Herschel Flowers: What I Learned at Secure Horizons 2025

As a newly appointed CSO, I approached Secure Horizons with very little knowledge of what to expect, yet with the hope that the content would resonate with my day-to-day work. Coming from a very specialized industry (international rail network), it is sometimes hard to find many common areas with other security experts.

After a day and a half of working next to peers—some first timers, some Secure Horizons pros—I am pleased to say that I left confirming that the challenges I face daily are just like those of other experts in the industry. This understanding allowed me to participate and interact more freely with those attending because, at a high level, we all spoke the same language and had to battle similar problems across the entire security spectrum.

Although I did not have specific questions that I wanted answered at Secure Horizons, I approached this opportunity hoping to get a better understanding of the following:

• At a high level, do CSOs struggle to stay relevant and show that security is a key part to a company’s success?
  
  
• How can I work on building resilience within my team in the current security environment to grow our footprint instead of always having to find ways to justify maintaining our size during times of personnel reduction?
  
  
• How can I make my team better?
  
  

I feel positive that, overall, I was able to find answers or suggestions on how to confront, solve, or improve the issues that related to the questions that affect my day-to-day activities.

I believe that, deep down, it comes down to how as a leader I present my team and our mission to those around us and above us. Instead of showcasing only negative storytelling, it is important that we show the value that we add to the company. We are not a source of financial draw, but instead our task and purpose should be to harness our knowledge and show that without our work the company would suffer. We need to move forward from the idea of just being an expenditure to a force multiplier that seeks to protect the company’s goals and its brand.

This can only be achieved if the entire team is on board to provide a clear positive message, instead of the customary “doom and gloom” we are used to sharing. During Secure Horizons, I heard ideas on different ways to reframe problems while improving communications, not only externally but also challenging the internal mindset of everyone on the team. All this was underpinned with the common understanding that each problem is an opportunity to develop a new approach to achieving a solution.

Instead of showcasing only negative storytelling, it is important that we show the value that we add to the company.

Throughout the entire Secure Horizons program, I noticed that I was conducting mini-self assessments of how I would handle the different situations that were brought up by the presenters and my colleagues. Hearing them provide input on the different exercise scenarios allowed me to look at how I was approaching situations and whether I was being shaped by preconceived notions that were inhibiting my creativity during my approach to problem solving.

At the end of Secure Horizons, I feel that my perspective changed on how I see problems. While they are an inconvenience that disrupts how we operate, they also present an opportunity to showcase creative thinking and improve the internal dynamics of my team by challenging them more. Knowing this, I also now understand that it is my job to empower my subordinates and provide them with the tools they need to increase creativity and have the knowledge and confidence to try different approaches to problem solving. This will allow me to be a better leader, as my team will know they have the freedom to approach every challenge with an open mind and be ready to find a creative solution instead of always worrying about the consequences of failure or not meeting certain metrics.

I feel that the overall experience has helped me shape what I should do as a leader to not only successfully navigate my challenges, but help my team develop their skills as they prepare to also become better leaders.

Learn more about ASIS International’s CSO Center here.

The 2025 CSO Center Secure Horizons event at GSX was generously sponsored by QCIC.

Herschel Flowers is manager of corporate security for CPKC, the only single-line rail network connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico.