Deployment experience allows individuals to put their training to the test and measure their capabilities in tactical intelligence on the ground.
Clear and structured intelligence reporting, including proper source declaration, is crucial to maintain credibility and add value to intelligence products.
Interpersonal skills are key for intelligence analysts to effectively communicate, gain support, and prove their worth within organizations.
Deep dives
The Meaningful Experience of Deployment and Tactical Intelligence
The guest, Michael Blichard-Saronson, discusses his deployment experience as the most meaningful period of his military career. He highlights how deployment allowed him to put his training to the test and measure his capabilities in tactical intelligence on the ground. He emphasizes the hard work and dedication required during deployment and the opportunity to focus solely on the mission without distractions. Blichard-Saronson also suggests that deployment is more suitable for young individuals due to its intensity and acknowledges the valuable knowledge gained in areas like assessment group meetings and information management.
The Importance of Clear Intelligence Reporting and Source Declaration
The conversation shifts to the importance of clear and structured intelligence reporting. Blichard-Saronson emphasizes the value of proper source declaration, distinguishing between fact, comment, and assessment. He highlights the responsibility of intelligence professionals to educate their clients about the importance of source declaration and the potential consequences of failing to do so. Blichard-Saronson also discusses the challenges faced by the corporate intelligence industry, particularly the presence of unethical companies that do not declare their sources properly. He suggests that establishing a clear reporting structure and emphasizing the difference between information and intelligence can help maintain credibility and add value to intelligence products.
The Need for Strong Interpersonal Skills in Intelligence Analysis and Education of Clients
Blichard-Saronson stresses the importance of interpersonal skills for intelligence analysts and the need to educate clients about the role and capabilities of intelligence. He suggests that analysts should work on their interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and gain support within organizations. He points out the common challenge of internal intelligence functions facing skepticism or questioning their necessity when external consultants are hired. Blichard-Saronson believes that by providing relevant and valuable intelligence, internal functions can prove their worth and secure their position within the organization. He also encourages external consultants to build strong relationships with clients and adapt to their specific needs and culture.
Importance of Tactical Intelligence
The podcast episode delves into the challenges and limitations of corporate intelligence, emphasizing the need for more focus on tactical intelligence. The guest highlights the value of providing insights and actionable information at a local or regional level, rather than getting caught up in broad geopolitical analysis. They discuss the importance of understanding specific regions and communities, as well as engaging with the locals to gather relevant information. The argument is made that tactical intelligence, which is closely aligned with the operational context, can have a more significant impact on decision-making for businesses and organizations.
Circular Reporting and Challenges in Ocean Analysis
The episode addresses some of the issues within the open-source intelligence (OSINT) community, especially the problem of circular reporting and lack of source declaration. The guest suggests that competition and the desire to maintain a competitive edge often lead to the concealment of sources. Additionally, they highlight the need for clearer definitions and differentiation within the OSINT field, as many individuals and organizations label themselves as OSINT without specialized knowledge. Furthermore, they discuss the challenges of conveying findings effectively, particularly in terms of providing thorough analysis and clearly communicating uncertainties. The importance of engaging with customers, understanding their specific requirements, and focusing on delivering tailored and valuable intelligence is emphasized.
Welcome back to the Grey Dynamics Podcast! This week we are talking to Michael Blicher Soerensen. Michael is a veteran of the Danish army, specialising in electronic warfare and SIGINT. He is currently a global security site lead at Meta. We discussed what makes a good analyst, deploying to Iraq, corporate intelligence and much more. Enjoy!
5:15 - Opportunities after working in SIGINT and Electronic Warfare
9:17 - Killings your darlings
10:40 - Adjusting to work outside of the army
14:09 - Learning to build rapport with collegues in the workplace
16:22 - What makes a good intelligence analyst
20:21 - Discovering new career opportunities and staying open minded
24:49 - Michael’s experience on deployment
28:17 - Michael's experience working with allied intelligence counterparts
32:07 - Commentary on how training and background can heavily influence analyst’s perspectives
36:32 - Tailoring intelligence to the consumers needs and creating valuable products
38:08 - Issues in the field of OSINT
48:30 - Intelligence professionals being able to educate consumers on intelligence can and cannot do
51:30 - Competing with other internal and external intelligence professionals in the corporate world
1:01:50 - Lack of Tactical intelligence in the private sector
1:03:24 - Intelligence products currently consumed by in the corporate world
1:05:47 - Cultural Recommendations
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