Day: August 24, 2023

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

During a conversation with Hussein Nasser Eddin, a security expert and CEO of Crownox, a company specializing in risk mitigation solutions, he shed light on his perspective regarding the significance of female CPOs in the contemporary world.

Crownox originated in the Middle East and Africa and has steadily expanded its operations to encompass a global reach. The driving force behind the swiftly expanding operations of the prominent security firm is its management team, comprising 80% female professionals. It’s noteworthy as well that over 50% of the company’s clients, who are notable high-net-worth individuals and celebrities, are esteemed women from both the business and entertainment worlds.

“When examining recent gender statistics within the realm of close protection, it becomes evident that this sector remains primarily male-dominated. Let’s take a look at the percentage of women working in security professions in England and Wales: In 2015, it was merely 9%. Over the course of six years, by 2021, this figure had experienced only a marginal increase to 10.1%.

A poll was conducted by us on our Crownox LinkedIn page asking: In your opinion, what are the primary obstacles that female close protection officers encounter?

The poll garnered responses from 57 individuals, resulting in the following data:

Sourced photo

Notably, it is intriguing that none of the female respondents selected the option “Managing Physical Threats.” This observation highlights the disparity between the male and female perceptions regarding the potential challenges women might encounter prior to or upon entering this profession. Among the female participants in the survey, the majority identified 

“Male-dominated Industry” and “Stereotypes and Social Stigmas” as the primary hurdles. These findings serve as a notable insight for male professionals within the industry, emphasizing the need to foster a more inclusive environment that welcomes and accommodates women in this field.”

Q. Why Is There Such a Large Gender Gap in Physical Protection?

A. “There are numerous factors that come into play:

1. The industry’s male-dominated image can discourage women from contemplating this career, given the potentially more favorable job prospects that their male peers might enjoy. Considering the industry’s historical context, which has traditionally seen a majority of male applicants, job requirements for Close Protection Officers (CPOs) sometimes even include physical attributes commonly associated with men, such as height and weight. Regrettably, these requirements may not consider the average measurements of female candidates.
2. Opting for a career in Close Protection can be accompanied by certain social stigmas. This includes a prevailing perception that this role is “strange” for females, primarily because individuals unfamiliar with the industry may rarely encounter females occupying these positions. Additionally, the job’s association with masculinity can lead to the unjust characterization of female security professionals as either ‘masculine’ or ‘lacking in femininity.’ Such misapplied labels have the potential to dissuade women, particularly those originating from traditional societies, from exploring this career path.
3. The gender gap could also be influenced by work-related travel. It might be conventionally perceived as acceptable for male CPOs to undertake tasks that require leaving their families behind for travel, whereas the same might be regarded as socially unconventional for female CPOs. Nevertheless, this perception began shifting towards normalization when women, including mothers, served in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War, setting a precedent that gradually extended to other nations.”

Q. Why Are Women Needed in Security?

A. “On a positive note, there is a growing demand for females in the realm of physical protection. Numerous clients are now indicating their preference for female CPOs, and some are even specifically requesting female CPOs for various operations.

• The close protection industry extends beyond mere physical strength (which women certainly possess). It requires the capability to swiftly evaluate and mitigate risks, skillful communication for de-escalation when required, and unwavering commitment to ensuring the client’s safety and security. Elevated testosterone levels in men can sometimes contribute to escalated situations, whereas women, often by nature, have a tendency to defuse such scenarios through adept problem-solving skills.
• A positive aspect of gender distinctions in society is that female CPOs are less likely to encounter physical aggression from male threats. This stems from the widely ingrained societal norm that condemns men for causing physical harm to women, irrespective of cultural background. Consequently, the probability of situations escalating into physical violence is diminished.
• Female CPOs possess the added benefit of accessing spaces alongside their female clients where male counterparts might encounter suspicion or restriction—areas like dressing rooms and restrooms designated for women, a female principal’s hotel room, or those belonging to the principal’s children. Women CPOs can seamlessly assimilate within these settings, whereas male CPOs would attract noticeable attention.
• Moreover, certain religious beliefs and conservative cultural norms prohibit women from being in private settings with men who are not part of their immediate family. Consequently, in such situations, having a female CPO becomes an imperative rather than a mere preference.

If you are a woman interested in pursuing a career as a CPO, now is a great time to start. The demand for women in this field is increasing, and it can be a rewarding profession where you can utilize your skills to ensure safety and even save lives”.

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

Summary: In a society dominated by technology, Lightbody aims to protect the public through their Supplement line. 

