339: Michele Rigby Assad | My Secret Life in the CIA

CIA Realities

Michele Rigby Assad, a former CIA officer, sheds light on the less glamorous aspects of working in intelligence. Contrary to popular belief, the job involves extensive preparation and mundane tasks, with weeks of planning for operations that last only a few hours 1. Michele describes the reality of intelligence work as "small spurts of really interesting stuff, and then long periods of time" spent on research and report writing 1. She emphasizes that the role requires a strong intellect and emotional intelligence to manage the vast amounts of information processed during operations 2.

   

Emotional Impact

The emotional toll of working in high-stress environments like Iraq is significant. Michele shares her struggle with imposter syndrome, feeling out of place among colleagues with more international experience 3. She admits that her perseverance was partly due to embarrassment at the thought of quitting, which pushed her to excel 3. Michele's dedication to her craft eventually led to expertise, as she focused on mastering her role rather than seeking advancement 4.