Jack Barsky: Journey Through Espionage, Fatherhood, Leadership and Technology

The Art of Digital Leadership

About Jack Barsky: Jack Barsky has a captivating life story as an author, IT specialist, and former sleeper agent of the KGB. Born in Germany and dispatched to the USA by the KGB, he spent a decade spying for the Soviets before retiring and becoming a productive American citizen. His autobiography, "Deep Undercover," published in 2017, sheds light on his experiences, and he is a sought-after speaker and expert on espionage. In addition to his espionage background, Jack enjoyed a successful career in IT, from technician to executive, maintaining a keen interest in cybersecurity, particularly focusing on insider threats.

In this episode, Art and Jack Barsky discuss:

• Jack's journey of betrayal, redemption, and unveiling secrets
• His struggle between loyalty and fatherhood
• Challenges in managing personal relationships
• The importance of emotional intelligence and effective communication

Key Takeaways:

• Jack's life journey unfolds from his recruitment by the KGB in East Germany to his immersion in the U.S., marked by a chance encounter at a job in White Plains, evolving into a dual life as a bike messenger, programmer at MetLife, and valedictorian at Baruch College, all while navigating the complexities of espionage, personal relationships, and an unexpected role as a father.
• His covert life takes a dramatic turn in 1988 as an urgent KGB recall prompts a pivotal choice between loyalty and personal responsibility, ultimately revealing his American family and reshaping his extraordinary journey amidst geopolitical tensions and personal evolution.
• Jack's journey from a former KGB spy to a successful IT manager in the U.S. showcases the transformative power of adapting espionage skills to leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding people and translating technical knowledge for effective management.
• The fusion of espionage experiences and IT management skills in Jack's life underscores the enduring significance of human factors, emotional intelligence, and effective communication in leadership, making his story a valuable lesson for aspiring leaders.

"Human beings are emotional; AI will never be emotional. Human beings are very often driven by emotion. So, it is, and this one, one of the most important things for me in terms of emotional management, IT people want to be loved. They want to be told what a good job they're doing, and they want to have a pat on the shoulder. They want to be appreciated, and if you can do this without being full, you know, you have to be honest about it. You have to be a person of integrity." — Jack Barsky

Connect with Jack Barsky:

Website: https://jackbarsky.com/

Book (Deep Undercover: My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy in America): https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Undercover-Tangled-Allegiances-America/dp/1496416821

Podcast (The Agent): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-agent/id1587714169

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackbarsky/

Connect with Art:

Website: http://www.alanger.com/

Email: [e-mail]

Book: Developing a Path to Data Dominance: Strategies for Digital Data-Centric Enterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthur.m.langer/

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