Melissa Vidakovic, Director of Marketing for the Americas at Gallagher Security, has been recognised as part of the 2026 SIA Women in Security Forum (WISF) Power 100.
This honour celebrates women who are influencing diversity, equity, inclusion, and leadership within the security sector.
Melissa's acknowledgement highlights not only her professional achievements but also her meaningful influence on shaping people, culture, and the industry’s future.
Significant role and responsibilities
In her position overseeing marketing efforts across the Americas, Melissa has substantially redefined communication strategies within security organisations. She has shifted the focus from solely technical descriptions to storytelling that links technology with human experiences, emphasising outcomes and real-world implications. This transformation has repositioned marketing as a strategic connector, enhancing customer and partner relationships and broadening dialogues about the security sector's global presence.
Melissa emphasises the human aspect of security, stating, “Security is ultimately about protecting people. That should extend beyond the solutions we build to how we lead, how we communicate, and how we create space for others to grow. When we humanise what we do, we open the door for more people to see themselves in this industry.”
Commitment to diversity and inclusion
Melissa shows strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through intentional actionMelissa's dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is exemplified through deliberate action. A notable instance was her leadership during Gallagher's Breast Cancer Research Foundation campaign at GSX 2025, uniting colleagues and industry peers to raise over $7,000, surpassing fundraising targets. This campaign redefined the concept of “protecting people” within the security field.
Her impact is also evident in her mentorship of early-career professionals, which addresses barriers that often lead women and young talent to exit the industry prematurely. Melissa reflects, “If I’ve helped even a few people feel more confident stepping forward, getting involved, or staying in this industry, then that’s what matters most. Progress doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.”
Impactful leadership and collaboration
Melissa’s influence extends beyond her immediate team. By promoting cooperation among marketing leaders at partner companies, she has reduced operational silos, fostering innovation within the security ecosystem. This collaboration has led to more profound strategic alignment, illustrating that openness and collective learning enhance business outcomes.
Matt Butts, Executive Vice President for the Americas at Gallagher, acknowledges Melissa’s approach, saying, “Melissa doesn’t push change top-down, she pulls people up with her. She cares deeply about the future of this industry and the people who will lead it. Her ability to connect strategy with people has strengthened our organisation and influenced how we engage across the Americas. This recognition from SIA is incredibly well deserved.”
Progressive leadership style
Described as calm yet decisive, Melissa advocates for inclusive workplace norms that support working parents and early-career professionals, challenging outdated standards in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her leadership style creates a multiplier effect, with those she mentors stepping into prominent industry roles, and traditional hierarchical norms evolving towards inclusivity and transparency.
In a sector addressing workforce changes, staffing shortages, and shifting customer demands, Melissa's leadership embodies a human-centred, strategic approach aimed at driving progress. Her efforts, often behind the scenes, result in significant and visible changes. Recognition in the 2026 SIA WISF Power 100 acknowledges her substantial contributions to the security industry.
Gallagher Security is proud to announce that Melissa Vidakovic, Director of Marketing - the Americas, has been named to the 2026 class of SIA’s Women in Security Forum (WISF) Power 100.
The SIA WISF Power 100 recognises women who are making a significant impact on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and leadership within the security industry. Melissa’s recognition reflects not only her professional excellence, but the meaningful and lasting influence she is having on people, culture, and the future direction of the industry itself.
Roles and responsibility
In her role leading marketing across the Americas, Melissa has played a pivotal part in reframing how security organisations communicate. Rather than relying solely on technical narratives, she has championed storytelling that connects technology to people, emphasising outcomes, purpose, and real-world impact.
Her approach has helped elevate marketing from a tactical function to a strategic connector, strengthening relationships with customers and partners while influencing broader conversations about how the security industry shows up in the world.
For Melissa, that shift has always been intentional.
“Security is ultimately about protecting people,” she says. “That should extend beyond the solutions we build to how we lead, how we communicate, and how we create space for others to grow. When we humanise what we do, we open the door for more people to see themselves in this industry.”
Work ethics
Her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is expressed through tangible action. One of the most visible examples came during Gallagher’s Breast Cancer Research Foundation campaign at GSX 2025, where Melissa led an initiative that stood out, uniting colleagues and industry peers around a shared cause and raising more than $7,000.
The campaign not only exceeded its fundraising goals, but also reframed what it means to “protect people” in the security profession.
Equally impactful is the work that happens behind the scenes. Melissa is deeply invested in mentoring early-career professionals and removing barriers that often cause women and young talent to leave the industry too soon.
“If I’ve helped even a few people feel more confident stepping forward, getting involved, or staying in this industry,” Melissa reflects, “then that’s what matters most. Progress doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.”
Her influence extends across teams and organisations. By fostering collaboration between marketing leaders at partner companies, Melissa has helped reduce silos that often slow innovation in the broader security ecosystem. Those relationships have expanded beyond marketing into deeper strategic alignment, demonstrating that openness and shared learning create measurable business value.
Testimonial
Matt Butts, Executive Vice President – the Americas at Gallagher, sees that impact firsthand. “Melissa doesn’t push change top-down, she pulls people up with her,” he says. “She cares deeply about the future of this industry and the people who will lead it. Her ability to connect strategy with people has strengthened our organisation and influenced how we engage across the Americas. This recognition from SIA is incredibly well deserved.”
Leadership skills
Melissa’s leadership style is often described as calm, steady, and deeply human, but beneath that calm is decisive action. She advocates for workplace norms that support working parents, early-career professionals, and teams navigating life transitions, modeling an inclusive approach that benefits everyone. In doing so, she is quietly challenging outdated expectations in a traditionally male-dominated, technical field.
The impact of her leadership is best understood as a multiplier effect. The professionals she mentors presently are stepping into visible industry roles. The norms she challenges around hierarchy, visibility, and belonging are increasingly becoming expectations rather than exceptions. The way organisations communicate value is shifting toward connection and clarity.
In an industry navigating workforce change, staffing shortages, and evolving customer expectations, Melissa represents a powerful model of leadership - strategic yet human, steady yet bold, and deeply committed to progress.
While much of her work happens behind the scenes, the change she is driving is unmistakably visible. Please join us in congratulating Melissa on this well-deserved recognition as part of the 2026 SIA WISF Power 100.
