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Our Membership

‘Sounds like a Spy to Me’

In the Spring of 2019, Anastasia Spiridonova (known as Ana) – a
modern languages student at Stanford University – began sending When Covid-19 stopped her from being able to study in Italy in
out her CV to companies of various sizes. She hoped to gain February, Ana took this in her stride and was immediately on the
experience by completing a selection of summer internships, as she phone to ask which cases she could work on. She has become a
had done in previous years. She decided that she wanted to gain key part of the business; she is a natural investigator who offers the
an insight into the legal or security sectors, and was particularly innovation of a Gen Z perspective, and who completely transforms
interested in experiencing work within the world of criminal, civil and the approach of the company thanks to her worldview and rigorous
corporate investigations. work ethic. Currently, she works for the business part-time while
completing a tutorial in Miscarriage of Justice at the University
As anyone who has ever applied for a job or an internship will of Oxford as a study abroad programme. She also continues her
know, it can be a battle of attrition (even in the pre-pandemic world Stanford University language studies online (often overnight due
of 2019), and Ana received very few responses with two notable to the time difference). Her intention is to become a Co-Director
exceptions. of the business when she graduates next summer and to go onto
completing an MBA.
She had been realistic and knew that she was likely to receive
rejections or no replies. What she was not expecting, however, was to Ana’s increasing involvement in the business has continued during
be accidentally copied into an email by the HR department of a large lockdown, with the last several months being spent on professional
law firm with one comment on her application: “Sounds like a Spy to rebranding. This has included developing relationships with a
Me.” group of fantastic Consultants with a diverse range of expertise and
life experiences, including a Fraud Investigator; an OSINT and Due
By contrast, the vision for Lost Boys is very much about the strength Diligence Investigator; a Red Team Penetration Tester; a Medical
of cognitive diversity. During legal challenges or times of crisis, having Negligence Expert; an experienced Covert Operative; a former
a diverse team with a multitude of experiences and approaches is Cabinet Level Special Advisor; and Hotel and Hospitality Security
of immense value. It is not every day that you receive a CV from a Manager – all of whom possess the expertise that will benefit Lost
UK-educated Russian completing a degree at Stanford University who Boys’ clients, and from whom Ana intends to learn from about
speaks six languages. It was clear that Ana fitted the core values and investigations in the future.
branding of The Lost Boys Detective Agency.
Ana has recently joined the Security Institute as a student member,
The Lost Boys Detective Agency was founded by former Police as it was recommended by her Director and several of the member
Detective and Security Institute member Mark Ward MSyI in 2018. Consultants. She is looking forward to networking with, and learning
The company initially worked primarily on Pro-bono Miscarriage from, the wide range of Security Industry experts and intends to
of Justice cases, as Mark completed some investigations for large become involved in the Young Members Committee when she
state organisations. It was its unique branding and type of work that concludes her studies at Oxford and Stanford and has more time. It
prompted Ana to send her CV to the company. is clear from the experience of some of the Lost Boys Consultants,
including Ana, that some recruiters and companies are making quick
So, in the Summer of 2019, Ana interned with Lost Boys and worked decisions to dismiss applications from fantastic candidates – perhaps
on one of a number of high-profile Miscarriage of Justice cases. She because of perceptions based on nationality, international or service
has continued to work with the company ever since while completing qualifications, or unusual backgrounds. As is demonstrated by Ana
her studies. Spiridonova, their loss is totally Lost Boys’ and their clients’ gain.

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