Today’s lifestyle is heavily dominated by technology, with the average American spending roughly 12 hours per day on digital devices for both work and leisure. Prolonged use has been associated with adverse symptoms in both children and adults, such as stress, anxiety, dry eyes, vision loss, fatigue, digestive problems, and more. 

Due to the relatively recent introduction of technologies such as the smartphone, it will be years before scientific studies can assess the true impact to overall health that digital devices and electromagnetic field (EMF) signals are causing. Younger people are particularly at risk, considering that Generations Z and Alpha have spent their whole lives exposed to technology, going back to when they were still in the womb.

The detrimental effects of digital devices were what led Kylen Ribeiro and Michelle Klein to found Lightbody, a woman-owned company that creates nutritional supplements for our modern digital lifestyles. Lightbody is pioneering the concept of Digital Wellness to help people improve their resilience to the daily assault of digital toxins through diet, supplementation, and making lifestyle changes such as managing their tech use. 

“We want to make Digital Wellness a mainstream concept and pillar of health, adding to the already-established knowledge of having to eat, sleep, and exercise well. Digital Wellness includes being mindful of your radiation and blue light exposure, as well as the mental health effects of technology and its stimulating and addictive content. This is especially important for our children and the younger members of the family,” Ribeiro says.

Both Ribeiro and Klein are executives of DefenderShield, an e-commerce wellness company specializing in equipment that shields people from the harmful effects of EMF and 5G radiation. They surveyed the market and found that existing supplements were not addressing Digital Wellness and our modern, toxin-filled lifestyles. They found that existing options were unable to address these in a holistic way and on a cellular level. 

To help people become more resilient, not only to digital toxins, but to all environmental toxins that have massively increased in recent years, Lightbody created a line of supplements that addresses various aspects of modern overall wellness. The supplements include:

• Total Eye Health + Blue Light Filter Supplement – a visual health and performance antioxidant formula that contains Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Maqui berry, and Lycopene. Their unique and concentrated blend supports macular and retinal resilience, filters UV and blue light, and helps the body minimize the effects of occasional dry eye, redness, and strain.
• Cellular Resiliency Multivitamin – contains a daily blend of 23 essential micronutrients and super effective antioxidants for optimal immune support, cellular energy, and whole body health.
• Ultra DHA / EPA Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgels – contain extremely concentrated and pure essential fatty acids with the highest DHA & EPA bioavailability, and are IFOS-certified to have minimal contaminants or oxidation. They help maintain a healthy inflammatory system, support cognitive function and healthy aging, support the immune system, and support the integrity and resiliency of the cell membrane. 
• Total Gut Health Prebiotic + Probiotic – stimulates the growth of healthy gut bacteria  with Preforpro®, a novel bacteriophage blend that optimizes digestion and nutrient uptake. Organic turkey tail adds antioxidants and immune support, while DE111, a clinically-tested lactic acid-supporting probiotic spore survives the entire intestinal tract to promote balanced microbial populations.
• Total Stress Support – contains a unique form of organic ashwagandha extract that promotes a relaxed mindset, enhances feelings of well-being and supports healthy cortisol and stress levels, while promoting brain health and clarity.

Lightbody worked together with expert formulators, clinicians, and biologists to create supplements that contain the highest amount of antioxidants and other ingredients to support a healthy inflammatory response, as well as the lowest possible level of contaminants and impurities. 

“We created a range of supplements that targets different parts of the body to help our cells become more resilient because the human body hasn’t evolved yet to handle the modern stressors that we encounter in today’s environment,” Ribeiro says. 

To help parents and children, the most vulnerable population, understand the importance of Digital Wellness, Ribeiro and Klein have authored a soon-to-be-published children’s book titled Henry’s Tech-Free Trip: A Family Adventure. The book addresses the importance of using digital devices mindfully to protect overall health, and is based on Ribeiro’s own conversations with her two young sons.

Lightbody seeks to expand its product lineup, eventually looking to introduce products that are specifically targeted at women, as well as increasing the sustainability of its formulations, packaging, and business operations.

“One of the core principles of Lightbody is holistic health – that the entire body is interconnected on a cellular level. In the same way, all people are interconnected with each other and that of our planet, our energies, and our health, which are all dependent on each other. We don’t want a product that’s toxic to the body, similar to how we don’t want a product that’s toxic to the environment. It all comes full circle,” Klein says.

Media Contact: 

Name: Rhonda Price

Email: media@lightbodylabs.com