Inside SECURITY 500: Reinventing Security Leadership with Mall of America's Will Bernhjelm

Mall of America's Vice President of Security Will Bernhjelm will deliver the morning keynote at the 2025 SECURITY 500 Conference, sharing insights from his 23-year career and multilayered approach to protecting 32 million annual visitors at America's largest retail complex.

The upcoming conference marks nearly two decades of bringing together top security executives and government leaders for a day of powerful keynotes, panels, and networking. Exclusively open to security executives and senior management, this event provides a rare opportunity for security professionals to collaborate on evolving industry challenges.

The myth of the security "silver bullet"

One of Bernhjelm's core messages challenges a common misconception in the security industry.

"I think that there is this odd perception out there that there's this mythical 'Silver Bullet' in security that's going to fix everything in the world and make everything okay," Bernhjelm states in a recent podcast interview with Security Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Rachelle Blair-Frasier.

He emphasizes that perfect security is unattainable: "There is no such thing as 100% security. If there was one thing that would keep us all safe, we'd all be doing it, and we wouldn't be sitting here having these conversations and collaborations."

Instead, Bernhjelm advocates for a comprehensive approach. "It's multiple things working in conjunction with one another to help accomplish the mission," he explains.

This multilayered philosophy has been central to his leadership at Mall of America, where he has significantly evolved the security strategy during his tenure, establishing the mall as an industry leader in retail security. Organizations of all sizes can benefit from this approach, as comprehensive cybersecurity strategies for small and medium businesses often follow similar principles of layered protection rather than relying on single solutions.

Balancing security with visitor experience

Bernhjelm's approach to security at Mall of America demonstrates the delicate balance between robust protection and maintaining a welcoming environment for visitors. The mall's security operations must be thorough yet unobtrusive to preserve the shopping and entertainment experience.

This challenge mirrors what many security professionals face across various sectors—implementing necessary security measures without creating environments that feel overly restricted or surveilled.

During his podcast appearance, Bernhjelm shares how his military background informs his current role, providing valuable perspective on maintaining operational security in high-traffic civilian environments. His 23 years of experience spans critical transitions in the security landscape, including significant shifts in technology, threat assessment, and public expectations of safety.

The importance of security talent development

One often overlooked aspect of security leadership is the cultivation and retention of talented security personnel. Insufficient cybersecurity talent retention poses significant risks to business continuity planning, a challenge Bernhjelm has likely addressed throughout his tenure at such a high-profile venue. Effective security leadership requires not only strategic vision but also the ability to build and maintain expert teams.

The evolution of retail security

The Mall of America represents a unique security challenge as both a premier shopping destination and an iconic American landmark. With 32 million visitors annually, it requires security protocols that can scale effectively while adapting to evolving threats.

Bernhjelm's keynote is expected to address how retail security has transformed in response to changing threat landscapes. From traditional loss prevention to modern concerns about active threats, retail security now encompasses sophisticated intelligence gathering, technological surveillance, and emergency response planning.

The conference provides an opportunity for security leaders to learn from Mall of America's approach, which has become a benchmark for large-scale retail and entertainment venues nationwide.

Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

An essential component of Bernhjelm's comprehensive security approach likely involves thorough cyber security risk assessment methodologies adapted for physical security contexts. Understanding how Mall of America identifies, prioritizes, and mitigates potential threats provides valuable insights for security professionals across industries, especially those managing complex, multi-use facilities.

Using conference insights in your security practice

Security professionals attending the conference can apply Bernhjelm's insights in several practical ways:

• Evaluate existing security strategies for over-reliance on single solutions instead of integrated approaches
• Reassess how security measures affect customer experience in retail or visitor environments
• Implement collaborative security approaches that involve multiple stakeholders and systems

The SECURITY 500 Conference has established itself as a premier event for security leadership, featuring exclusive content tailored for senior security executives. The one-day format makes it an efficient use of time for busy professionals seeking to network with peers and gain actionable insights.

For those interested in learning more about Will Bernhjelm's security philosophy and the upcoming conference, his full interview is available on Lock It Down with Security Magazine podcast, accessible via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

Further details about the conference can be found at Security500.com, where security leaders can register for this exclusive event. Security professionals may also benefit from exploring resources from the International Association of Professional Security Consultants, which offers additional perspectives on integrated security approaches for complex environments.