At a show often defined by product launches and technology buzz, one moment at ISC West 2026 shifted the focus back to people. During its annual awards ceremony, Mission 500—a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families in need—recognized leaders whose impact extends well beyond the workplace, reaching into communities, classrooms, and causes that often go unseen.
Among those honored was Fredrik Nilsson, Vice President of the Americas at Axis Communications, who received the Distinguished Humanitarian Award. The recognition reflects not just years of charitable involvement, but a consistent ability to rally people across companies and competitors alike in support of something bigger than business.
We sat down with Fredrik to learn more about what drives that commitment, how he mobilizes others, and why giving back remains central to his leadership.
What does being recognized by Mission 500 mean to you personally and professionally?
It’s a great honor to be recognized by an organization like Mission 500—but the recognition should really go to the fantastic Axis Americas team. I’m always gratified to see the way the team engages with local communities, looking for ways to have a positive impact. Building a strong culture is something we really pride ourselves in at Axis, and giving back is a huge part of that culture.
This award recognizes your humanitarian impact - can you share a personal experience that shaped your commitment to this kind of work?
One thing that comes to mind is an activity we did around 15 years ago at a sales meeting. We had a local organization separate us into teams to build bicycles for children in an underserved community. At the end of the activity, 25 or so children from that community actually came in and received those bikes. The joy in their eyes was wonderful to see, and it really drove home the positive impact that even a short, hour-long activity can have on the community. It only takes a little to give back a lot, and we take that message to heart.
I was involved with Mission 500 very early on, so I got to know the founder, George Fletcher. His approach was to support 500 children financially, and I was surprised to discover that a little money can go a long way when it comes to providing children with the resources they need. Working with George also helped me see that when a whole industry gets behind an initiative, it can be incredibly powerful—not just because you’re doing the right thing, but because it helps build a community and create a sense of belonging in the industry. I’ve stayed engaged with Mission 500 ever since, including time on the board and even a stint as chairman.
What does it take to build a culture of volunteerism across a company?
It’s honestly easier than you might think. A lot of people are interested in giving, they just need a nudge in the right direction (and sometimes help determining which charitable organizations are doing the most good). Leadership’s job is to show that they personally support it, ideally through their own actions, and also to create the time and resources for teams to make it easy to give back. Often times people want to get involved, but don’t know how to create time in their own calendars. The easier you can make it for people to get involved, the more they’ll want to get involved.
How do you inspire others within your organization to get involved in giving back?
Being personally involved is really important. I’ve run every Security 5K since the race began, and I also make sure to travel and participate with the team in every Axis Community Day. I also always try to highlight the ways employees are giving back at our company meetings and in our regular communications.
But it’s really about creating opportunities. For example, each year we send two Axians on the Mission 500 trip to Puerto Rico to help rebuild houses. It’s a popular initiative, and we get many, many applicants for those two spots. Ultimately, we have a team pick two employees based on the stories they write about why it is important to them. We always get a lot of amazing stories, which makes it incredibly difficult to choose just two (which is obviously a great problem to have).
Was there a moment in your career when your perspective shifted from business success to broader social responsibility?
To me, you can’t really distinguish one from the other. If you want to be successful in business, you have to recognize the company’s broader social responsibility. That responsibility comes in a lot of different forms. For example, there’s sustainability, ethical behavior, taking care of staff and providing a strong support network, focusing on mental health, and plenty of others. We also prioritize supporting new parents—Axis has 100 days of parental leave in the US, which is something we’re very proud of. Honestly, the fact that corporate social responsibility has always been at the heart of our culture is a big reason I’ve been at Axis for over 30 years.
Giving back is part of that social responsibility, and just about everyone has an interest in doing so. As a company, you just have to provide the time and create the opportunities. The actions will follow.
What approach do you take to balance business priorities with meaningful social responsibility efforts?
Social responsibility isn’t always the top priority for businesses—it’s something they take care of if there is time left over (which rarely happens). That’s why we specifically reserve time for giving back to the community. For example, we close the business one day each year to have everyone participate in Axis Community Day, and our events team helps identify activities at more than 30 different sites across the Americas for employees to participate in as a team.
We also have our whole team at ISC West participate in the Security 5K/2K each year. We set the expectation that it needs to be a priority, despite the busy meeting schedule at the event. After all, why not invite a business partner to walk the 2K with you and take the meeting that way—giving back and doing business at the same time!
From your perspective, why do you think it's important for the security industry to be involved in social impact work?
The security market plays an important role in society. At Axis, we say we’re “innovating for a smarter, safer world," and it’s something we take seriously. People in this industry tend to be there for a purpose, not a paycheck—which means they have a passion for helping companies (and communities at large) with security. That often spills over into a passion for social responsibility, too.
Social responsibility makes the industry better. It also makes security attractive to younger, more socially active generations, and it’s critical that we continue to draw talented young employees to this great industry. It’s something I feel strongly about, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to make giving back such a central part of my career.