Q&A

Elijah Shaw Interview: Celebrity Bodyguard+

As Hollywood gears up for the Academy Awards, Elijah Shaw tells what he's learned from protecting CEOs and supermodels alike.

By Katherine Walsh

close to them and perhaps have access to sensitive data and travel plans.

CSO: What are the most challenging and enjoyable parts of your job?

Shaw: One of the most challenging things is being able to define what security is for different people. People understand the need for security, but they don’t understand what kind of security they need. The other challenge is justifying our existence. If nothing happens, we’ve done our job, but sometimes proving the ROI of that investment is difficult. That’s difficult from our end, and it’s also difficult for the person who is in charge of security at the corporation we’re serving.

The satisfaction of a job well done is one of the most rewarding things. When all the pieces come together and the client gets to go about their day without interruptions, you feel that sense of satisfaction. We can actually see what we’ve averted, but the day is normal for the client.

Staff Writer Katherine Walsh can be reached at kwalsh@cxo.com.


Learn more:

The Six Things You Need to Know About Executive Protection
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When High Security is a CEO Perk
Who’s the most paranoid technology company, as measured by money spent on its CEO’s security? Because of SEC reporting discrepancies, it’s anyone’s guess