Julian Fisher

British intelligence specialist Julian Fisher worked in a specialized branch of the British Diplomatic Service for which he saw action in challenging locations around the world. He went on to work for a global private military company, operationally active in Africa. In his time, he has seen off camel-rustlers in Somalia, faced down gun-toting soldiers in The Congo, trained a newly-formed intelligence service in South Sudan and been invited to help plot a coup in West Africa (he declined).

A specialist in the ‘people’ side of intelligence, Julian often speaks about what companies and individuals can learn from the intelligence world to enhance their effectiveness and productivity. He helps audiences of all ages and seniority refine inclusive leadership skills, through development of the spy's skills-set, which he
believes is latent in everyone.

With a focus on leadership, interpersonal skills, motivations and influence, Julian also guides organizations on the uses of intelligence in threat and risk management, privacy and security. He provides valuable insights into global security matters, geopolitical risk and the realities behind headlines about terrorism, China, Russia and beyond.

Julian is the author of Think Like a Spy: Master the Art of Influence and Build Life-Changing Alliances (Hachette 2024). In the book, Julian explains how readers can apply the nine secret skills of espionage to help them achieve their personal and professional goals. In 2017, he was the lead trainer on the Channel 4 TV series Spies, which put sixteen ordinary people through a series of challenges to find out if they had what it takes to be a spy.

KEYNOTES:

• “The business of spying: Lessons from a Parallel World” A motivational talk that examines how businesspeople can think like a spy to grow client-bases and improve inter-cultural communication and understanding.
• "Jiu-Jitsu of the Mind: How Spies Achieve the Unimaginable and How You Can Too”. This is a motivational talk that focuses on personal-development lessons to be learned from Intelligence Officers’ use of interpersonal skills and human psychology.

WORKSHOPS:

• “Influence, persuasion and elicitation workshops”: Julian hosts workshops for personal and professional development, with an emphasis on how to win people over and forge durable personal partnerships.
• "Think Like A Spy Leadership Masterclasses": One-day workshops for C-suite executives. Unlock elite leadership skills with spy-inspired strategies: maximize your influence; refine your leadership style; and master situational awareness.

AFTER-DINNER TALKS:

• “The Spy’s Essential Toolkit for Surviving Almost Anything, Almost Anywhere”. This after-dinner talk is a light-hearted look at the world of spying, with a serious underlying message.
• "007: Licenced to Manage Risk”. An alternative after-dinner talk, based on Julian’s experiences of operating in hostile environments.

TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES:

• "EXERCISE REVERSE GEAR: Planning Evacuation from a War Zone"
• "EXERCISE FORWARD THRUST: Surveillance and Interception"

• Westminster Strategic Studies Group
• Young Presidents Organisation
• State Street
• Covenzis Group
• Oriel College, Oxford
• Henley Literary Festival
• Randstad
• Futureforce
• Euromoney
• School of Oriental and African Studies