The US-Ireland Relationship with Trina Vargo
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
Release Date: 08/06/2025
Culture and Talent with Amrit Santhirasenan
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Amrit is the CEO and co-founder of hyperexponential, the provider of the AI-powered platform for pricing and underwriting decisions. Amrit is a qualified actuary and computer science graduate with a specialism in pricing, and has worked for 12 years in the Lloyd’s and London Markets. His experience includes leading Pricing and Analytics at Tokio Marine Kiln — the specialist commercial arm of one of the world’s largest insurance companies. Beginning as an engineer at hx in 2017, Amrit now leads a team of 150+ across...
info_outline
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Hanna Naima McCloskey
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Hanna Naima McCloskey (she/her) is an Algerian British and the Founder & CEO of Fearless Futures. Before founding Fearless Futures, she worked for the UN, NGOs, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, holding various roles across communications, research, and finance. She has lived, studied, and worked in Palestine, Italy, the USA, Sudan, Syria, and the UK. She has a BA in English from the University of Cambridge and an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, with a specialism...
info_outline
Being Ready with CJ Fulton
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description This episode, we are joined by Belfast-born CJ Fulton, who was officially signed to the Minnesota Timberwolves roster for the 2025 NBA Summer League. His success marks an incredible moment in the history of Irish basketball. CJ became the first Irish-born and Irish-developed male athlete to reach this NBA pathway, at just 22 years old. He is an amazing representative of the basketball community in Belfast, and is an inspiration to younger players across Ireland. In this episode, CJ shares his three points on being ready: Stay...
info_outline
The US-Ireland Relationship with Trina Vargo
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Trina Vargo is the president of the US-Ireland Alliance, an organization she founded in 1998. From late 1987 until April 1998, she was employed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and served as his foreign policy adviser during the critical years of the Northern Ireland peace process. Trina is the author of Shenanigans. Vargo created the US-Ireland Alliance to build ties between the US and the island of Ireland for future generations. She also established the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program, which sends future American leaders...
info_outline
Asking To Win with Danielle Hill and Jessie Barr
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Danielle Hill is an Olympic swimmer whose experience in high-level competition has shaped her belief in the importance of mental fitness and resilience. Her own experiences as an Olympian – including competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – have taught her that true performance comes from a strong mindset, as much as from physical preparation. Jessie Barr is a Sport and Performance Psychologist working at the Sport Ireland Institute with a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports including cycling, swimming, diving,...
info_outline
Negotiating with Emotional Intelligence with Tony Anagor
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Tony Anagor is a seasoned expert in communication skills and negotiation, with a strong focus on leadership development. He is particularly known for his work in the field of Emotionally Intelligent Negotiation (EIN), a program he co-founded to help leaders and teams enhance their negotiation strategies through the application of emotional intelligence. This approach emphasises understanding and managing emotions to achieve better negotiation outcomes, making the process more collaborative and effective. In this episode, Tony...
info_outline
Getting The Best From Introverts with Shola Kaye
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Shola is an author of two books, and she’s also an award-winning international speaker on Communication, Inclusive Leadership, and Empathy at Work. Shola’s passionate about helping organizations create an atmosphere of belonging for their people. When a workplace is fully inclusive and welcoming, amazing things happen. People are transformed into leaders. Teams and groups perform better. Everyone benefits. An expert in her field, Shola’s work appears in a variety of industry journals. She’s also a LinkedIn...
info_outline
Creating A Personal Brand with Vittorio Angelone
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Vittorio Angelone is an Italian-Irish comedian who grew up in Belfast. After moving to London to train as a classical musician, he eventually made the predictable switch to stand-up comedy. He has risen through the ranks of the comedy world at an incredible speed, building a following with stand-up clips, podcasts, and sketches amassing millions of views online. He has supported huge names on tour, including Russell Howard, Jason Manford, Adam Rowe, Shane Todd, and Dan Nightingale. In this episode, Vittorio shares his...
info_outline
Make Time for What Matters Most with Connor Swenson
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Connor is a facilitator, writer, and entrepreneur. As the CEO of Make Time, he is on a mission to bring the Make Time philosophy to the masses. With a focus on helping individuals, teams, and organizations integrate the Make Time framework and tactics into their lives, Connor is dedicated to enhancing focus, combating distraction, and fostering environments where employee well-being and fulfillment are paramount. Through his leadership, Make Time has reached thousands of leaders and professionals from renowned organizations like...
info_outline
Following Your Career Compass with Felicia Williams
Three Points: A Leadership Podcast By People Playbook
WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on *** Episode Description Felicia Williams is the Vice President of People at TravelPerk, a hyper-growth SaaS business travel platform with over 1,300 employees in nine locations. Felicia is responsible for nurturing the company's culture and talent as it expands globally. From navigating the pandemic without layoffs to creating a workplace founded on belonging, her impact has seen TravelPerk remain in NewsWeek's Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces and ranked ninth in Linkedin's Top Companies in Spain 2024. In this episode, Felicia shares her three...
info_outlineWATCH
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
***
Episode Description
Trina Vargo is the president of the US-Ireland Alliance, an organization she founded in 1998. From late 1987 until April 1998, she was employed by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and served as his foreign policy adviser during the critical years of the Northern Ireland peace process. Trina is the author of Shenanigans.
Vargo created the US-Ireland Alliance to build ties between the US and the island of Ireland for future generations. She also established the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program, which sends future American leaders to institutions of higher learning in Ireland for a year of graduate study. Nearly 300 Americans apply annually for one of the 12 prestigious scholarships. Vargo also created the annual Oscar Wilde Awards to honor the Irish in entertainment. The annual event is currently held at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company in Santa Monica, and Vargo has played an essential role in encouraging film production in Ireland, including the filming of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Working directly with political leaders in Northern Ireland, the Clinton Administration, and the Irish Government, Vargo served as a key behind-the-scenes player in the Northern Ireland peace process, including the granting of a visa for Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to visit the US in 1994. That visa was central to the subsequent IRA cease-fire and the peace talks, which led to the 1998 Belfast Agreement. As a foreign policy adviser to Kennedy, Vargo’s wide-ranging portfolio included imposing sanctions on Libya following the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight103; spear-heading the efforts to bring free and fair elections to Guyana in 1992; changing the way the State Department analyzed United Nations voting patterns which impacted on foreign aid eligibility; and getting Jews out of the Soviet Union and Syria, and Americans out of China after Tiananmen Square.
In this episode, Trina shares her three points on the US-Ireland relationship:
-
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship program
-
Connecting Hollywood to Ireland
-
The change in the relationship between the US and Ireland
If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content.
***
Connect with Trina on LinkedIn
***
CONNECT