A Partnership Formed Early: A Mother–Daughter Story From Karen Roselli and Katie Bigelow

In celebration of Mother’s Day 2026, the Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum is proud to spotlight the unique stories of mothers and daughters who have both built careers in the security industry. These stories highlight not only the evolution of the field, but also the powerful influence of mentorship, representation and shared passion across generations.

In an industry built on vigilance, trust, and the ability to anticipate what comes next, few partnerships feel as fitting as a mother and daughter working side by side. For Karen Roselli and Katie Bigelow, what makes their story especially compelling is that they didn’t set out to share a career.

Bigelow found her own way into the industry, drawn in by curiosity and opportunity rather than a predetermined path. But once she arrived, she discovered something her mother, Roselli, had known for years: that security, at its core, is about people. Showing up for them, protecting them and building systems they can trust.

Now, working in the same field across different generations at Allegion, they bring complementary perspectives to every conversation. One leads with the steady hand of a control center manager, and the other moves with the agility of an incident response lead. Together, they offer a rare glimpse into how the industry has evolved, where it’s headed and what it looks like when family and profession intersect in the best possible way.

In the Q&A that follows as part of our mother/daughter series, they share candid reflections on leadership, legacy, technology and what it means to be women shaping the future of security together.

SIA: Did you always imagine your daughter following you into this industry?

Karen Roselli: I didn’t imagine her following me into this industry, but I always trusted she’d find a path that felt right for her. Watching her discover this career on her own and grow into it has been incredibly meaningful and makes me very proud.

SIA: The security industry has historically been male dominated. How has that reality shaped your individual journeys differently, given the generational gap between you?

KR: I think it has been a great experience—it allows us to be around different mindsets, whether it’s gender or generational differences.

SIA: What has surprised you most about watching each other navigate this industry? 

Both: Seeing how our skills have helped us flourish in our roles and careers.

SIA: How has the definition of “safety” evolved between your two generations—both professionally and personally?

Katie Bigelow: I am definitely part of the generation that is utilizing safety with the tools we have with electronics and technology. Knowing how these tools help us and can prevent certain situations when either with work or personally, I think it has evolved greatly.

SIA: Artificial intelligence and smart surveillance are reshaping everything. Do you find yourselves aligned or on opposite sides of the debate about where the technology is headed?

KB: I believe we find ourselves aligned—AI and smart surveillance can be very helpful tools in keeping our environments safe, but we do worry about the possibility of eliminating the human perspective completely.

What does it mean to you to be a woman in the security and surveillance space today?

KR: I think it is something very powerful to be a part of, and to be in the minority we can bring a different perspective that can positively change how things evolve. 

SIA: Do you feel the industry looks different now than when your mom started out?

KB: I do. My mom joined the industry shortly before I did, but it has been a big change during the time that we have been in this industry together.

SIA: If you could co-author one change in the security and surveillance industry, such as a policy, culture shift or technology standard, what would it be?

Both: We’d co‑author a shift toward people‑first security, systems designed to be intuitive, trusted and actionable, not just powerful, so teams can respond smarter and faster.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.