A Mother–Daughter Story in Security: Q&A With Maureen and Lauren Piera

The Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum marked the month of Mother’s Day 2026 by celebrating the connections of mothers and daughters who share careers in the security industry. By sharing these unique stories, we showcase the field’s evolution, the influence of mentorship and representation and the shared professional passion passed down to the next generations

In this feature, we speak with Maureen Piera and her daughter, Lauren Piera, of Allegion, a mother-daughter powerhouse. Their shared careers provide a unique lens into how women of different generations have grown in the security industry, including the benefits of early career mentorship, their shared values and how the definition of security is ever evolving.

SIA: Tell us about your career story and how you got into the security industry.

Maureen Piera: Hi, my name is Maureen Piera, and I’ve worked at Allegion since 2015.  I currently provide executive support to the presidents of Allegion Americas and Allegion International. Prior to joining Allegion, I worked in C-suite executive support roles at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Nabisco/Kraft Foods.

Lauren Piera: My name is Lauren Piera, I am a hardware and security consultant with Allegion. Before joining full time in 2024, I spent two summer internships with Allegion in both inside sales and commercial marketing while completing my B.S. in marketing and professional sales from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. 

SIA: Did you always imagine Lauren following you into this industry?

MP:  The easy answer is no, I didn’t expect Lauren to choose to come to Allegion and work in security. I think my own experiences at Allegion and our company culture/mission of keeping people safe where they work and live really resonated with her. 

SIA: Did you always see yourself here? Was there a defining moment that inspired you to follow in your mother’s footsteps in the security industry?

LP: I spent two summer internships at Allegion. During my inside sales internship, I experienced through our customers’ perspective the positive impact that Allegion and our security products have on our customers’ lives.

SIA: Lauren, what’s one habit or piece of advice from Maureen that you use every single day on the job?

LP: “Be authentic” is a value my mom and I both share.  In sales, being authentic helps me create a connection that is more valuable than just selling a product.  It helps me create relationships.

SIA: Maureen, is it the one you hoped she’d remember?

MP: Yes, of course.  As a parent, it’s so rewarding to see your daughter grow into a confident and genuine adult.

SIA: If you had to describe each other’s leadership style using only security industry jargon, what would you say?

MP: Lauren would say, defense in depth: layering multiple security controls to reduce failure risk

LP: My mom would say mitigation: controls or actions taken to reduce risk

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

MP:  Reflecting now, my professional career has been in male-dominated industries. This has shaped my working style to be direct and concise.

LP: I started in the security industry right out of college, where my undergraduate program was predominately female.  I was apprehensive at first, since I was joining a tenured field team that was mostly male. I had to fight some imposter syndrome, but the experience taught me to be confident in myself and my abilities. Today, the colleagues that most intimidated me are some of my biggest supporters.

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

MP:  I am amazed at how quickly Lauren has learned so much about the industry and our company’s portfolio. She is a well-respected teammate and has become the go-to person for even the most seasoned in our industry.

LP: I get my desire to learn from my mom. I have seen her learn so much about parts of our industry that she does not work with on a daily basis. It makes her more well-rounded and more valuable to her team.

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

MP: When I was Lauren’s age, it was the “see something, say something” era. Security was more of a physical concept.

LP: To build on that idea, growing up in the digital age, threats are everywhere. Safety to me means physical and digital security and vigilance.

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

MP: We are aligned 100%. ArtificiaI intelligence can be a powerful tool when it’s used with guardrails and human overwatch; however, with the rapid speed of adoption and lack of regulation, AI can quickly spiral out of control.

SIA: What does it mean to you to be a woman in the security space today?

MP: I honestly feel that women are getting more representation in the industry. Women provide a unique perspective when it comes to safety.

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

LP: Yes, and it’s different because I think more women are empowered to break into new spaces. Women are going into trades, STEM, construction and other traditionally male-dominated industries at record numbers.

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.