Ellen McCarthy: Big Mac on Sean Connery, the Coast Guard, Taking Risks, & Finding Her Purpose (pt 1)

On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.

On this episode, we’re joined by Ellen McCarthy, former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (INR), who has held senior leadership positions across the intelligence and national security community, including as Chief Operating Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), President of Noblis NSP, and President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA). She has also served in senior roles within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the United States Coast Guard.

In this episode, Ellen reflects on some of her favorite roles throughout her career, what inspired her passion for serving and protecting others, and the unexpected paths that can lead to a career in national security. She shares lessons from navigating leadership across the Intelligence Community and offers a candid look at how a career can evolve in ways you never anticipated.

Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!

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