What I learnt from being a police officer

I served as a Special Police Constable with the Metropolitan Police in London for a decade.

It was often challenging, no doubt, but the rewards were immense. My time in the police service sharpened my decision-making and problem-solving skills in some of the most high-pressure environments imaginable.

Each shift brought new challenges that fuelled my personal and professional growth. I developed a deep understanding of leadership, resilience, tenacity, and the importance of thinking quickly on my feet.

Most importantly, it instilled in me the values of discipline, integrity and empathy — qualities that continue to shape what I do today.

On a recent flight to Korea, I found myself reflecting on my 10 years as a police officer and how it shaped the business leader I have become today. It is interesting how experiences from unconventional roles can leave lasting lessons.

1. MiniMax: MINImum effort for MAXImum effect

When I reflect on what transferable skills I learnt as a police officer, the MiniMax approach is my favourite. We often used it with the police. If you do not have enough resources to do something, ask yourself this: What is the minimum amount of effort you can put into something to get the maximum output you need?

We knew that seeing a police car stationed somewhere like Soho had a psychological effect on the public. They would assume police were nearby and behave. Since we had several “spare” police vehicles, we would predict crime hotspots based on public events. football matches, gang chatter, social media posts and other intelligence the police had, and place marked police cars in these spots to help reduce crime.

I have carried this notion of MiniMax through to my work at American Express, British Gas, Audi UK, Compare the Market and Samsung Electronics.

Too often in business, we follow a traditional waterfall methodology. We build up to a big launch with bells and whistles. But that is not always the right way. MiniMax (MINImum effort for MAXImum effect), or some call it MVP (Minimal Viable Product) is a powerful way to achieve results.

We learned to gauge the reaction of consumers from smaller pilots first. That way, if you have limited time, budget or people, start with MiniMax and then you can build on this if you gain more resources.

2. Technology can be an incredibly powerful force for good

It wouldn’t be a post by me if I did not talk about technology and the role it has in improving people’s lives.

When I first started in the police service, the technology available to us was quite basic. Like many other industries, improvements in the technology available have played a crucial role in driving progress. Starting in a low-tech era, I saw first-hand how transformative these innovations were.

Tools like Samsung Mobile with police apps, GPS tracking, and body-worn cameras significantly enhanced officer safety and operational efficiency, making a real difference in how we worked on the front lines.

There are so many ways modern policing has been changed by technology. It used to be really hard to chase someone down the street at night, breathless and shouting, while also trying to share your coordinates… “I’m running in a Northwest direction down Newburgh Street which is W1-something”.

When our radios became GPS-enabled, it was a real game changer. The control centre could send support to your exact location which meant you could focus on the arrest. This has vastly improved the safety of the officers.

Another revolutionary technology has been the introduction of body-worn cameras. This means an officer can now record an incident and when you go back to the police station, the footage is uploaded against your police report, logging evidence which is crucial to get to a conviction later on. It is small changes like this that have made a big impact on how we can protect our streets and citizens.

In the business world, just like in policing, leveraging the right technology can streamline operations, improve safety, and enable teams to focus on their core tasks — ultimately leading to better outcomes and more efficient problem-solving.

3. Take a breath, keep calm

In my role today, during high pressure situations, when things go wrong, someone might say: “This is a disaster.” Thanks to my time at the Metropolitan Police, I am able to keep a cool head under pressure. This has a chain reaction and my calmness also stops my team from unnecessary panic.

I say: “Let us take a deep breath, understand the problem and execute solutions.” We seldom need a business reaction within 5 minutes or within 5 hours. The point is, that it is highly unlikely to be a life-or-death situation. In those moments, we are able to see through the mist and make the right decisions and avoid dangerous knee jerking.

4. It is important to work alongside those who are passionate about what they do

I have been fortunate enough to work alongside some incredible police officers who poured their heart into protecting citizens.

At Samsung Electronics, I work alongside colleagues who also know that what we do makes a difference, particularly as we enter a new era of technological and AI advancement.

Even if the effects are not as immediate as they are in policing, my colleagues and I know we make the world a better place through innovation.

For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Ring now checks your heart health and sleep. The Samsung ultrasound scanner uses AI to flag any issues with a foetus. The list is growing as we continue to develop tech for good.

This is what impact through innovation means to me — a great grasp of learned life experiences and a freshness of thinking that can be applied to old and new problems. Technology has proved to be a powerful changemaker capable of removing barriers and being a force for good. And we at Samsung, expect this to continue and are committed to innovating towards this.

My warmest thank you

Let me finish by saying thank you to all the police officers, ambulance and fire crews that without hesitation respond to emergencies at a blink of a second. Very often without the resources and personnel needed. You have my everlasting respect.

Thank you to the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, National Crime Agency (NCA), Sir Mark Rowley, James Deller MA, Chartered MCIPD and John Conway for your dedication to making our society safer and better for everyone.