Overview
#042 – Simon Osamoh is a seasoned security practitioner with over 20 years of experience in counterterrorism, risk management, and security consulting. His career highlights include leading counter terrorism at the Mall of America. He’s also spent 14 years as a detective in England, collaborating with intelligence services on the 2006 liquid bomb terrorism plot, which reshaped global aviation security. As a former Director of Risk and Compliance at top financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and US Bank, he has overseen critical risk programs in areas such as business continuity, crisis management, and regulatory compliance.
In our discussion today, we discussed Simon’s work as the founder of Kingswood Security Consulting, where he helps clients develop programs to prevent workplace violence, lends his expertise as an expert witness in legal cases involving targeted violence and retail crimes, and more. Please check out the show notes for links to Simon’s several best-selling books, his podcast, and his website to connect.
Connect with Simon:
His best-selling books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=simon+osamoh&crid=22PU32V3QXT9L&sprefix=simon+osamoh%2Caps%2C151&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Personal Website: https://www.simonosamoh.com
Consulting Work: https://www.kingswoodsc.com/simon-osamoh
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimonOsamoh
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonosamoh
Highlights from This Episode
- Most orgs don’t have a [threat management] program. They have a policy with no implementation.
- Reporting must match user behavior. Give multiple channels that fit your demographics.
- Run-Hide-Fight is a menu, not a sequence. Choose based on the situation you are in.
- In the first minutes, you are the responder. Plan for action before help arrives.
- Expert witness work hinges on duty of care, industry norms, and consistency of practice.
- Your public posts can be used against you. Keep views consistent and fact-based.
- For aspiring consultants: stop waiting on letters after your name. Do great work, earn references, and build relationships.
Memorable Quotes:
- “The program is only as good as the action you take.”
- “Run-Hide-Fight is a menu, not an order.”
- “When seconds count, the police are minutes away.”
- “Comparison is the thief of joy. Build your own path.”
- “Clients care about outcomes, not acronyms.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
- The Violence Project (mass-shooting database and research)
- FEMA/DHS and FBI active shooter materials
- Simon’s book: How to Survive a Mass Shooting
- Kingswood Security Consulting (Kingswood SC)
- Stop the Killing podcast episode referenced in the WhatsApp reporting story
Related Episodes
- Violence Prevention & Human Element
- Involuntary Employment Termination Strategies
- Workplace Violence Prevention Expert
- Threat Management That Works
- Executive Security Operations Conference
