In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Jacob Milner, CEO and founder of Shield and a school safety professional who also works with the Idaho State Board of Education, to discuss what it means to lead with a “protector’s mindset” and how prevention-driven safety planning can help schools and communities take more control of their security.
What You’ll Learn
- Why prevention is often the most valuable (and least celebrated) part of school safety and how to prioritize it.
- How a “protector’s mindset” shapes leadership decisions, especially in high-stakes industries like safety and security.
- The importance of humility and evidence-based approaches over trend-driven “fancy” solutions.
- How to make safety improvements financially feasible for schools that are already stretched thin.
- What effective outreach can look like when your work is mission-driven: sincere cold emails, clear value, and respect for busy stakeholders.
- Where AI can add real value today (research, information collection, brainstorming messaging) and where it should not replace human measures.
- How customer service and word-of-mouth can become a growth engine for a service business expanding across states.
- Why authenticity matters in leadership and sales and how “being yourself” can strengthen trust and long-term impact.
Jacob’s story underscores a grounded approach to building safer environments: focus on what works, keep prevention at the center, and lead with integrity rather than hype. The conversation reinforces that meaningful impact comes from practical systems, human readiness, and leaders who stay connected to the mission behind the work so schools and communities can become stronger protectors of their own circles of influence.
To learn more about Jacob Milner and their work.