Mission Protectas: Andrijana Simjanovska

Who are you in a few words? 

My name is Andrijana Simjanovska, I am 36 years old and I come from North Macedonia. I work as a Cluster Security Account Manager at Protectas. 

I originally come from a different professional background. However, my experience in customer service has greatly helped me build transparent, honest, and efficient relationships with my clients.

What particularly motivates me is creating trust and maintaining long-term partnerships. 

What motivated you to work at Protectas? 

What motivated me most at Protectas was the positive work atmosphere and the opportunity to work in an international team.

I wanted to be in an environment where people can learn from each other and where my customer service experience contributes to building trustworthy and efficient relationships with our clients.

I especially appreciate that I can develop professionally here while bringing my passion for communication and collaboration. 

Can you tell us about your beginnings at Protectas?

When I started at Protectas, everything was new and exciting for me. First, I had to familiarize myself with internal processes, but thanks to the great support from my team, I was able to adapt quickly. What motivated me most was taking responsibility from the very beginning and having the opportunity to actively contribute.

Early on, I realized how important collaboration and open communication are here, which helped me feel comfortable right away. I also quickly noticed that my ideas were valued and implemented, which shows how much the company appreciates each individual.

What are your current responsibilities?

In my current role as Cluster Security Account Manager, I am responsible for managing an international data center client in Switzerland.

I lead a team of around 50 employees across several sites, including 3 Site Managers, 1 Training Account Manager, and their deputies. Together, we work as a well-coordinated team to ensure the delivery of high-quality security services.

We are very customer-oriented and make sure that our client’s needs are always met while supporting our employees and promoting their development.

My tasks include coordinating on-site teams, continuously optimizing processes, and working closely with various departments to maintain and exceed security standards, carefully planning operations, and achieving our KPIs and SLA targets delivering efficient and effective solutions for both our client and our team.

What do you like about your job? 

What I like most about my job is working with different people every day and taking responsibility. I am motivated by optimizing processes, finding solutions, and ensuring that both our clients and employees are satisfied.

I also appreciate the versatility of my tasks, which allow me to plan strategically and work operationally, and to see that my work has a direct positive impact.

What fulfills me most, however, is working as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field and showing that leadership and expertise have no gender.

I hope my career can inspire other women to pursue careers in this industry and confidently take on roles where they can make a difference.

What has been your biggest challenge and how do you handle it?

One of my biggest challenges is balancing our clients’ expectations with the needs of our employees while ensuring high security standards and meeting KPIs and SLA targets.

To manage this, I rely on careful planning, transparent communication, and close coordination with my team.

I make sure all employees know what priorities are set and why, while we find solutions that guarantee customer satisfaction.

This way, we achieve operational excellence, maintain our security standards, and keep a motivated, engaged team.

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

The value that speaks to me the most is Vigilance.

In my role as Cluster Security Account Manager, it is crucial to always be attentive, identify risks early, and act proactively. Vigilance means continuously monitoring processes, anticipating problems, and ensuring both our clients’ security and my team’s well-being.

This value motivates me to uphold the highest standards every day and take responsibility consciously.

How do you experience being a woman in your profession? 

As I mentioned earlier, I find it very fulfilling to work as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated profession. It motivates me to act as a role model and show that competence, leadership, and expertise have no gender.

At the same time, I see it as an opportunity to inspire other women to confidently pursue careers in this industry.

I also like that my role demonstrates how diversity and different perspectives strengthen the team and the results.

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

My advice for women who want to work in the security sector is: dare to take responsibility and confidently bring your skills to the table. Don’t let prejudices or traditional role models hold you back.

Look for opportunities to develop yourself, work closely with your team, and show that competence and commitment matter, not gender.

Every woman can make a difference and take on an inspiring role in this industry.