Harjeet Johal

Harjeet Johal is a British writer, commentator and the voice behind The Boy Likes Gin, a geopolitics podcast. Based in Lisbon, he brings nuance, wit and an original perspective to global affairs.

The podcast, delivered in an engaging and humorous style, covers a variety of topics from deep-dive explainers into current issues through to thought and opinion pieces.

His written commentary has featured in the Financial Times, Prospect, Monocle, The Independent and the
London Evening Standard, alongside broadcast commentary for the BBC. Upon graduation, Harjeet joined the clothing retail division of his family’s business.

Harjeet in a board member of the business, which now primally focusses on commercial real estate, hotels and investments. His broad cross-sector commercial experience has allowed him to accrue an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the private
sector, and the impact of policy and global affairs upon it.

Harjeet was the first deputy executive director of The Kaleidoscope Trust, a London-based LGBT rights charity which campaigns for social attitude change in countries where being LGBT is illegal.

His involvement with the charity allowed him to work closely with policy makers, government departments and NGOs across Europe, Africa and Asia.

On behalf of the charity, Harjeet travelled to India and Uganda to dialogue with stakeholders and collect testimony from LGBT persons.

Harjeet was born in Britain to Indian parents and therefore has intimate experience of the interplay – and reality of race and identity in contemporary Europe. Harjeet has a deep love of classical music. He is also a keen runner; he has completed the Marathon Des Sables, a 150-mile self-sufficiency foot race held in the Sahara Desert.