This week’s episode is a special one for me. I got to sit down with Maura Burns, the former Chief Operating Officer of the CIA, and just let her tell the story of a career most people only know from movies and spy novels.
Maura walked me through how she got her start, the jobs that shaped her, and what it’s actually like to help run one of the most demanding organizations on the planet. We talked about the weight of those decisions, the people she leaned on, and the moments that taught her the most. She’s honest about the hard parts, which is exactly why her advice lands the way it does.
A big chunk of our conversation is for the young people out there who are wondering if a career like this is even possible for someone like them. Maura’s answer is yes, and she explains why. Her encouragement is the kind I wish I’d heard earlier in my own career.
Quick heads up before you press play: you’ll notice the look of our video doesn’t quite match up between the two of us yet. We’re still a work in progress on the production side, so please excuse the difference. The conversation itself, though? That part came out just right.
This also felt like the perfect time to talk about my new book, National Security Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking In. So much of what Maura and I covered – the doubts, the doors, the way one opportunity leads to the next – is exactly what I tried to map out in the book for the next generation. If you’re trying to find your way into this field, or you know a young person who is, this one’s for you.
And here’s something for the folks who keep this work going: annual paid subscribers to Dexter Ingram: Declassified get a free signed copy of either The Spy Archive or National Security Careers – dedicated to you and mailed right to your doorstep.
Press play, take notes, and pass it along to someone who needs to hear it.
