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Tony McGaharan
Facilitator - Learning Designer - Coach - People Playbook
Tony McGaharan is the founder of People Playbook, a global learning consultancy established in 2020. A native of Belfast, he has a diverse background that includes roles as a high school teacher, peace-builder, and professional basketball coach. His career also includes significant experience at Google, where he served in various capacities including Account Strategist and Learning Program Manager.12
Career Highlights
- Education and Early Career: McGaharan began his career as a high school teacher and transitioned into coaching basketball, which reflects his passion for leadership and development.
- Experience at Google: He worked in Google's People Operations across multiple locations, including Dublin, Singapore, and London, where he honed his skills in leadership development and learning program management.2
- Founding People Playbook: Inspired by his experiences at Google, McGaharan founded People Playbook to create engaging learning experiences. The company quickly adapted to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting to online workshops, allowing it to serve a global clientele.12
People Playbook
People Playbook focuses on developing leadership and team capabilities through innovative learning designs. The company has partnered with various organizations, including Trustpilot and Ubisoft, to facilitate tailored learning experiences. Despite starting as a one-person operation during the pandemic, it has grown to include a small team dedicated to enhancing client experiences and expanding its reach.13
Personal Philosophy
McGaharan emphasizes the importance of adaptability and finding opportunities in challenging circumstances. He believes in building relationships that foster collaboration and growth, both personally and professionally.2 He also hosts the Three Points podcast, where he discusses themes related to leadership and personal development.24
In summary, Tony McGaharan is a seasoned leader in people development with a unique blend of educational, corporate, and coaching experiences that inform his approach at People Playbook.
Highlights
Give back what you got given…
One of the things my Mum taught us growing up was “don’t forget where you came from.”
Any skill or talent I’ve developed came from somewhere. In truth, it all starteyd with how my Mum raised me. She was the most charismatic, generous and empathetic people-person. Ever.
Not only that, she enabled me to follow any passions I had. Whether that was throwing me into Youth Lyric (Drama school) when I was 8 years old to help boost my self-esteem and confidence or backing me with my musical desire to learn drums at the age of 12. The most significant opportunity came when Mum supported my love for basketbalI and I joined Queen’s Basketball Club at 15 years old. 🏀
This community gave me so much — a place to learn how to play, Coach and referee. I got to play with teammates who became friends, learn from Coaches who became mentors. And I found a way to make some money as a student while being by around the game I love. Most importantly, I learned what it takes to be a great leader and a solid teammate. 🙌
Fast forward more than 20 years later, I am the current volunteer Chairperson and have been for the last three years. Each May, I host our annual awards ceremony (see photo from this year). Our community is built up of almost 300 members with an amazing group of volunteers steering the ship and contributing to the running of our club. 🧭
I’m so grateful for everything this club has given me. It feels only right that I would give back to this community using whatever energy and skills I have. That’s what Mum would want and I’ll never forget where (and who) I came from.

Top Talent Summit for TravelPerk in sunny Barcelona ☀️
We crafted a program specifically for a group of top performing individuals from the past two years. The Summit allowed the ~20 TKers from across the company (function and location) to develop greater connection, communication and storytelling skills. 🎯
The vision for how to serve this cohort came from Donna Ross who is pioneering a fresh approach that gives more choice to top talent, ensuring their development path is personally meaningful. More to come on how People Playbook and TravelPerk are innovating through an extended learning and development partnership. 🤝
Until then, here’s a cracking photo outside the beautiful TravelPerk HQ with Donna and some of our Playmakers. 📸
Shout out to Tracey Madigan and Bijan Ghorbani who facilitated two incredibly engaging and useful workshops. 👏

