ABOUT US
Charles and Amanda started Art of Diplomacy Tours to bring policy-minded Americans to Cuba. They believe citizen diplomacy is the best way for Americans and Cubans to understand one another better, and over time, this will help to improve U.S.-Cuba relations.
Having worked as U.S. diplomats and traveled around the world, Charles and Amanda also believe that going abroad and engaging with people from other countries makes us more compassionate global citizens. Educational trips like ours to Cuba allow us to experience another culture, learn how political, economic, and social policies of other countries differ from our own, and see how we are connected to others through shared values and history. A trip to Cuba will also help us understand the impacts of U.S. foreign policy and international relations on the development of a country. Charles and Amanda hope that Americans traveling to Cuba with us will return home feeling more educated and engaged in the Art of Diplomacy.
Charles and Amanda with Amb. Benjamin Ziff, former Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba
OUR TEAM
AMB. CHARLES SHAPIRO
Founder
Ambassador Charles Shapiro is a retired U.S. diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela. He was the president of the Institute of the Americas at the University of California San Diego (2011-2014) and of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta (2014-2022).
AMANDA MATTINGLY
Founder
Amanda Mattingly is a former U.S. diplomat and founder of ACM Global LLC, an international risk and business consulting firm working with clients operating and investing overseas. Amanda has studied, traveled, and worked on projects throughout Latin America, including in Cuba.