Lorna MacFarlane: Grit, Growth, and Resilience
September 17, 2026
Episode 76
On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Lorna MacFarlane, a graduate student at the George Washington University Law School specializing in government procurement and cybersecurity law. She reflects on her unconventional path into national security and how work in procurement, fraud, risk, and compliance shaped her interest in insider threat. She also discusses continuous learning, mentorship, analytical skills, and adapting to a changing threat landscape. Throughout the conversation, she shares advice for early-career professionals on perseverance and navigating a career path that may not be linear.
