Ingrid Centurion interviews Layla who survived the genocide attempt in her village.

Ingrid Centurion interviews Dr. Deborah “Dr. DJ” Johnson-Blake is the CEO of The Writing Pad, LLC, where she

provides editing, consulting, professional development, and time-management coaching. A keynote speaker and best-selling author, she also serves as an award-winning associate professor at Liberty University.

An active leader in the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Dr. DJ is a member of the Douglas County Charter Chapter and has served in numerous leadership roles, including Chapter President, Best Practices Chair, and Chapter Ambassador. She is the 2024 Atlanta Area Council Woman of the Year and ABWA National’s 2021 American Business Woman. As Chapter President, she led her chapter to a historic 100% membership increase and national Best Practices recognition during COVID-19. Dr. DJ is currently serving as the 2025–2026 District I Vice President, bringing a proven record of leadership, growth, and member engagement. Guided by her philosophy to “live life on purpose,” she is passionate about empowering leaders to maximize their time, lead with intention, and achieve lasting impact. Dr. Deborah Johnson-Blake, widely known as Dr. DJ and recognized as The Time Management Diva, specializes in helping individuals and organizations take control of their time, increase productivity, and create better work-life balance.

She is a philanthropic servant leader in her local Douglasville community, where she enjoys giving back to others by providing resources and serving on several boards in addition to the ABWA National Board, including the Vice Chair of the Hospital Authority Board of Douglas County, a board member of Wellstar Regional Health Board, the Board Parliamentarian for the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE) and a board member of the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. She is the 2025 Small Business of the Year Finalist. Guided by her philosophy to “live life on purpose,” she is dedicated to empowering others to maximize their time, embrace lifelong learning, and elevate their personal and professional journeys.

Ingrid Centurion recently interviewed Carrie Pasquarello, founder of Global Secure Resources, a threat-mitigation company dedicated to keeping travelers safe abroad.

During their conversation, Pasquarello addressed the growing complexity of global criminal activity and how it impacts international travelers—from opportunistic street crime and organized theft rings to cyber exploitation and politically driven unrest. She emphasized that modern travel risk is no longer limited to high-risk regions; even traditionally “safe” destinations are experiencing spikes in crime targeting tourists.

Key insights she shared include:

• Pre-travel intelligence is critical. Travelers should understand local crime trends, cultural norms, transportation risks, and safe zones before arrival.

• Situational awareness is your first line of defense. Criminals often target distracted individuals—those visibly unfamiliar with their surroundings.

• Digital security matters. Public Wi-Fi exploitation, SIM-swap fraud, and device theft can escalate quickly into financial or identity crimes.

• Layered protection strategies work best. This may include vetted drivers, secure lodging selection, itinerary tracking, emergency response planning, and real-time monitoring.

• Corporate responsibility is increasing. Organizations have a duty of care to protect employees traveling internationally, especially in volatile regions.

Pasquarello underscored that preparation—not fear—is the goal. By combining intelligence, planning, and professional support, individuals and companies can significantly reduce exposure to risk while maintaining confidence in global travel.