About the Book
What makes a great leader in security and risk? It’s not in the manual.
It’s Not In the Manual shatters the illusion that effective leadership in security, risk, and resilience is all about titles, certifications, or rigid frameworks. In a world where cyber threats, insider risk, reputational landmines, and geopolitical chaos overlap, this book delivers something far more valuable: hard-earned wisdom, human vulnerability—and a wry sense of humor.
Written with both erudition and pop culture sensibility, the book blends field-tested insights with sharp wit, drawing from sources as varied as Socrates and Snoopy, Bill Gates and Bill Bryson, quantum physics and playground fistfights. If you're looking for a dry leadership tome, keep looking. This is leadership with levity, candor, and conscience.
Whether you're navigating a crisis, building a converged risk function, mentoring the next generation, or just trying to get your team to stop using “password123,” the lessons here are real-world, actionable, and often unexpected.
Drawing on hundreds of conversations with practitioners, thought leaders, and executive coaches—from museum security directors to startup founders to crisis-tested veterans—the book moves fluently between the tactical and the philosophical. You’ll find leadership lessons in Texas Hold ‘Em and trauma, case law and commercials, streaming series and streaming data.
From managing complexity and polycrisis to fostering wellness and adaptive thinking, It’s Not In the Manual goes where conventional guides don’t. It doesn’t just teach you how to lead. It shows you why it matters, when it falters, and what it takes to lead through uncertainty with integrity.
If you’ve ever felt unprepared to lead in the face of chaos, contradiction, or moral ambiguity, this book is for you.
Witty yet grounded, insightful yet practical, It’s Not In the Manual is the leadership companion every security and risk professional didn’t know they needed—until now.
Table of Contents:
Introduction. Chapter 1: Understanding the Risk-Leadership Nexus. Chapter 2: A Deeper Dive into Risk and Leadership. Chapter 3: Leadership Styles in Action. Chapter 4: What Risk Great Leaders Are Made Of, Part I. Chapter 5: What Great Leaders Are Made Of, Part II. Chapter 6: What Great Leaders Are Made Of, Part III. Chapter 7: Becoming A Thought Leader. Chapter 8: Risk Leadership in Transition and Adversity. Chapter 9: Leadership Landmines. Chapter 10: Risk Leadership into the Future.
About the Author :
Michael Gips is a highly regarded executive and thought leader in security and risk management, as well as an attorney, writer, journalist, researcher, and business professional. He is Managing Director in the ESRM practice at Kroll, where he consults for clients including multinational corporations, the AmLaw 100, critical infrastructure, higher education, family offices, real estate companies, cultural institutions, and other organizations. For six years prior he served as principal of his own firm, Global Insights in Professional Security.
Previously Mike served as the Chief Global Knowledge and Learning Officer for ASIS International, where he oversaw Learning, Content, Certification, Standards & Guidelines, Production, Enterprise Security Risk Management, and other departments. Mike was also responsible for ASIS’s corporate security function. In addition, he developed the CSO Roundtable (now the CSO Center for Leadership and Development), an organization that includes hundreds of the most senior security executives at the biggest corporations around the world. He also served as editor and publisher of Security Management, where he authored hundreds of articles. Mike also was a major contributor to ASIS’s standards and guidelines on ESRM and Senior Security Executive.
Mike has received many commendations, including Top 40 Global Thought Leader (Life Safety Alliance, 2024, 2025), top 20 most influential security leaders in the Americas (Security Journal Americas, 2023, 2024), #1 most influential global security thought leader in security (IFSEC, 2022), top twenty most influential global security leaders (International Security Journal, 2022), Outstanding U.S. Security Consultant (OSPAs, 2021), #6 most influential global thought leader in security (IFSEC, 2021), and one of the most influential people in security (Security magazine, 2019). He has received almost 20 awards for his writing, including some of the writings that have been adapted for this book.
On the volunteer side, Mike is president of the Life Safety Alliance, an officer for the Global Consortium of Law Enforcement Training Executives, and head of the security committee for a large house of worship near Washington, DC.
Among his many research publications are papers, reports, and chapters on ESRM, the size and scope of the security sector, convergence, blockchain, business continuity and Covid, security professionalization, the use of drones by law enforcement, and security as a business enabler.
Mike frequently presents on security, risk, leadership, and legal topics at conferences and webinars, on issues such as disinformation, insider risk, liability, trends in access control, and security skill sets.
Mike’s security-related certifications included Certified Protection Professional, Chartered Security Professional, Certified in Security Risk Management Body of Knowledge, Certified Insider Risk Programme Manager, and Registered Presilience Professional.
A graduate of Tufts University (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude) and Harvard Law School, Mike also has obtained security certificates from R.L. Oatman & Associates (2006), the Wharton School (2015), Tel Aviv University International (2016), IE Business School Madrid (2017), Signpost Six (2021), and Risk 2 Resilience (2024).
Review :
Leadership, especially in the Security industry, is often a lonely road. Many of us have walked it without a map, learning through trial, error, and the occasional hard fall. That’s why this book is such a gift. It doesn’t just illuminate the path—it walks it with you.
Michael Gips has crafted more than a leadership manual; he’s created a companion for those navigating the complex, often isolating world of security and risk leadership. What makes this book stand out is its global reach. From the streets of Whitefish, Montana, to the corridors of power in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, it showcases some of the finest examples of security leadership from around the world. These stories aren’t just inspiring—they’re instructive.
Every chapter is packed with golden nuggets: insights that are practical, profound, and often deeply personal. Whether it’s a lesson in humility from an executive protection course, a moment of moral clarity in a crisis, or a quiet act of servant leadership, each story reinforces the idea that leadership is less about titles and more about impact.
