MI6: Intelligence, Leadership, and the Shape of Our Times - Sir Richard Dearlove, former Head of the British Secret Intelligence Service

In this wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation, Sir Richard Dearlove — former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) — joins The McKay Interview to reflect on geopolitics, national security, technology, and leadership in today’s uncertain world.

Now Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of London, and formerly Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, Sir Richard draws from decades of public service to offer a grounded perspective on the threats and challenges shaping our era.

We cover:

• Reflections on his time in Geneva and the end of the Cold War

• How pandemics, populism, and Pax Americana have reshaped the global order

• The enduring role of state intelligence and the evolving nature of espionage

• Why AI and social media pose unique threats — and opportunities — for truth

• The “big man” theory of leadership: personality vs. system in shaping world affairs

• How to prepare future leaders and the case for national service

• The real world of MI6 vs. the myth of James Bond

Thoughtful, candid, and seasoned with wit, Sir Richard gives us not only a rare insider’s view into the world of intelligence but also a philosophical take on what holds societies together — and what might tear them apart.