Career Growth, New Perspectives and Connection at PSA TEC 2026
Mikayla Saffels
Talent Acquisition Specialist
SAGE Integration
The PSA TEC Fellowship Program offers an all-expenses-paid opportunity for next-generation leaders from PSA owner and member companies to attend TEC. This year, five fellows attended TEC 2026 in Denver, Colorado.
I had a really great experience attending PSA TEC as a Fellow! It was such a unique opportunity to be surrounded by so many people from across the security industry and get to hear a variety of different perspectives. One of my favorite parts was just being able to connect with others whether it was in sessions, networking or casual conversations in between. Everyone had a different background and story, and I feel like I walked away with a much broader understanding of the industry as a whole.
Throughout the event, I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the different paths people have taken in their careers. It was helpful to hear how others got to where they are and what trends or challenges they’re seeing in the industry. As someone who’s continuing to grow in my career, those kinds of insights are really valuable and motivating. It made the experience not only informative, but also encouraging as I think about my own development and future.
One of the biggest highlights for me was Jon Acuff’s session. I went into it expecting it to be good, but it honestly exceeded my expectations. His talk about personality types and how they impact the way we work, communicate and collaborate really stuck with me. It was engaging, relatable and something I could immediately connect to in both my professional and personal life. I appreciated how he broke things down in a way that was easy to understand but still meaningful, and I definitely took away ideas I can apply moving forward.
The Fellowship application and selection process was also a really positive experience. Everything was very user-friendly and simple to navigate. I didn’t run into any issues, and the process felt smooth from beginning to end. That made it even more exciting and meaningful when I found out I had been selected, since the experience leading up to it was so easy and well-organized.
Being part of the Fellowship program definitely made the overall experience at PSA TEC even more special. It felt great to be included and recognized in that way, and I really tried to take full advantage of the opportunity while I was there. I made a point to be present, ask questions, meet new people and soak up as much as I could. Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and I’m really grateful PSA continues to invest in programs like this for emerging professionals. It was a rewarding and meaningful experience that gave me new perspectives, valuable connections and insights I can carry forward in my career. I’m glad I got to be part of it and would absolutely recommend it to others in the future!