Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions! From FBI Interrogations to Corporate Conversations | MK Palmore #34
"The secret to interviewing is knowing when to shut up and listen." - MK Palmore
M.K. Palmore's story begins where many transformational leaders find their compass—in service to something greater than themselves. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., during a time when the city carried the sobering title of "murder capital" of the United States, the odds were stacked against his very survival, let alone his extraordinary success.
Yet from those challenging streets emerged a man whose unwavering dedication to service would span over three decades, taking him from the disciplined halls of the U.S. Naval Academy to the elite ranks of the Marines, and ultimately to a distinguished 22-year career as an FBI Special Agent. As head of the Cybersecurity Branch at FBI San Francisco, Palmore led one of the nation's largest cybersecurity investigative teams, battling the most insidious criminal and national security adversaries in the digital realm. Following his FBI career, M.K. used his cybersecurity expertise to serve as a strategic advisor for some of the most powerful companies in Silicon Valley.
Today, through Apogee Global RMS, he channels this wealth of experience into developing the next generation of leaders to transform not just individuals but entire organizations. His journey from the front lines of national security to the boardrooms of corporate America demonstrates his relentless pursuit of growth.
In this episode of Curated Questions, host Ken Woodward engages MK Palmore, an expert in cybersecurity and leadership, in a holistic conversation about the nuances of interviewing, the significance of psychological safety, and the impact of people-centered leadership. MK, a former FBI special agent, shares the invaluable lessons he's learned from his diverse career spanning the US Naval Academy, the Marines, Silicon Valley, and his own start-up, Apogee Global RMS.
He reveals the power of strategic silence in eliciting critical information during interviews, his unique approach to fostering team growth and leadership, and how his constant curiosity has been a driving force in his professional journey. Listeners will gain practical insights on improving their questioning techniques, building trust within their teams, public speaking, and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and learning.
Episode Notes
[00:00 The Secret to Effective Interviewing
01:08 Introduction to Curated Questions
01:29 MK Palmore's Background and Career
03:09 Joining the FBI: Initial Expectations
03:59 The Importance of Interviewing Skills in the FBI
05:08 Military Background and FBI Training
05:55 Diverse Skills Program and Military Influence
09:39 Practical Interview Training at the FBI
15:12 Creating Psychological Safety in Interviews
20:17 Building Trust and Effective Communication
24:26 Developing Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
27:36 Public Speaking: Preparation and Mindset
29:23 Engaging the Audience: Techniques and Strategies
32:57 The Role of Questions in Professional Settings
41:05 Leadership and Cybersecurity
41:28 The Prevalence of AI in Conversations
41:46 Challenges of Leadership in Tech
42:03 The Impact of Poor Leadership
42:44 Leadership Development in Companies
43:15 The Importance of Investing in People
44:19 Conversations with Small to Medium-Sized Organizations
45:17 The Future of AI and Leadership
46:08 AI as a Force Multiplier
46:40 AI in Learning and Development
47:42 Adopting AI in Business Processes
48:51 The Disruption of AI in Various Industries
55:27 Curiosity and Professional Growth
58:52 People-Centered Leadership
01:07:04 The Role of Reflection in Leadership
01:12:00 Final Thoughts and Reflections
01:16:12 Reflections and Insights
Resources Mentioned
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Daily episode with Ocean Vuong
MK Palmore on LinkedIn
Questions Asked
When did you first understand the power of questions?
Do you know what you were brought in for, or what specialty skills you brought to the table?
What's on the ticket for this week?
What's on the ticket for today?
How many cases do I have?
Were there any particular courses or books that the FBI uses to train the agents?
What did some of that training look like?
What were some of the ways that you kept that even keel?
What are you doing internally to keep your cool?
What set you apart, or why do you think that you were successful?
What is the motivation that you have for leaning into the uncomfortableness?
When did that process and that confidence start?
What are a couple of components or examples of mind talk, or any of your other strategies?
Any thoughts on the question that I just posed?
Do you run through your CV before you give a talk so people know who you are?
Do you just jump right into the topic to make sure that you grab them?
How might you use questions in your preparation for a talk that you're gonna be doing or something that you're pulling together?
What are they here to hear about?
What do they think is going to be presented to them?
What's the pain point that you have around this particular issue?
Any particular questions that you found helpful or lines of thinking with questions that you found helpful in your conversations with folks?
Can you help us figure that thing out?
Is this something that you experience in your own organization?
Who are the cybersecurity folks in the room
Where's all of this going?
What kind of position do we need to be in to protect against stuff that's gonna happen in the future?
Does your technology work?
What examples do you have of it working for other people?
Can it be helpful to me?
What questions are not being asked often enough in the cybersecurity world?
How much of it can we ship?
How much of it can we sell?
How much of it can we make?
What step would you encourage folks to take in understanding that element better?
How has Curiosity played a role in delivering you to where you are today?
Can I learn this?
Can I then take what I've learned and then provide some learning to other people about it?
Do you think curiosity is a skill that you can improve?
What is a nuance that most people miss about people-centered leadership?
What am I going to get done with this group of people that I have here?
How comfortable do you think people feel in their current work environments to have those kinds of very transparent conversations with their bosses?
What's next for me?
What can I do to help you get there?
What roles do questions and inquiry play in that process of leadership development?
I had a rough interaction with someone. What role did I play? Or my baggage or my, positioning in that scenario, what role did I play in that?
Do you go back and review your journals, and what is your process for how you use them?
How do I reconcile my decision to do something really hard with what my reality is on the ground?
What is your right now question?
Have I done enough to go venture off on my own?
Am I prepared?
Have I done enough?
Am I ready to put out my own shingle and do my own thing?