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Joe Pistone is the real-deal. He gives it to you straight.  He does a magnificent job in correlating his life experiences to everyday business.

Randy Jurgensen, author of Circle of Six

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The biggest revelation to me was that he was undercover for SIX YEARS. Six years of moving his family around to keep them safe.

Shawn M, Amazon Review

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A tough and refreshingly unsentimental overview of what is essentially the end of the American Mafia.

-Kirkus Review

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Listening to him speak is unlike any other keynotes in business.  He's not interested in having a pep rally.  Instead, his delivery is calm, well-thought out and deliberate.

Jonathan Alpeyrie,  author of The Shattered Lens

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A tough and refreshingly unsentimental overview of what is essentially the end of the American Mafia.

-Kirkus Review

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Joe Pistone

Best-selling author and famed FBI Special Agent spent 6 years undercover as Donnie Brasco resulting in one of the largest break-ups of organized crime in history.

Questions?  Call Now.

(646) 397- 2068
[email protected]

CHECK FEES & AVAILABILITY

Why Book Joe Pistone?

 Millions around the globe know Joe Pistone as "Donnie Brasco," arguably the most influential law enforcement agent in American history.  His unrivaled undercover work  lead to the imprisonment of hundreds of Mafiosi and rocked the American Mob to its core. 

In the years since leaving the FBI,  Joe has become a highly sought-out keynote speaker.  He has spoken around the world,  from universities and educational institutions,  to military gatherings and corporate events. Perhaps his greatest strength as a communicator is his unique form of storytelling.  His down-to-earth approach is powerful, and his firsthand insights captivate an audience and holds their attention like few other speakers can. 

​It has often been said that a pin drop can be heard when Joe Pistone speaks.

Biography

With the publication of his first book and the subsequent release of blockbuster movie of the same name, Joe's moniker Donnie Brasco became a household name, often mentioned in the same conversation as Sonny Corleone in the Godfather and Sam Rothstein in Casino/. The difference?  There is nothing fictitious about Joe Pistone - he is an authentic as they come.

​Joe served 27 years with the FBI, twenty of which were spent in undercover operations.  For his stellar career, Joe received many awards, and continues to be recognized for his ongoing success with police & intelligence agencies worldwide.  Joe is the recipient of the U.S. Attorney General’s J. Edgar Hoover Award and the FBI Medal of Valor.

Joseph "Joe" Pistone, aka “Donnie Brasco,” spent his six years infiltrating Organized Crime as an FBI undercover Special Agent. This was historically, and to this present day, the deepest penetration by an undercover FBI Special Agent, or for that matter any international, state, or local law enforcement agency into any criminal organization worldwide.
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Joe, who is of Sicilian heritage, was raised in Paterson, New Jersey within 20 miles of New York City. After graduating from Paterson State College (renamed William Paterson University), he taught in the Paterson New Jersey Public School System. After changing careers, Joe became a special agent for the U.S. Naval Intelligence Service, now known as NCIS, before joining the FBI as a special agent in 1969. As an FBI Special Agent, Joe worked Truck Hijacking, Interstate Theft of Stolen Property, Interstate Theft of Stolen Vehicles, Organized Crime, among other violations and investigations, while also working as an undercover FBI Special Agent, on several investigations prior to taking on his infamous “Donnie Brasco” role.

Joe Pistone Infiltrates the Mafia as Donnie Brasco

​In September 1975, with the knowledge of only a handful of FBI members, Joe left his true identity behind and successfully infiltrated the Bonanno Crime family. This assignment lasted six long years, during which time, Joe suffered extreme hardship by being separated from his family and friends. Joe missed countless birthdays, graduations, family functions and anniversaries. However, through his undercover role and dedication, he was able to dismantle the entire higher echelon of the Bonnano crime family, along with its members and associates. This ultimately resulted in over 200 indictments and well over 100 convictions of Mafia members.
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Joe captured the details related to this dangerous undercover assignment within the Bonanno crime family in his New York Times best-selling book, “Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia”. It went on to become a 1998 critically acclaimed major motion picture, “Donnie Brasco” starring Johnny Depp as “Donnie Brasco” and Al Pacino as “Lefty Guns" Ruggiero, Joe’s Bonanno crime family mentor. Joe also went on to author seven related books based on the “Donnie Brasco” character: The Way of the Wiseguy, The Good Guys, Deep Cover, Snake Eyes, Mobbed Up, and Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business. Additionally, Joe also served as a producer in the Lifetime movie, Wisegal, the CBS-TV series Falcone, and producer of movie Tenth & Wolfe written and directed by Bobby Moresco. He has also appeared and been interviewed on countless television shows related to organized crime.

