Former C.I.A. Intelligence Officer; Counterterrorism Specialist & Author of "Breaking Cover"
Michele Rigby Assad Biography
Michele Rigby Assad’s career began in Washington, D.C. working for an international relief and development agency in its government relations department. She joined the CIA in January 2002 and spent a decade serving as an undercover intelligence officer in the Directorate of Operations. Specializing in counterterrorism, counterintelligence and lie detection, Rigby Assad spent the majority of her career in the Middle East. She had five overseas tours, to include Iraq and other secret locations.
Since leaving the CIA, Rigby Assad and her husband Joseph have run an international consulting firm that provides support to Western and not-native companies working in the Arabian Gulf, the wider Middle East, and several countries in Asia and Europe (SITE Advisors).
Her bestselling book "Breaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What it Taught Me About What’s Worth Fighting For," was published in 2018. Her second book, "Get Off the X: CIA Secrets for Conquering Obstacles and Achieving Your Life’s Mission" was published in 2025. She holds a master’s degree in Contemporary Arab Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a political science degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
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Michele Rigby Assad Speaking Topics
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Get Off the X
How to get out of your personal or corporate comfort zone
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The Life-Altering Power of Grit
Michele Rigby Assad uses stories from her CIA experience to illustrate the power of grit, the power of perseverance, and determination to learn and grow—no matter what. Instead of focusing on the challenges and negativity presented to her, Michele demonstrates how focusing on mastering a skill, learning new material, and pushing to grow is what transformed her life and career.
- Your mindset is the most important thing.
- Grit trumps natural talent.
- What worked before may not work when the storms of life sweep in. Stay flexible to respond to the challenge.
- That which is unexpected and unwelcome could turn out to be your biggest blessing.
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How do I book Michele Rigby Assad to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Michele Rigby Assad for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Michele Rigby Assad, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Michele Rigby Assad or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Michele Rigby Assad
Speaking fees for Michele Rigby Assad, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Michele Rigby Assad are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Michele Rigby Assad, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Michele Rigby Assad speak about?
Michele Rigby Assad is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Government, Human Resources, Non-Fiction Authors, Personal Growth, Resilience, Sales, Security & Defense, Teamwork & Teambuilding -
Where does Michele Rigby Assad travel from?
Michele Rigby Assad generally travels from Orlando, FL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Michele Rigby Assad’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Michele Rigby Assad for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Michele Rigby Assad for your next private or corporate function. -
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Michele Rigby Assad is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Get Off the X, The Life-Altering Power of Grit , Lessons from the CIA–How to Handle Extreme Stress, Unexpected Change, and Uncertainty , How to Turn Perceived Liabilities into Your Greatest Strengths , My Advantage as a Female in the CIA and Teamwork and Sales: How to Connect with Anyone . The estimated speaking fee range to book Michele Rigby Assad for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Michele Rigby Assad generally travels from Orlando, FL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Christopher Strom, Mark Hertling, Eric O'Neill, Chuck Freilich and Aaron Cohen. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Michele Rigby Assad for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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