Following a 27-year career in law enforcement, Dave Fox moved to the private sector and utilized the security services of NYA, a GardaWorld company. He was so impressed that in 2019, he decided to work there.

I spent the first half of my career working as a patrol officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and then back to my home province, Nova Scotia. I moved into detective roles, taking assignments in homicide, robbery, money laundering and organized and cyber crime. I was part of the team that established Nova Scotia’s unit that fights against online child exploitation. 

I went on to work for various private and non-profit organizations. At one of those companies, Irving Oil, I was a client of NYA and I worked closely with members of their expert team on a number of crisis and security risk-management initiatives. Little did I know at that time, I’d be working with the same team a few years later. After GardaWorld acquired NYA and it began operating under the Crisis24 banner, I was given the opportunity to work as the Crisis and Security Consulting Associate Director for the Americas. 

Bringing the values of sport to the security profession 

I think it’s important to not only deliver on your own targets, but also help develop the people around you. As consultants, we identify and solve a lot of major issues for our clients, so you need to have excellent problem-solving skills—and that’s something you develop over time and with mentorship. 

I was involved in youth sports, including rugby, hockey and lacrosse, for more than 20 years. I played a role in helping young people improve, develop championship habits, and contribute to our communities. I believe many of these same principles can be applied at work, such as the importance of having a strong work ethic and being a respectful, team player. 

This could be the coach in me, but one thing I enjoy about working at Crisis24 is that we have a good mix of younger and more experienced staff. There is a lot of focus on internal career development. The managers at Crisis24 lead by example and are not opposed to taking on any task. This approach creates an ideal environment of mutual respect and accountability. 

Have goals for the future, but focus on doing your best today 

I had excellent advice from a mentor early in my career, who told me while setting future career goals is important, I should focus on doing the best job possible in my current role. It’s also important to find meaning and enjoyment in the role that you currently have, rather than always looking to the next step.

Most effective leaders will tell you it is the journey they remember and cherish most. Chances are, you will be recognized for your dedication and offered promotions. 

Another piece of advice I’ve taken from coaching sports is you only have control over what you do on your next shift, and only you know if you gave it your best effort once your shift has ended. Put in the effort, be positive, be a team player, enjoy what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life. 

See how you can build a meaningful career at GardaWorld’s Crisis24. View our job opportunities here.