Bangkok, May 2021:
After a year of relative calm, a series of anti-monarchy demonstrations hit the streets of central Bangkok. Reports of intermittent clashes also emerge as protests gain momentum.
For analysts based in Singapore, this looked like the signs of a forthcoming escalation. But what evidence do we have to claim it as such? What would be the escalatory triggers for a deteriorating security environment?
The answer rested in the anti-monarchy protests of 2020. That year, the movement intensified to the point where the royal government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. For analysts monitoring the situation since 2020, it was a "déjà vu" moment. Our instincts had finally found a trend to base our analysis on. Over the week, corporate clients received short to medium-term political, security forecasts for Thailand. Not surprisingly enough, the anti-government movement in Thailand escalated over the next few months. Violent clashes were reported; live ammunition was used; and so was the use of homemade explosives.
Amid the chaos, a team of security analysts, editors, and security managers at International SOS, including myself, made those judgement calls to assist corporate clients in navigating uncertainties. While intelligence-related assessments are not always this precise, it is our job to draw potential scenarios, from the best case to worst possible outcomes.
Fast forward to 2022. I no longer work for International SOS and have since moved to my current role as an embedded intelligence analyst with a global technology company.
About two weeks ago, I was asked by the Economics Career Alliance to write about my experience of following a career path that is unique for an economics graduate. As the conventional wisdom goes, if you have not yet nailed BCS, landed in a lucrative (reader’s discretion advised) research job, or received a PhD/Master’s offer from some American university, are you even living up to your potential? And I could not think of a better way to entice my readers than by sharing the first-hand experience of my previous work.
While I am still trying to make sense of my uncertainties, I hope this piece gives you some insights into the industry and what to expect. More importantly, a career as a security/intelligence analyst was not exactly a part of the plan, or dare I say, if I ever had one, to begin with!
Prerequisites :
The security/intelligence industry is significantly dominated by analysts with some military or armed forces experience. This is especially true for security managers and team leads who run the show for various corporate security operations centers. As for early-career analysts, most co-workers, and colleagues I know from the industry had their undergraduate degrees in political science, international relations, or government affairs. However, if you happen to be past that luxury of being able to choose your major, fret not; it's not all over yet. If you have a knack for political analysis, global affairs, or a good understanding of geopolitics, it is possible to build on that knowledge. For students currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics, you always have the option to choose a postgraduate degree in the above-mentioned fields (more on that later).
What Helps :
Throughout my undergraduate years, I was involved with Model United Nations conferences—not for the lap dance on stage (if you know, you know), but for my love for qualitative research on geopolitical issues. When I started working as an analyst, I found my MUN experience extremely rewarding for writing reports or simply preparing client briefs. We often underestimate qualitative research skills compared to data-driven research, but in this field, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), Boolean search strings, and deep dives will be your bread and butter.
That said, intelligence-related roles are also becoming data-driven to some extent to make informed decisions. Security analysts are increasingly relying on data visualization software such as Tableau, Microsoft Excel to create custom dashboards to track protests globally. As such, having some familiarity with data visualization would be an asset. While your economics degree may not give any added advantage in this field, it still helped me to build a holistic awareness of the world around us.
Postgraduate Studies and Career Prospect :
Finally, if you are considering pursuing a master’s degree to facilitate your transition from economics, there are plenty of majors to choose from, especially in the Americas and Europe. From government and political affairs to global affairs, counterterrorism, international relations, and public policy, the possibilities are endless and depend on your interests.
After four tedious years in the department of economics, I concluded that I do not enjoy quantitative analysis and all the hard-to-comprehend statistical jargon. I decided to apply to the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore for a Master's in International Political Economy and spent the most academically rewarding year. While some personal factors (read "privileges") influenced my decision not to apply to the U.S., the best graduate schools for studying government and security affairs are indeed located in Europe and the Americas. You are also more likely to land in a fully funded degree program in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world just because of the number of public-funded universities there. I personally am not in favour of the obsession with mid-tier vs first-tier university for postgraduate studies unless you have strong preferences. I firmly believe that once you graduate, the university only acts as a brand and how far you can go with your degree depends on whether you have it.
Most fresh graduates typically start with local think tanks or university-affiliated research institutes after graduation. The pay is generally lower than corporate security but can be helpful to brush up on your knowledge of regional affairs. You may even decide to be a subject matter expert (SME) for a particular region (e.g., APAC, MENA, EMEA etc.) during this period. The transition will be smoother if you choose to join the corporate world later.
Major Recruiters :
There are many corporate security and assistance providers globally, but the leading ones are Garda, Securitas, International SOS, Everbridge, and Control Risks. Within the industry itself, the scope of service may also differ depending on the business model. Other than that, many global banks and technology companies (e.g., Barclays, Meta, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley) have their corporate security team with dozens of dedicated analysts working round the clock at their Global Security Operations Centres (GSOC). There are also numerous small to mid-size geopolitical consultancies with a focus on regulatory and public affairs such as Bower Group Asia, Asia Group Advisors etc.
It is also not uncommon for individuals to transition from security/intelligence to public policy, trust & safety in tech, or even government affairs once they gain solid experience in a fast-paced work environment. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, job opportunities in this field remain extremely limited. If you intend to be in Bangladesh, job roles will be limited to think tanks and research institutes. I am unaware of any major security assistance providers operating in the country other than those providing physical security and close protection services.
Job Security, Satisfaction, and Concerns :
Like most other jobs, a career as a security analyst does have its not-so-cool aspects. More importantly, if you are starting from scratch, analyst roles within GSOCs can be physically and mentally demanding. You will have to grind long hours, especially during security escalations or crises, which will eventually impact your work-life balance. Beyond the glamour and glitter of it all, this is a fast-paced work environment with tight deadlines, quick learning, and thinking on your feet under pressure. While work pressure may vary depending on whether you are at a consultancy firm or a full-fledged security assistance provider, the key is to find value in your work. On a personal note, closely observing the unfolding of major political movements or perhaps a historic coup d’état (e.g., Myanmar) that will eventually shape our future is an exciting prospect in this role.
As much as the COVID-19 crisis halted businesses related to travel security and duty of care, there was also increasing demand for reliable intelligence and advice on COVID-19 restrictions as well as consultancy projects for “return to work”. Despite the initial concerns, many security assistance providers reconstructed their revenue models and expanded the range of services. The COVID-19 crisis and economic slowdown also led to increasing unrest in most parts of the world. This in turn led to more clients seeking security assessments to navigate uncertainties. Nonetheless, unlike many other fields such as programming, banking, and finance, the security intelligence industry remains a niche service. Yet, as highlighted earlier, analysts in this industry have plenty of other options to transition their careers once they become more experienced.
If you have read this far, thank you for bearing with me. I hope my readers walk away with specific insights into the industry and what we do on a daily basis. I hope you find the courage not to give in to peer pressure regarding career choices. Beyond the carefully crafted impressions of the most sought-after PhD degree, plenty of meaningful career options exist with tangible impact on peoples’ lives.
It is never too late to try your luck with something you feel you are good at and genuinely passionate about. Sometimes it takes disappointment and failure to realize if a particular career path is destined for us. While a few among us have solid academic and career plans, many others, like myself, have figured it out on the go while steering my way out of uncertainties. It is also crucial to emphasize the role of familial privilege, luck, timing, and perseverance in all our endeavours. May the universe be in your favour with whatever you are aiming for. Carpe diem!
Author/Written by: Manas Nag (92nd Batch)
Questionnaire Developed by : Shadique Mahbub Islam (98th Batch)
Designed by : Samia Tasnim (100th Batch)
Manas Nag
Shadique Mahbub Islam