This book is a must-read for anyone who leads—or aspires to lead—in the security profession. It’s not in the manual, but it should be.
Kevin Palacios, Executive Protection Leader and Member, Global Advisory Board, International Foundation of Protection Officers, Ecuador
The esteemed and well-respected author of this book, Michael Gips, understands today’s backdrop of quickly evolving risk well. In this erudite but accessible book, he helps both experienced and novice leaders navigate this complex landscape with authority, humility, and grace. The useful lessons come a mile a minute, but the author tries to not take himself too seriously. He instead articulates the “bigger picture” with ample entertaining yet instructive vignettes and personal experiences. Wisdom is packed into every paragraph.
Brian Harrell, Corporate CSO and 6th Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, USA
What a fantastic read! The voice, tone, stories, it all reads so authentically. The content is substantive but also very conversational and approachable. I felt the book was speaking to me, not at me. The book avoids the dryness that has a tendency to creep into academic or theory based books. It really leans into the lessons of author Michael Gips’s career, and his earned wisdom all interwoven with the academic theory, which makes the book very easy to resonate with. Volunteer leadership is close to my heart, and I appreciated how intentionally and thoughtfully the author elevated it throughout the book with the prominence and nuance it deserves.
Mike Brzozowski, MBA, CISSP, CPP, PSP, Germany
Michael Gips is one of the most respected voices in our industry, someone who I admire and trust deeply, and this book is a testament to why. It’s more than a guide on leadership for security and risk professionals; it’s a powerful reflection of Michael’s integrity, insight, and unwavering commitment to elevating the security profession. Every page resonates with real-world wisdom, hard earned experience, and a deep understanding of what it truly means to lead under pressure. He focuses on the reality, focusing on human behavior, stakeholder engagement, community spirit, and cultural understanding, which all speak to my love languages in my own chosen path. As you flick through every page you can feel and see his energy, and personality shine through. This isn’t just a book, it’s a legacy! I’m proud to know Michael, honored to call him a friend, and even prouder to learn from him through this incredible work.
Lee Oughton, Security Author, Speaker, and Kindness Crusader, Mexico
This book is a refreshing and vital contribution to the evolving landscape of security and risk leadership. Michael Gips masterfully weaves personal experience, practical insights, and stories from the front lines into a compelling guide that bridges the gap between theory and real-world application. His emphasis on whole-of-person leadership, emotional intelligence, and risk-informed decision-making aligns closely with the principles of Presilience and the dynamic demands of our time. It’s an essential read for any security professional looking to lead with authenticity, agility, and purpose.
Dr. Gavriel Schneider, RPP, CPP, CCRO, Award winning Security and Risk Expert and Author of Presilience: How to Navigate Risk, Embrace Opportunity, and Build Resilience, Australia
Michael Gips has crafted a thoughtful and engaging book that brings leadership to life through both timeless wisdom and practical insight. Drawing on his extensive experience and the perspectives of leading security and risk professionals worldwide, he offers guidance that is both grounded and inspiring. It challenges the reader to reflect on what kind of leader they aspire to be and the leadership styles that align with their values. One of the book's greatest strengths is that it offers real-world leadership examples, volunteer opportunities, and networking advice you can apply right away to enhance your career journey. Whether you're an experienced executive or just starting your career, you'll find valuable tools and fresh perspectives to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Lisa Oliveri, CPP, PCI, Senior Security Executive, International NGO, USA
It’s Not in the Manual: Real-World Leadership for Security and Risk Professionals by Michael Gips is an insightful yet fun tour of leadership development. Based on Mike's decades of experience, he provides numerous examples of how readers can develop their own leadership skills. Full of wisdom and wit, the book is a great research-backed examination of leadership principles and frameworks. These are amplified with anecdotes from his own experiences and those of his vast network of friends and colleagues. Yet, Mike keeps it entertaining, sprinkled with humor and pop culture references such as movies, streaming series, advertising campaigns, and more. In sum, Mike provides a great mix of leadership theory, humor, and actionable insights that will help current and aspiring leaders grow their skills. It is a must-read for leaders of any level.
Christopher Stitt, Supervisory Special Agent (ret.) EMBA, CPP, CEM, Crisis Management Expert, Adjunct Faculty Member, Author, and Speaker, USA
This is excellent read from an outstanding business mentor who has devoted years to developing the next generation of leaders. It’s Not in the Manual: Real-World Leadership for Security and Risk Professionals not only provides practical resources to help advance leadership skills, but it’s also entertaining, enriched by Michael Gips’s unique storytelling style and powerful insights gained from his decades of experience. His sensible guidance will challenge leaders to reflect on their style while giving them the tools they need to be successful -- in the security industry and beyond. Gips has given us an honest guide for real-world leaders with real-world problems. This must-read book accurately reflects the leadership style of its author, a seasoned mentor who's always looking for ways to help others grow and discover new opportunities.
Solveiga Jaskunas, “The Immigrant Voice in HR,” Consultant, Mentor, Speaker, USA/Lithuania
Michael Gips is one of the few truly globally renowned experts in the field of holistic risk/security and leadership. He did not follow any of the traditional routes into the industry, which gave him a unique perspective. In his book It’s Not in the Manual: Real-World Leadership for Security and Risk Professionals, Mike shares his exceptionally broad knowledge in ten chapters to stimulate security risk leaders. Peppered with real life examples and humor, it is an informative and enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to everyone in the security and risk profession.
Godfried Hendriks, Past President, ASIS International, Netherlands
