The Business Of Intelligence

In this episode of The Builder Series, we sit down with a two-time founder behind Ontic and now CenterSeat.ai to unpack what it takes to build in a complex, misunderstood market. From early mistakes and hard lessons to navigating fundraising, co-founder dynamics, and product-market fit, this conversation is a candid look at the realities of entrepreneurship in the risk and resilience space. If you...

What makes a senior intelligence leader leave big tech to help build an international startup? In this episode, Colin Reed, Chief Intelligence Officer of Clock&Cloud, shares why he made the move, and what he saw inside large organizations that convinced him a new model for geopolitical intelligence is needed. We unpack the problem Clock&Cloud is trying to solve, why the current approach falls shor...

In Episode 34, we sit down with leading recruiters in the field to unpack how hiring actually works in the world of corporate security and intelligence. Our guests share candid insights on what separates top candidates, the mistakes that quietly derail opportunities, and how to stand out in a highly competitive, relationship-driven market. If you’re navigating your next move, this is a tactical gu...

Transitioning from the Intelligence Community to the private sector is not just a career change. It’s a complete shift in how power, influence, and value actually work. In this episode of The Builder Series, Ryan sits down with two former Intelligence Community professionals who spent years inside Big Tech before building a course designed to help public sector professionals successfully navigate...

Welcome to The Builder Series, a show where we sit down with the founders, CEOs, and investors building the future of risk and resilience. Part of The Business of Intelligence podcast and brought to you by INTELAB Ventures, our guest today is Adam Safir, partner at Trust Street Advisors and the Co-Founder of SWORN. Tune in as we discuss the first AI-powered health and wellness platform for public...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Builder Series, a show where we sit down with the founders, CEOs, and investors building the future of risk and resilience. Part of The Business of Intelligence podcast and brought to you by INTELAB Ventures, our first guest is Rachael Spanton, founder + CEO of Victoria Intelligence. Tune in as we discuss her efforts to build an anticipatory intelligence pla...

AI is changing how intelligence work gets done, but many analysts are being asked to adapt without a clear framework. In this episode, we move beyond tools and prompts to explain how analysts can future-proof their careers by repositioning their value around judgment, trust, workflow design, and decision impact. We break down why many frustrations with AI stem from misaligned expectations, and how...

Episode 32 serves as a practical public service announcement for executive protection, protective intelligence, and corporate security practitioners on how AI and emerging technologies are being weaponized to target executives. Grounded in real examples, it explains why digital activity now shapes the physical threat environment, and what protection teams must do to stay ahead.

In this episode of The Business of Intelligence, we’re joined by protective intelligence pioneers Fred Burton and Scott Stewart to discuss their new book, The Protective Intelligence Advantage. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, the conversation explores why protective intelligence has reached a critical inflection point and what recent tragedies revealed about how protection is practice...

In this episode we challenge the traditional, government-inspired structure of corporate intelligence and argue for a shift toward a modern business partnering model. Instead of focusing solely on regional or domain expertise, intelligence teams can create greater impact by embedding closer to the business and operating as trusted advisors. We explore what an “Intelligence Business Partner” could...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked truths inside corporate intelligence: even the most talented intelligence teams will fail without empowered leadership. We explore why the Chief Security Officer, or whoever owns the function, ultimately determines whether intelligence becomes a strategic asset or remains a marginalized reporting shop. If you’ve ever wondered why some intell...

Ryan breaks down why the most effective intelligence leaders aren’t just great analysts; they’re skilled political operators who know how to navigate power, build influence, and earn a seat at the decision-making table. Drawing on lessons from real-world events like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, this episode reveals how credibility, timing, and relationships often matter more than analytic...

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the inaugural SCIF Summit, an exclusive, high-impact gathering where founders of security, cyber, and intelligence companies meet the investors and enterprise leaders shaping the future. Hear from the organizers about why this "deal summit" matters, what to expect, and why getting in the room might just change your trajectory.

Ryan sits down with Clock & Cloud CEO and Co-Founder Riku Hellgren for a wide-ranging conversation that includes the current state of geopolitical risk intelligence/management, questions around leadership and entrepreneurship, and what problem Clock & Cloud is trying to solve.

In this solo episode, Ryan recounts his presentation to a group of executives last December on the value proposition of Executive Protection programs, common misconceptions about the function, and how organizations can take practical, scalable steps to get a program started today.

Meredith Wilson, Founder + CEO of Emergent Risk International, joins Ryan for a look-back and review of the inaugural I3 (Intelligence, Innovation, Imagination) Summit from last November.

In this episode we have a wide-ranging conversation with scholar practitioners Dr. Angie Lewis, Dr. Lewis Sage-Passant, and Dr. Maria Robson-Morrow. We explore multiple topics ranging from what happens when academic rigor meets the dynamic world of private sector intelligence to the current state of the field.

In this episode, we cut through the politics to uncover how recent shifts in the political landscape are reshaping corporate security risks. Colin Reed, a foresight + intelligence strategy advisor working in the US technology sector, reveals why ignoring political risk could leave companies vulnerable—and what security teams can do to prepare. If you work in corporate intelligence or risk manageme...

Ryan sits down with Ontic Chief Security Officer and industry leader Chuck Randolph to explore the theme of leadership and service. Tune in as these long-time friends and collaborators cover everything from practical advice on how to get involved in the industry, to the impact of professional identity, to suffering from Impostor Syndrome.

Insight Forward Founder + CEO Ross Hill is back for round 2. In this episode, Ross reprises his talk on making bolding inferences and strategically communicating intelligence- a talk that was chosen for the inaugural I3 (Intelligence, Innovation, Imagination) Summit in November where Ross electrified the audience and provided thought-provoking insights around the question, "Are we really deliverin...

For episode 20 (Part 1), we had the privilege of speaking with the leadership team at Insight Forward, a Geopolitical Risk Intelligence advisory service specializing in Corporate intelligence. Tune in as we discuss the firm's Top 10 Geopolitical Risks in 2025 Report to uncover the risks that could disrupt industries, challenge leadership, and redefine global markets.

The Business of Intelligence is back! Tune in to Episode 19 as Ryan shares his lessons learned from a 2024 sabbatical and talks about what's next for the podcast.

Tune in to Episode 18 where Ryan talks Geopolitical Risk Intelligence with Insight Forward Founder and CEO Ross Hill. They dive into Insight Forward's “Geopolitical Risk Intelligence: An Executive Handbook," discuss innovation in the field of corporate intelligence and much, much more.

Join Ryan from The Business Of Intelligence podcast during this new weekly segment called "The Monday Morning Practitioner." For this week's edition, Ryan talks about the importance of finding a champion within your organization.

In this episode, Ryan hosts a wide-ranging conversation with Maria Robson-Morrow, Katie Tucker and Judit Gaspar from the Intelligence Project at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Tune is as they discuss the recently published Harvard Business Review article "How To Vet A Corporate Intelligence Vendor," as well as numerous other insights from their re...