Most of us have heard stories about the CIA, but we rarely get the chance to look behind the curtain and gain insight into their secretive operations. Michele Rigby Assad lived a lie during her career as a CIA operative in the Middle East. With extensive experience in the Arab world, she developed the ability to interpret and navigate risks while designing safe and effective operations. Michele was an undercover CIA intelligence officer for 10 years, specialising in counterterrorism and counterintelligence in war zones, giving her significant expertise in dealing with terrorists and insurgents, as highlighted in her bestselling memoir, 'Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What It Taught Me About What's Worth Fighting For', and her latest book, 'Get Off the X: CIA Secrets for Conquering Obstacles and Achieving Your Life's Mission'. 

​Former US Senator Martha McSally was the first ever US female combat fighter pilot, and then became the first female Air Force officer to command a fighter squadron. Having survived a sexual predator in high school, rape by a military superior and the many bureaucratic barriers that were put in her way, Martha had the iron constitution to deal with these many setbacks and still push forward to success. Martha's story is summed up in her book 'Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up'.

David Robson is a British award-winning science writer specialising in medicine, psychology, and neuroscience. David's work has appeared in the Guardian, the Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Atlantic. He's worked as a features editor at New Scientist and as a senior journalist at the BBC. He's written a number of books, including The Intelligence Trap, The Expectation Effect, which won the British Psychological Society Book Award and his latest release, The Laws of Connection. We discuss the profound impact our expectations can have on every area of our lives and how we often underappreciate the value of connection and the effect that can have on ourselves and others.

Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of Stewardship Asia Singapore, is the former Chief Learning Officer: Coca-Cola and Morgan Stanley, a TEDx Speaker, and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His latest book, "Sustainable Sustainability", discusses why frameworks such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) are insufficient to address today's existential challenges, both global and local, and highlights a critical missing link. Rajeev advocates for a transition to Environmental, Social, and Leadership (ESL), emphasising what he terms Steward Leadership. This conversation is crucial for company owners and team leaders, as it directly influences our teams on the ground.