samuel Chambron
DEIB concepts are essential in today’s workplace. Being able to promote and explain them to all employees is a real opportunity. We are evolving within a very positive dynamic.
What types of events have you organized?
Olivia Dionisio
I took part in Geneva Pride 2025, ensuring security while actively promoting the values of diversity and inclusion.
Laurie Bayard
We organized a diversity quiz, a film screening followed by a discussion on disability, a breakfast event for Pride Month, and a webinar on the role of women in security.
Samuel Chambron
We produced a report on disability in the workplace, organized an exhibition for International Women’s Rights Day, held a discussion day around the DEIB Charter, and wore LGBTQIA+ pins during Pride Month. Quizzes and informal gatherings were also organized at our headquarters.
What impact do your actions have on employees’ daily work?
Olivia Dionisio
We help create a climate of trust and open dialogue. Employees know they can speak confidentially and be guided toward the appropriate support services. This contributes to a calmer and more respectful work environment.
Mathieu Virgili
It is difficult to measure the impact on daily work. However, based on feedback from some participants, the game/quiz helped promote the topic in a positive way.
Laurie Bayard
A good indicator is the number of employees who take part in each event. The goal is to show that security can also go hand in hand with social engagement.
Samuel Chambron
We have created a dedicated space where employees can speak freely, without fear. They therefore have access to listening support and a clear channel to the appropriate services.
Do you think diversity has an impact on team performance?
Olivia Dionisio
I am convinced that diversity has a very positive impact on performance. Working with varied profiles allows for different perspectives and more effective solutions.
Christophe Couratin
Diversity is essential within a team; it is simply a matter of finding the right profiles.
Mathieu Virgili
Diversity is a real asset within a team.
Laurie Bayard
Diversity enriches perspectives, fosters creativity, and contributes to collective performance.
Samuel Chambron
Team performance is naturally stronger in an open, non-judgmental environment. Diversity and inclusion raise performance levels by supporting well-being at work.
What challenges have you faced as an Ambassador?
Christophe Couratin
The biggest challenge is getting clients to accept gender diversity. It is an everyday challenge.
Laurie Bayard
The main challenge is balancing our roles with the time available. Some clients may slow down our actions, but we prioritize dialogue to find common ground.
Samuel Chambron
We must adapt to our clients: some are very open, while others fear their employees’ reactions. Through dialogue, we generally find compromises.
What message would you share with those who have prejudices about the security sector?
Olivia Dionisio
The security sector is a profession of commitment, responsibility, and professionalism. It has no predefined gender, origin, or physical condition. What matters are skills, ethics, and the willingness to protect.
Christophe Couratin
Open-mindedness, acceptance of others, respect, communication, and listening.
Mathieu Virgili
In my view, there are no greater risks or concerns than in other male-dominated sectors.
Laurie Bayard
What matters above all are skills and the willingness to commit. Diversity is a strength, not a barrier. We continue to raise awareness to help mindsets evolve.
Samuel Chambron
My most important message: it is essential to engage in inclusion, as it concerns us all. Protectas is a leader in DEIB—let’s take advantage of this and overcome differences by not remaining indifferent.
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