After 35 years of owning & operating a successful commercial security company and divesting it to a multinational in 2017, I believe in 2 principles – “letting go of the vine” and “avoid confrontation at any cost”.

The first principle has led to the empowerment of my trusted key staff of 20+ years to take over the reins of NEO Technologies (Pvt) Ltd security company. The key management team members are active shareholders and entrepreneurs in their own right; due to their hard work we have grown our NEO security firm from 2 officers in 2018 to over 400 security officers in 2023. As a result of empowerment, the NEO management team has not only grown our company, but they all have grown as individuals – driving their own cars, living in comfortable houses, sending their children to top schools. All this fills me with personal pride & deep satisfaction.

The 2nd principle of ‘avoiding confrontation at all cost’ is a remainder of my previous company, Bren Security, which has led to our success within the demanding international diplomatic circles in Sri Lanka (80% of all outsourced diplomatic security in SL was delivered by Bren till 2017!). It is smart to pre-empt situations, ascertain risks, avoid conflict by diffusing tricky situations with dialogue and common sense solutions. All our guards are trained in these non-confrontational traits. The NEO management and supervising staff are working hand-in-glove with our clients to overcome any issues arising on ground and help detect & diffuse potential threats.

Last but not least, I believe in the personal development and upliftment of my staff – may it be management or operational security officers on ground. It is crucial that we look after our people, make them feel safe, encouraged and motivated to deliver the job they were trained to do. In the end, trust & loyalty is what matters most in business and personal relationships.