A Former Spy Shares HR's Critical Role in Workplace Security

A Former Spy Shares HR's Critical Role in Workplace Security

From People and Strategy by SHRM

May 29, 2026 · 32 min · Season 2 · Episode 23

About this episode

Shawnee Delaney discusses the critical role of HR in managing workplace security and insider threats.

In this episode of People + Strategy, we sit down with Shawnee Delaney, founder and CEO of Vaillance Group and a decorated former clandestine operations officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Delaney shares why HR leaders are the most underutilized intelligence asset in any organization. She explains her career journey from conducting human intelligence operations in combat zones to building insider threat programs for global corporations like Uber and Merck. Grounded in unique human intelligence expertise, Delaney explores how HR leaders can proactively manage human risk, foster security partnerships, and mitigate insider threats across the employee lifecycle. “The Quiet Threat Within": https://www.shrm.org/executive-network/insights/people-strategy

People in this episode

Guest: Shawnee Delaney

Topics covered

  • HR leadership
  • workplace security
  • insider threats
  • human intelligence
  • risk management

Keywords

  • HR
  • workplace security
  • insider threats
  • human intelligence
  • risk management
  • Shawnee Delaney

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Vaillance Group, Defense Intelligence Agency, Uber, Merck

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