General David Petraeus – Why fortune favours the prepared mind: how to surge your ideas
Episode 36, Sep 25, 2020, 09:01 AM
General David Petraeus served almost 40 years in the US Army, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the 101st Airborne Division during the fight to Baghdad and the first year in Iraq, and command of coalition forces in Iraq during the Surge. A former Director of the CIA, he sits down with Michael to talk tell his story as a strategic leader – why luck is simply a moment when preparation meets opportunity, why you must confront your mistakes in order to move forward, and how to develop big ideas to drive success.
General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat. Following retirement from the military and after Senate confirmation by a vote of 94-0, he served as Director of the CIA. Today, he is a Partner with the global investment firm KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in May 2013. He is also a member of the boards of directors of Optiv and FirstStream, a venture investor in more than 15 startups, and engaged in a variety of academic endeavours. Over the past 15 years, General Petraeus has been named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report and a runner-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year, amongst other accolades. He has earned numerous honours, awards, and decorations, including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals.