Breaking Into Public Policy: What the Career Path Actually Looks Like

By the end of this session, you'll understand the real entry points into a public policy career — government, agency, and corporate — and how professionals actually move between them, not just how it looks on paper. What you'll learn: - The main career paths into public policy, and what each one is actually like day-to-day - How people transition between government, agency, and in-house corporate roles — and what skills carry over - A real example of policy and communication under pressure, drawn from my time as a government spokesperson during a national energy crisis - Where you might personally fit, based on your own background and goals Details: 30 minutes — a short talk followed by open Q&A. Bring your specific questions; this is designed to be a conversation, not a lecture. I'll draw on 20+ years across journalism, government, agency, and corporate public affairs to give you a grounded, honest picture of the field.