When you hear the words CIA agent, you probably imagine Hollywood movies with guns, classified documents, and do-or-die missions. What if those espionage skills helped you become a better leader, entrepreneur, and innovator? Get to know Rupal Patel, a retired CIA field officer and current CEO, who will tell you how lessons learned in combat zones can transform how we think, lead, and thrive.
Rupal Patel's incredible journey began light-years away from the spotlight, in the quiet suburban calm of Staten Island, NY. Having a Master's degree from the University of Chicago, she made an improbable move that changed her life - she became a CIA recruit. Throughout nearly seven years as an intelligence officer, Rupal advised Four-Star Generals, worked in perilous war zones, amassed War Zone Service Medals, and received praise from the CIA Director for having "provided superior support to the President of the United States."
But Rupal's story does not end there. Trading spycraft files for boardroom meetings, she went on to take an MBA at the London Business School and set out to revolutionize leadership. Quickly on her way to becoming a "Power Woman" in Harper's Bazaar and a "super-strategist" to her clients, she built an award-winning business assisting global leaders in acquiring unique abilities straight from her past as a spy.
Now Rupal is not just a leadership speaker but a change agent, inspiring thousands on worldwide platforms and serving Fortune 500 companies. Her groundbreaking work on Identity-Driven Leadership and Personal Energy Mapping has been added to MBA course curricula in leading business schools like London Business School, Henley Business School, and The University of Edinburgh Business School.
Her best-selling book, From CIA to CEO: Unconventional Life Lessons for Thinking Bigger, Leading Better, and Being Bolder, has transformed how readers around the globe think about ambition and leadership. The book skillfully translates covert techniques, including Profiling and Situational Awareness, into powerful models that allow people to leverage their strengths, build resilience, and conquer bold goals.
In 2023, Rupal was named "One of the Most Influential Women of the Year," and just a year later, SUCCESS Magazine honored her with the Changemaker Award for her passion and innovative spirit in making a social, environmental, and economic impact worldwide.
Beyond corporate acclaim and international awards, Rupal continues to be devoted to guiding future leaders. She supports emerging entrepreneurs through pro bono work at Virgin Startup and Techstars, and coaches future executives as Entrepreneur in Residence at London Business School and Alumni in Residence at the University of Chicago. Her commitment to women's empowerment even led her to represent women's voices at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
At this year’s Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit, Rupal Patel will share her powerful toolkit for leadership, drawing from her experience in the CIA and boardrooms worldwide. Don't miss this unique chance to learn directly from one of the most compelling and innovative voices in global leadership today.
