Intelligence Career Conversations

Hosted by INSA

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

This podcast explores the people, paths, and policies shaping today’s intelligence community. Each episode features candid discussions with professionals from across the field—covering career journeys, skill-building advice, and the real-world impact of policy decisions on the IC workforce.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 20, 2026Episode 7428 min

Christina Mancinelli: From Internship to Senior Leadership

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Christina Mancinelli, Vice President of Global Communications and Navigation at Lockheed Martin Space. She reflects on her path from engineering intern to senior executive and explains how degrees in electrical engineering, finance, and systems engineering gave her the technical, business, and big-picture perspectives needed to lead. She also discusses mentorship, leading through rapid technological change, and the guiding advice she shares with others: “Be you.”

August 6, 2026Episode 7321 min

Alka Bhave: Building a Career Beyond the Technical Track

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Alka Bhave, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of National Security at Unissant. She reflects on her path from engineering to executive leadership and shares insights on systems thinking, mentorship, workforce development, and preparing the intelligence community for emerging technologies.

July 23, 2026Episode 7229 min

Robbie McAnnally: A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Right

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Robbie McAnnally, Account Director, IC, Janes. He reflects on lessons from his 32-year national security career, including more than two decades at the CIA, and shares insights on teamwork, OSINT, mentorship, and navigating the transition to the private sector.

July 9, 2026Episode 7125 min

Susanne Hake: Be True to Yourself

On this episode of INSA’s Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Susanne Hake, EVP and GM, USG, Vantor, to discuss her career across government, consulting, and national security technology. She reflects on her early experience at the National Security Council, transitioning into industry, applying her strengths in technical environments, and building technical fluency.

June 25, 2026Episode 7033 min

Dr. Philip Ritcheson: Never Give Up

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Philip Ritcheson, Senior VP for Corporate Strategy at Leidos, for a conversation on leadership, service, and navigating a career across government, the military, and industry. Dr. Ritcheson reflects on lessons learned from decades in national security, the realities of public-to-private sector transitions, and the importance of mentorship, resilience, and staying mission-focused in an increasingly complex security environment.

June 11, 2026Episode 6927 min

John Doyon: Go Where the Action Is

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by INSA Executive Vice President John Doyon. John reflects on the moments that defined his decades of service at NSA, from supporting treaty negotiations in Geneva to briefing the President in the Oval Office. He shares how mentors encouraged him to pursue unfamiliar opportunities, why interagency assignments broadened his perspective on national security, and the framework he still uses today when evaluating career decisions. Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen .

May 28, 20261 min

Coming Soon: The Career Playbook

An exclusive preview of INSA’s upcoming nine-episode podcast series, The Career Playbook, explores the mentorship, setbacks, leadership lessons, and career pivots that shape success across the intelligence and national security community.

May 14, 2026Episode 6827 min

Dr. Linda Bixby: Turning Career Pivots into Opportunity

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Linda Bixby, Chief Research and Partnerships Officer at the University of Arizona. Dr. Bixby reflects on her nonlinear career spanning government, academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector, sharing insights on continuous learning, mentorship, leadership, and navigating career pivots across the national security ecosystem. She also discusses the importance of communication skills, embracing discomfort, adapting to emerging technologies like AI, and building the interdisciplinary mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce. Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen .

April 30, 2026Episode 6723 min

Robert Goodson: Networking, Networking, Networking

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Robert Goodson, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen. Mr. Goodson reflects on his path from Army intelligence officer to private-sector leader, sharing insights on career growth, mentorship, networking, and leading teams in the national security space. He also offers practical advice on continuous learning, adapting to emerging technologies, and building the communication skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry. Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen .

April 16, 2026Episode 6625 min

Meisha Lutsey: Leading at Scale in National Security

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Meisha Lutsey, Executive VP, Mission and Engineering Support, CACI International. Meisha shares how she built her career in the intelligence and national security community, along with insights on developing skills through on-the-job experience, navigating career growth, and leading a large, globally deployed workforce. She also offers practical advice on continuous learning and adapting to rapidly evolving technology fields. Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen .