Leading in High-Stress Circumstances from a Former CIA Operations Officer

It’s not always in the forefront of their story, but all great leaders have faced adversity to succeed. Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA Operations Officer, knows this lesson all too well after serving 26 years of service where he has learned a great deal from the pressure of making decisions in some of the most stressful situations — some ending with a more positive result than others.

In this episode, Marc shares highlights from his book, Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA, where he offers hard-earned strategies and core principles for leading in disruptive environments. Fred inquires about Marc’s stance on some controversial topics abroad, as well as his advice for corporate security teams.

Marc Polymeropoulos retired from the CIA in July 2019 at the Senior Intelligence Service level. He was one of CIA’s most highly decorated operations officers who served in multiple field and headquarters assignments for the U.S. government. He specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East and South Asia, including extensive time in Iraq and Afghanistan.