Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Hanna Naima McCloskey

▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 in Conflict Management.  Hanna is the co-author of Fearless Futures' 2024 White Paper - DEI Disrupted: The Blueprint for DEI Worth Doing. She is a former Trustee of the Finance Innovation Lab, which works towards changing economic and financial systems, and is also a qualified ABM bodyfeeding peer supporter, committed to enabling all parents to meet their bodyfeeding goals. In this episode, Hanna shares her three points on diversity, equity, and inclusion: The Business Case vs. The Business Need for DEI Getting The Most Out Of Your DEI Endeavors  How DEI unlocks High Performance If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing to more leadership content. *** Connect with Hanna Naima McCloskey & Fearless Futures  *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn      

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 Ready so you don't have to get ready Be Adaptable The Importance of Self-Belief If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with CJ on Instagram *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn    

WATCH ▶️  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 Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn      

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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, athletics, badminton, sailing and gymnastics. Prior to qualifying as a sport psychologist, Jessie was an international athlete, competing in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay. She retired from athletics in 2019. In this episode, Danielle and Jessie share their three points on asking to win: 1. Why asking for help makes you stronger, not weaker. 2. How past failures inspire future success.  3. Turning words into action. If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Danielle - Instagram: @danielle_hiill and X: Danielle_FBD Connect with Jessie - Instagram: @JessieBarr247 *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn      

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 shares his three points on negotiating with emotional intelligence: 1. Your counterpart is not your enemy 2. Seek to understand, not to convince 3. Create value before capturing value If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Tony Anagor on LinkedIn *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn      

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 Learning instructor, and her clients include The United Nations and Deloitte. In this episode, Shola shares her three points on getting the best from introverts: Don't assume all introverts are the same What high-performing introverts can do in order to achieve more How leaders can get the best from the introverts on their team If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Shola Kaye on LinkedIn *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn    

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 three points on creating a personal brand: Start with Social Media Marginal Gains  Attention to Detail If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Vittorio Angelone on Instagram *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn    

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 YouTube, Squarespace, and L'Oréal, empowering them to reclaim control over their time and prioritize what truly matters. In this episode, Connor shares his three points on making time for what matters most: Time is Our Only Finite Resource We Spend Most of Our Time by Default It's Not Your Fault If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Connor on Linkedin *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn      

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** 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 points on following your career compass: 1) Identifying your superpowers to know where to lean in. 2) Practical tips for practical growth. 3) Your decision making toolkit. If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Felicia Williams on LinkedIn *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn    

WATCH ▶️  Watch this episode on YouTube *** Episode Description Al Dea is a consultant, facilitator, podcast host, and keynote speaker. He is the Founder of The Edge of Work, a leadership development firm that helps organizations attract and develop talent. Al also helps organizations improve their culture in a changing world of work. In this episode, Al shares his three points on how great leaders develop talent:  Every leader should proactively develop the talent of each employee. Development is a practice, but through small but consistent actions, it can pay off over time. Organizations should create a culture of development. If you enjoy this episode please consider subscribing for more leadership content. *** Connect with Al Dea on LinkedIn *** CONNECT Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on Facebook Connect with us on LinkedIn