For more information on booking Joe Pistone for one of your events, call our office at (646) 397- 2068.

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 SPEAKING TOPICS & PROGRAMS

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is a core component of emotional intelligence.  Being self-aware has countless benefits and can positively affect your physical health, your relationships, your performance at work, and even your social life.

While undercover, Joe developed a strong sense of self-awareness.  Like most other successful leaders, he became conscious of his strengths, and also was no longer afraid to acknowledge his weaknesses or areas for improvement.

Using personal stories and colorful examples, Joe helps attendees gain a sense of  their own self-awareness.

Battling Adversity

Obstacles and adversity are a part of life,  and not many are more familiar with that reality than Joe Pistone.  

We all encounter roadblocks in our pursuit of business goals and personal dreams.  All too often, we let these day-to-day frustrations get the best of us. Our attitude is negatively affected as our stress levels rise and our self-confidence wanes; If we allow it to, the obstacle drains us of our motivation and depletes us our energy. And then we wonder why it feels like we're running in-place.

Through storytelling and breakthrough personal insights, Joe demonstrates how to minimize the impact of these unavoidable obstacles by, at times, stepping out of our comfort zone.

'Street Smart' - The Value of Situational Awareness

Joe represents the gold standard in situational awareness, and his street-smarts are second to none.

Never has situational awareness been as important as it is today.  Danger isn't resigned to just the bad part of town, or a dark alleyway, or a foreign nation.  Instead, danger and violence have permeated every aspect of society, from schools and family businesses, to public functions and private events.

All too often we go about our day oblivious to what's happening around us, too busy sending that urgent text message or reading that email that just can't wait.  And then something bad happens that could have easily been avoided had we just been paying attention.

Reading people and his surroundings allowed Joe to infiltrate the criminal underworld as he went deeper undercover, for a longer period of time, than any law enforcement agent in history.  In this down-to-earth, unique presentation, Joe draws on this vast experience to demonstrate how having a ‘street-smart’ mindset makes it easier to ideally spot and avoid, but also prepare for and deal with, the inevitable dangerous situation. ​

Cracking the Code - Nonverbal Communication

Joe is a leading expert in nonverbal communication- in this dynamic, interactive keynote, Joe emphasises the importance of understanding body language and teaches that  it is the nonverbal clues that often speak louder than words.

The ability to read people provides a distinct advantage in the board room, at the negotiating table, and in personal relationships. Learn to process what someone is telling you, even when their words are saying something else. 

Identifying true intentions and feeling foster better, more confident and informed decision-making  in hiring, evaluating, promoting,  even firing.  Knowing what to look for in others will also assist you in being a more more consistent, trustworthy communicator. 

When you're not sure if you can trust someone, then trust yourself by using real-world techniques and strategies.

Detect deception, build rapport, and establish trust.

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BENEFITS & TAKEAWAYS

Clients who book EPIC keynote speaker and best selling author Joe Pistone benefit from a memorable, educational and motivational experience.  He  is a unique, one-of-a-kind speaker with a backstory that reads like a Hollywood movie.

A lesser know fact is that before joining the FBI, Joe was a public school teacher.  Today, he uses his roots in education to deliver stellar keynotes that resonate with his attendees as they are chalk-full of both business and life lessons. 

Joe tailors every keynote to the client and situation. His audiences have included universities, companies, conferences, and the US Military.

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IN THE NEWS

Joe Pistone is no stranger to the News, having been featured, interviewed, or covered in many of the most popular publications and agencies in the world. 

• New York Times
• ​Newsweek
• NBC
• ABC
• FOX 
• CBS​

• Newsweek
• HBO
• New York Post
• The Daily News
• Boston Globe
• ​The Post Gazette

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MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

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