“Don’t Hug The Shore!” — Kevin Roland, MD of Teneo (Recorded September 2023)

 

Meet Kevin Roland…

(Recorded September 2023) Kevin Roland is a Managing Director in New York-based global CEO advisory firm Teneo. He was a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S. State Department, serving in front-line diplomatic roles in Northern Ireland (from 2009-2012), as well as Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Jordan, and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Despite working around the world, Kevin and his family reside at their home in New Quay, County Clare, Ireland.

In today’s episode we talk about:

  • Why his family decided to call Ireland home

  • Watching his dad loading planes as a kid

  • Colin Powell racing around in a supercar with the King of Jordan

  • Being mentored by the current head of the CIA

  • Playing basketball in the Middle East

  • Becoming fluent in arabic

  • How he got into the private sector (and why it matters)

  • And his advice to 18-year-olds…. “don’t hug the shore!”

Check it out.

Today's episode is part of our collaboration with NI Connections where we catch up with someone incredible from Northern Ireland doing interesting things overseas on the last Monday of every month.

To discover more amazing diaspora stories, check out their website niconnections.com where you can also sign up for their free, monthly newsletter.

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See you next time.

— Matt

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Matthew Thompson