"It was at the Agency where I first truly understood the power of diverse teams," she says. "Success in the field depended on building inclusive, cross-functional units where every voice had value regardless of background, discipline, or rank. Just as critical was cultivating psychological safety: creating a space where people could speak truthfully, challenge assumptions, and innovate under pressure. That foundation of trust was essential to overcoming some of the hardest missions we faced, and it remains core to how I lead today."
"I felt a responsibility to use whatever gifts I had to help protect people, to contribute in a meaningful way, and to help build systems that keep people safe, not just in moments of crisis, but every day,"
"When security professionals are embedded early in strategic conversations, they bring insights that prevent problems before they arise, and often uncover opportunities that others miss."
Diana Dragon witnessed the 9/11 attacks and subsequently joined the CIA to apply her skills to protect people and build resilient systems. She served as an Operations Officer and twice as Chief of Station, developing leadership and risk intelligence under pressure while leading multi-agency teams and making high-consequence decisions. The Agency experience taught her the value of diverse, cross-functional teams and psychological safety to enable truthful communication, challenge assumptions, and innovate under pressure. Dragon transitioned to the corporate sector, applying intelligence skills at BP and Standard Industries, embedding security early in strategy to prevent problems, uncover opportunities, and view risk holistically.
Read at Securitymagazine
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