About Asha Rangappa:
- Asha Rangappa offers a unique perspective based on experience at the intersection of law, intelligence operations, and academia.
- She is a Senior Lecturer at the Yale University Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where she teaches courses on national security, information warfare, and leadership and ethics.
- She trained in teaching the Enneagram and is an Accredited Professional with the International Enneagram Association.
- With her background as a former FBI Special Agent, Asha brings real-world insights into matters of intelligence, national security, and the rule of law.
Key Topics Asha Can Cover:
- Lessons from Quantico: How does a first-generation child of Indian immigrants from southern Virginia end up as a Special Agent for the FBI? Asha Rangappa describes her unique (and often humorous) career path and the personal challenges she encountered along the way, offering inspiring life lessons for anyone who’s considered the road less traveled.
- The Mechanics of Complicity: How do people get away with bad behavior without being held accountable? Typically, the conduct of bad actors in any organization isn’t a secret; in fact, usually it was enabled by a supporting cast of characters who were complicit through action or inaction, and helped shield them from accountability. In this thought-provoking talk, Asha shows how we can think of these complicit actors as the human "scaffolding" who allow corruption to take root and misconduct to flourish at the top. Using case studies across different sectors -- including the Theranos scandal, the CIA torture program, Harvey Weinstein, the Minneapolis police department, Facebook, and even Vladimir Putin, among others -- Asha analyzes the incentives, fears, and goals of the cast of characters who are invariably a part of any corrupt system. Asha’s presentation offers lessons for managers and policymakers to develop norms, codes of conduct and oversight mechanisms that can prevent corruption and misconduct from taking root and empower those in a position to stop it.
- Intel Brief: Who Wants Your Data and Why: Organizations promoting better cyber hygiene often fail to make a connection between individual cybersecurity and our broader national security priorities. What’s really at risk if you don’t get your software updates? Why does the U.S. government care if you’re watching dance videos on Tik Tok? How is it possible that the default password on your Roomba or smart toaster could help bring down our entire critical infrastructure? In this big-picture talk, Asha unpacks the U.S. Intelligence Community’s current Annual Threat Assessment to explain how our foreign adversaries and use cybertools – including theft, espionage, and hybrid warfare – to facilitate their geopolitical objectives. This is a great talk to help audiences understand why every person, from front-line employees to C-suite executives, should see themselves as a national security actor and what’s at stake when they don’t.
- Introduction to the Enneagram: Do you want to know what makes your friends, family, coworkers – and most importantly, yourself – tick? As an accredited Enneagram instructor who was trained at the Enneagram Institute in New York, Asha leads an interactive workshop on inner workings of the nine personality types their “blind spots,” and what makes them shine. This is a great session for groups interested in personal growth or for leaders and managers looking for new ways to develop their teams.
- Preserving Democracy in the (Dis)Information Age: The 2016 presidential election highlighted the ability of Russian intelligence to exploit social media to target and manipulate the American public. Former FBI counterintelligence agent Asha Rangappa explains how Russia adapted Cold War tactics for the Information Age, and why the growing political fragmentation in America facilitates its efforts and has serious implications for the future of democracy.
- To Catch a President: Why is it so hard to prosecute a sitting, or even a former, president? In this informative, accessible, and illuminating talk, Asha uses current and historical examples to explain why the design of the Constitution, and the awesome powers of the presidency, make any occupier of the Oval Office a potentially wily defendant.
Why Asha Rangappa:
- Asha is known for her articulate communication style and the ability to break down complex issues for diverse audiences.
- Her experience as a commentator for CNN and other major media outlets showcases her skill in providing expert analysis on current events.
- Audiences appreciate her engaging and personable approach, making her a sought-after speaker at various prestigious events.
Testimonials
I wanted to reach out, and Thank You for speaking at our AP Dallas Event. We have received great feedback from our donors - they loved your keynote speech! They also appreciated your patience during the reception will all the photo requests 🙂
~ Teju S.
I attended the Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting this past June, and I was incredibly impressed by your speech. The information, observations and insight you conveyed was brand new to me and I am convinced is critical for more people to understand or at least consider.
~ Christine Antonellis N.
Ethics is a subject that must be part of us at every step and the reflection of our actions. The ideas on how to detect or profile different behaviors were really helpful. Building organizations that remain ethical and strengthen the values of a society over time, I firmly believe that this is one of the
foundations for building better communities in the future.
~ Participant, Yale Global Executive Leader Program
The one speaker that stood out above the others was Asha Rangappa. The command of her subject matter and her delivery were some of the best by a speaker I have ever seen at similar conferences. She speaks with such confidence and it is obvious that she has an in-depth knowledge about the subject. Also, talking about narcissists and sociopaths at this moment, was very timely when one considers the current political situation and the characteristics of each of those traits.
I also marvelled at the comfort level of Asha in delivering her talk. She was able to inject humour into what could have been a less than entertaining talk. She brought the topic to life.
~ Chris P., O.Ont, LSM, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
I attended your talk at the Yale Club and had wanted to reach out. I was fascinated by the graphs you shared in your talk (and loved the references to Putnam!).
~ Apsara A. I.
I very much enjoyed the historical perspective and relevance of your keynote speech. It seems that this threat to our institution, as amplified via social media, is often thought of as a recent phenomenon. I would like to have my family and friends consider the broader view that you presented. And, I’d like to read it again myself for a better retention.
~ Daniel B. G.
Great conversation on what good and bad behavior is. Really helpful to see this play out in life to help create a framework for what to do.
~ Participant, Yale Global Executive Leader Program
This was the most interesting talk I have attended at Yale.
Thank you, Wendy!
~ Elizabeth D., Participant, Intel Brief
