"You can’t lead with clarity if you don’t know who you are. Identity is the foundation of influence."
— Dr. Rupal Patel
In this compelling episode of Turmeric & Tequila™, host Kristen Olson welcomes powerhouse guest Dr. Rupal Patel — former CIA analyst, entrepreneur, author of From CIA to CEO, and champion of high-performance leadership. Together, they dive deep into personal evolution, mental resilience, finding your authentic voice, and the courage to lead boldly in today’s complex world.
Rupal shares her journey from the hip-hop PR world to global intelligence work at the CIA — and eventually launching her own business. Along the way, she opens up about burnout, imposter syndrome, leadership identity, and how entrepreneurship reshaped her understanding of success.
Whether you're a high achiever questioning what’s next or a future visionary ready to step into leadership on your own terms, this conversation will hit home.
Time Stamps:
0:00 – Intro and sponsor shoutouts
1:30 – Meet Rupal Patel: From quiet observer to CIA analyst
4:50 – Childhood, early passions & the power of observation
7:40 – Hip-hop industry experience: lessons, grit & boundaries
14:15 – Mental health, burnout & breaking the “power through” mindset
21:20 – The CIA years: inside look at global intelligence work
28:00 – Life after the CIA & the challenge of entrepreneurship
35:30 – Reclaiming identity, confidence & personal success
41:00 – Writing From CIA to CEO and redefining leadership
45:00 – Who the book is for & what it teaches
49:40 – Final reflections on alignment, boldness & living your own truth
53:00 – Where to find Rupal & her upcoming speaking tour
Rupal Patel:
Rupal Patel’s high-octane career has taken her from military briefing rooms in jungles and war zones to corporate boardrooms and international stages. During her thrilling career as an analyst and field agent at the CIA, she served in active war zones, advised Commanding Generals, and earned War Zone Service Medals and Meritorious Citations for “exceptional performance of duty” and “superior support to the President of the United States.”
After leaving the CIA, she earned her MBA from London Business School and started her first award-winning business over ten years ago. Called a ‘Power Woman’ by Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, Rupal is a sought-after international speaker who has spoken in front of thousands and worked with top-tier organizations like Accenture, AB InBev, SAP, and Virgin.
As a sitting CEO, author, consultant, coach, and mentor, Rupal helps visionary leaders, teams, and organizations make the seemingly impossible possible. Called a “super-strategist” by her clients, Rupal draws on her Ivy-League education, MBA degree, and CIA training, and marries industry-leading theory with tactical experience in ways that transform every client she works with.
From hour-long keynotes to multi-day masterclasses, her captivating speaking engagements and truly unique insights arm her audiences with the tools they need to remake the rules of success and become unstoppable.
AND BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS: Rupal is working on her SECOND book and will soon be opening her online leadership academy- stay tuned!!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupal-patel-2145a960
https://www.instagram.com/rupalypatel
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com
MORE LIKE THIS:
https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF
https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI
https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH
#CIAtoCEO, #RupalPatel, #TurmericAndTequila, #KristenOlson, #LeadershipPodcast, #WomenInLeadership, #MindsetMastery, #AuthenticLeadership, #HighAchievers, #EntrepreneurMindset, #Resilience, #BurnoutRecovery, #CommunicationSkills, #EmpoweredWomen, #GrowthMindset, #ConfidenceCoaching, #FemaleFounders, #MissionDriven, #LeadershipDevelopment, #PodcastForLeaders