ADT Commercial’s Kasia Moore Looks Through a ‘Whole Building’ Lens
In this month’s SECURE Perspectives, Moore explains why her company keeps the holistic nature of its customers’ needs in mind, opportunities in the industry and more.
SECURE Perspectives is a monthly column by the Security Industry Association (SIA) profiling women in the security industry. This column is part of SIA’s Women in Security Forum (WISF), an initiative to support the participation of women in the security field through programs, networking and professional growth events and thought leadership opportunities.
For this edition of SECURE Perspectives, SIA spoke with with Kasia Moore, vice president and deputy general counsel at ADT. Earlier this year, Moore was a speaker at SIA’s AcceleRISE conference for young security professionals and those new to the industry, sharing insights on negotiating and thinking about risk.
SIA: How did you get into the security industry?
Kasia Moore: ADT Commercial was my introduction to the security industry in 2020. Before that, I spent many years advising large companies in the commercial HVAC and smart buildings spaces. Commercial security was a natural progression.
How does your organization serve the industry?
ADT is a beacon for the industry. On the commercial side, we’re pushing the boundaries of traditional offerings and showing businesses what is and will be possible. On the residential side, we’re leading the way in innovative smart home solutions, now including solar. Show me a new concept or idea in the security space, and I’ll introduce you to someone at ADT who is working on bringing it to life.
What is your current position?
I lead the ADT Commercial legal team. I also get very involved in advancing ADT Commercial’s overall strategy initiatives, partnerships and business development.
What types of job functions do women fill in your company? Is there diversity of roles in your company, or do women gravitate toward certain job functions?
Women are leading and succeeding at every level of our organization — from the C-suite to functional leadership to critical technical and support roles. We are represented everywhere. That said, I would love to see more women leading P&Ls and driving business strategy. There’s a lot of untapped business potential and critical insight missing when women aren’t consistently leading organizations in those areas — and that’s not just limited to ADT.
With more and more data that shows diversity makes a better workforce, what opportunities do you see for women in the security industry?
We now have decades of data and research proving the positive correlation between diverse leadership and profitability and innovation. It’s no longer a theory. And, to my knowledge, no one has identified a “critical mass” of diversity beyond which there is no further benefit. So, companies need women in their ranks. The demand is our opportunity. We are a critical variable to a business’ success.
What impediments do you see for achieving this? What could remedy some of these impediments?
Women have many options today for where to build a career. The security industry is competing with tech, health and wellness and consumer products for top female talent. These other industries draw clear lines to community impact, sustainability and consumer experiences — all things we know through research are important to women. We can do a lot more in this industry to draw the same clear lines to those motivations.
What do you see as important trends in the industry?
I think we really need to be intentional about looking at our innovation and growth efforts through a “whole building” lens. All the smart components comprising a building system are coalescing into a single set of touchpoints for users. Of course, predictive analytics, meta mapping and data utilization are all necessary in this regard. But we need to keep the holistic nature of our customers’ needs in mind as we commercialize these offerings.
More specifically, what trends are you seeing in your company’s space offering sales management solutions for the security industry?
With the “whole building” in mind, we become part of our customer’s sustainability story. Building operators are increasingly focused on managing “environments.” How can access control and occupancy mapping help drive decisions about energy use? How can traditional detection and sensor offerings monitor comfort and air quality? How can we responsibly leverage video data to combat biases and strengthen communities versus break them down? We are beginning to address these questions and innovate answers. It’s an exciting time to be here.
What are the top challenges your company has faced in the last year?
Like everyone else, we have been impacted by supply chain shortages and the ability to attract and retain talent. Combined with ADT Commercial’s strong growth, these factors present a unique set of challenges as we work to meet customers’ demands.
What are the biggest opportunities your company — and the industry — are seeing?
Innovation is the big one. Our industry is ripe for disruption. But beyond the new intelligent, autonomous technology we are seeing, we should not be sleeping on opportunities to improve and further the foundational aspects of the commercial security industry — including the incredible armies of technicians, installers, engineers and other security professionals on whom customers will continue to rely. Those working to make this vital workforce more efficient, effective and futureproof will be the winners.
What do you hope the SIA Women in Security Forum can achieve for the security industry?
We represent a door for women in the security industry to walk through and be welcomed and encouraged. More than just networking, we should — and do — strive to be a resource for true connection. Whether it’s connecting women to job opportunities, to thought leaders or to other women for support, connections are catalysts.
What is your best advice for women in the industry?
Three points I always share with any woman seeking career advice:
1. You are not a D&I datapoint. You are a critical component of any successful business. The research says so.
2. Go for the hard role. Whether it’s the role no woman has ever held or the one no one has succeeded in, go for it. When you get it, call me, and we’ll celebrate together.
3. Your life is with your family. This is a paraphrase of a line from Toni Morrison’s essay “The Work You Do, The Person You Are” and a profoundly simple reminder of what matters.
Who or what was the strongest influence in your career?
During law school many years ago, I was an intern for one of the first online retailers. Their top lawyer was a very accomplished woman who had a seat at every table where decisions were made. I will never forget seeing her walk down the hallway to a board meeting with Jeff Bezos on one side and Melinda Gates on the other! More than a lawyer for the company, she was helping run the company. It made me view a business lawyer’s role in a completely different way than it was presented in class. Almost every day I think of the example she set. And now, decades later, I challenge myself and my team to deliver that same sort of value.
How do you define success?
Success is making it through your day — work, family, other obligations — in one piece, and with something to be grateful for. I have two small children, so some days success is questionable. But I always end up getting there.
What would you say to new upcoming women in the industry?
This is your time! There are rewarding career paths just waiting for the taking. Be brave and bold in sharing your ideas and viewpoints. Lean on the community of women standing by to cheer you on — this includes me and every member of the WISF. The industry needs you!
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